I believe readers deserve transparency, so I want to be clear about my approach to AI and the creative process behind my books.

Outside of my author career, I work in a corporate environment where generative AI has become increasingly integrated into everyday business operations. Like many professionals, I reluctantly use AI tools as part of my job responsibilities for tasks such as research assistance, technical writing, training materials, graphics, and other professional communications.

My approach to fiction writing is very different.

I do not use generative AI to write my books. Every story begins with a spiraling mind full of ideas and words that have to get on the page, and every one of those stories is written by me.

Like many authors, I selectively use assistive tools such as Grammarly and AutoCrit to help identify grammar issues, spelling errors, readability concerns, and repeated words or phrases. Among other features, I do not use Grammarly's generative writing features or AutoCrit's AI-powered "beta reader" functions. I use these platforms only for their basic editing, analysis, and proofreading capabilities.

I also use technology and search engines to assist with factual research. As AI-generated summaries and other AI-powered features have become increasingly integrated into modern search engines, it is difficult to avoid encountering them entirely during the research process. However, I do not intentionally seek out or use AI for research.

I am also concerned about the growing use of AI to replace human creativity. Art is part of what separates humans from the rest of the beating hearts on this planet. Authors, artists, musicians, editors, narrators, photographers, and countless other creatives deserve recognition and compensation for their work. I will continue to choose human creativity over automation.

All of my book covers are designed by me, often with ideas, feedback, artistic contributions, photography, and support from family members and other contributors who prefer to remain private. I have worked with professional editors and proofreaders throughout my publishing journey, including individuals who have requested not to be publicly credited. I respect those wishes.

I make every reasonable effort to vet the tools, services, assets, and professionals I work with. This includes stock image providers, graphic resources, music used in marketing content, software platforms, editors, artists, and other vendors involved in the publishing process. When I become aware that one of these relies on or uses generative AI, I make reasonable efforts to disconnect my work from it.

That being said, modern publishing, marketing, and online platforms increasingly incorporate AI technology behind the scenes. Unfortunately, sometimes editors, artists, and other creatives do as well. Because I do not control the internal workflows of every company, contractor, platform, artist, editor, or service provider, I cannot guarantee that no generative AI technology has been used anywhere within the broader publishing ecosystem. What I can guarantee is transparency regarding my own practices and a commitment to making informed choices whenever possible.

To provide additional transparency, I have begun documenting more of my creative process through Grammarly Authorship reports, hyperlapse videos, livestream writing sessions, behind-the-scenes content, and other forms of process documentation. I also plan to continue expanding those efforts moving forward.

In addition, my books are being enrolled in the Authors Guild's Human Authored registration program. While participation relies on author honesty—as many aspects of publishing do—it is not something I take lightly. Misrepresenting a work with the Human Authored trademark can carry significant legal and professional consequences, including issues related to trademark infringement and consumer protection laws, including consumer fraud.

As conversations surrounding AI have become more common, so have accusations. While healthy discussion and good-faith questions are important, I also believe it is important to remember that false accusations can cause real harm to authors, artists, and other creative professionals. Reputations, careers, and livelihoods can be affected by claims that are presented as fact without evidence.

My commitment is simple—the stories I publish have always been and always will be written by me, and, to the best of my ability and knowledge, everything I use to write, market, or promote my work is free of generative AI.

Thank you for trusting me with your reading time and for supporting human creativity.

♥

— Maelana Nightingale