Why a weekly routine matters

A weekly routine creates momentum, reduces decision fatigue, and turns revision into manageable, iterative work. Using AI without a routine risks sporadic edits that fragment voice, introduce inconsistent changes, or encourage over-optimizing early drafts. A predictable schedule ensures you alternate between expansive creative work and focused mechanical passes, so AI speeds the process without reshaping your original intent.

Principles to preserve creative flow

• Protect creation time — keep at least two uninterrupted sessions per week for drafting without AI intervention.
• Use AI for targeted tasks — reserve AI for diagnosis, mechanical cleanup, brainstorming, and short rewrites rather than broad creative drafting.
• Limit batch size — feed AI chapter-sized chunks or 500–1,000 word excerpts to keep context tight and outputs controllable.
• Human final authority — treat all AI suggestions as proposals to be accepted, modified, or rejected by you.
• Document prompts and outputs — save prompt versions and AI outputs so you can trace changes and revert if voice is compromised.

Weekly structure overview

• Day 1: Creative drafting block without AI.
• Day 2: Cool-down read and light revision by you.
• Day 3: AI diagnostic pass for the week’s material (mechanics, repetition, continuity).
• Day 4: Focused human revision using AI suggestions as references.
• Day 5: Voice and rhythm pass, read-aloud and micro-edits.
• Day 6: Beta-reader or editor feedback integration; optional AI-assisted packaging (synopsis, blurb).
• Day 7: Rest, planning, and prompt refinement for next week.

Day-by-day tasks and AI roles

Day 1 Drafting

Write freely. Disable AI tools and minimize research interruptions. Let intuition drive scenes, character choices, and surprising turns. Record quick notes on any areas you suspect will need tightening.

Day 2 Self-review

Read what you wrote with fresh eyes. Make cosmetic fixes and flag problem spots with inline comments or short notes for the AI pass. Prioritize structural notes like “scene goal unclear” or “awkward transition.”

Day 3 AI diagnostic

Run targeted AI checks on your flagged excerpts: mechanical cleanup constrained to grammar, a repetition scan, and a pacing or urgency score. Use templates to limit scope: “Fix grammar only; do not change slang, voice, or sentence rhythm.” Export AI notes into a changelog.

Day 4 Human-first revision

Use AI outputs as a reference and make final edits yourself. Accept mechanical fixes that don’t harm voice, adapt AI wording where it helps, and discard anything that flattens character. Update your voice profile if recurring AI conflicts appear.

Day 5 Voice and rhythm

Read aloud selected scenes or use text-to-speech to hear cadence. Use micro-prompts to AI for rhythm suggestions only when you are specific: “Preserve sentence fragments; suggest two ways to shorten this paragraph while keeping character voice.”

Day 6 Feedback and packaging

Share revised scenes with a beta reader or editor; use AI to draft query hooks, synopses, or reader-facing summaries while keeping manuscript edits paused until feedback arrives. Log reviewer notes and align them with AI suggestions.

Day 7 Rest and plan

Step away to avoid tunnel vision. Refine prompt templates, update character voice sheets, and set concrete goals for the next week.

Prompt templates

• Mechanical cleanup template “Fix grammar, spelling, and punctuation only. Do not change dialect, slang, sentence fragments, or repeated motifs used for voice. Return edits as: 1) Original sentence; 2) Suggested edit; 3) Short rationale.”
• Diagnostic template “Analyze this 1,000-word excerpt for repetition, passive voice, and continuity issues. List issues by priority and give one-sentence actionable fixes.”
• Voice-safe rewrite template “Rewrite this paragraph for clarity while preserving [character name]’s voice. Voice cues: [3 keywords]. Produce two variants: 1) minimal tidy; 2) voice-forward with one optional smoother sentence.”
• Pacing prompt “Score this chapter’s urgency from 1 to 10 with reasons. Suggest three small changes to increase momentum without cutting essential character beats.”

Safeguards to protect voice and rights

• Use private or paid tiers that promise non-training or customer-data protections for unpublished material.
• Keep sensitive scenes off free or ambiguous tools; use local models or offline editors for anything you cannot risk sharing.
• Maintain versioned backups and a clear changelog of prompts and AI outputs.
• Tag and lock signature phrases, slang, or experimental syntax before running AI passes.

Measuring success and adjusting the routine

• Track time spent on creative drafting versus revision and adjust the balance if creation time shrinks.
• Monitor the number of AI suggestions you accept versus reject to ensure human control remains high.
• Use beta-reader feedback to judge whether voice consistency improved or slipped after integrating AI passes.
• Iterate prompt templates monthly based on friction points you encounter.

Quick checklist before an AI pass

• Is the prompt constrained and specific about what may not be changed?
• Have you limited input size to chapter or smaller excerpts?
• Do you have a timestamped backup of the draft?
• Are signature phrases and dialect locked or flagged?
• Will you review every AI suggestion manually?

Summary

A weekly routine with clear roles for AI lets you benefit from speed and consistency while safeguarding creativity. Treat AI as a time-saving partner for diagnosis, mechanical polish, and packaging, and keep core creative work human-first. With repeatable prompts, scheduled human passes, and built-in safeguards, you maintain control over voice, preserve your creative flow, and deliver steadily improving drafts week after week.

Who is Emma?

As an introvert haunting the corners of storytelling festivals, it’s incredibly difficult to track Emma down. She’s best known for writing Scottish fiction about working-class women and communities and their misrepresented lives. You can find her recent book The Secret Cult of the Miners’ Library here. Or get writing help here.

L’article Build a Weekly Revision Routine with AI est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

What a dead zone looks like

Dead zones take many shapes. They include exposition-heavy passages that repeat known facts, scenes that linger on low-stakes activity, shifts into irrelevant subplots, prolonged internal monologue that adds little, and transitional chapters that exist only to move characters from A to B. Dead zones can also be structural: an act that runs long without a clear escalation, multiple scenes that cover the same emotional territory, or a middle section where stakes feel reduced. The common outcome is the same. Reader attention drops and narrative urgency fades.

Why finding dead zones matters

Of course, this depends on genre norms. A horror or thriller writer has different requirements to an historical novelist. Removing or reworking dead zones improves momentum, heightens reader investment, and increases the perceived pace without rushing character development. Tight pacing clarifies which scenes are essential, which can be merged, and which should be refocused. Faster, sharper drafts are easier to sell to agents and editors because they demonstrate structural control and respect for the reader’s time.

How AI diagnoses dead zones

AI can analyze your manuscript at scale and surface patterns that indicate slow areas. It can:

• Measure sentence length and variation to reveal rhythmic flattening.
• Identify chapters or scenes with low action verbs and high rates of exposition words.
• Flag repeated themes, facts, or imagery that suggest redundancy.
• Produce a chapter-by-chapter urgency score based on conflict density, stakes language, and beat frequency.
• Highlight long stretches without a visible external goal or scene-level turning point.
• Compare pacing profiles across POVs to find imbalance and uneven chapter pacing.

AI’s strength is pattern recognition across thousands of words, which makes it efficient at pointing you to likely dead zones for human judgement.

Signs AI will flag as high risk

• Long average sentence length combined with low dialogue ratio in multiple consecutive chapters.
• High density of “telling” verbs and abstract nouns versus concrete actions.
• Repeated factual statements or backstory fragments across chapters.
• Extended scenes where the protagonist’s external goal is unclear or absent.
• Low incidence of decision points or escalating consequences.
• Abrupt tonal shifts that break momentum without a purposeful scene purpose.

Workflow to diagnose and fix dead zones

1. Prepare and back up the manuscript before any automated pass.
2. Run a pacing diagnostic on chapter-sized chunks rather than the whole manuscript at once.
3. Review flagged sections and annotate why the AI marked them: redundancy, low stakes, exposition, or lost external goal.
4. Triage flagged scenes into three buckets: cut, condense, or refocus.
5. For the cut pile: remove scenes that duplicate information or serve only as filler; merge necessary beats into surrounding scenes.
6. For the condense pile: shorten description, collapse repeated beats, and trim internal monologue to the elements that reveal character or advance plot.
7. For refocus pile: identify and amplify a clear external goal, increase conflict, add concrete sensory details tied to stakes, or introduce a ticking constraint.
8. Re-run the pacing diagnostic on revised sections to confirm improvement.
9. Perform a read-aloud pass to assess rhythm and energy after revisions.
10. Repeat until chapter-by-chapter urgency scores show more even rises and dips appropriate to story structure.

Line-level fixes to speed pace

• Replace passive or abstract verbs with concrete, active verbs that show motion or choice.
• Convert long paragraphs of summary into short scenes or micro-scenes with sensory detail and a small decision.
• Break long sentences into varied beats to reintroduce momentum and make beats easier to scan.
• Cut repeated physical or emotional descriptions that do not add new information.
• Swap expository blocks for dialogue or action that reveals the same facts through conflict or character choice.
• Introduce a small constraint or deadline in the scene to create immediate pressure.

Scene-level strategies to sharpen focus

• Give each scene a single, clear visible goal for the POV character and a measurable success or failure condition.
• Raise the cost of failure for the character to increase urgency.
• Keep scenes short unless the extended length serves a deliberate emotional or structural purpose.
• Use micro-conflicts inside scenes: interruptions, misunderstandings, timing mishaps, or resource scarcity.
• End scenes with a new complication or question that forces the reader to turn the page.

Prompts and templates you can reuse

• Diagnostic prompt: “Analyze this chapter for pacing. Return a score from 1 to 10 for urgency and list up to five reasons the score is low, prioritized by impact.”
• Redundancy detector: “Flag sentences or paragraphs that repeat facts introduced earlier in the manuscript and suggest concise alternatives or merge points.”
• Action density check: “List every sentence with an explicit external action verb and report gaps longer than X words without an action.”
• Scene refocus template: “Here is a scene. Identify the visible external goal, list three ways to raise the stakes, and propose two concise versions of the scene: one condensed, one refocused with a stronger goal.”
• Read-aloud rhythm prompt: “Convert this paragraph into three beats suitable for vocal performance and recommend where to break sentences to improve rhythm.”

Examples of practical changes that work

• Condense a ten-paragraph room-description into one paragraph that reveals a single sensory detail linked to a character’s emotion and move the rest to a file for later use.
• Replace an internal monologue that explains a character’s decision with a short scene showing the decision being made under pressure.
• Merge two consecutive low-conflict scenes by preserving the most consequential beats and dropping redundant exposition.

When not to cut for pace

• Scenes that exist to slow pace intentionally for emotional digestion or thematic contrast.
• Extended passages that develop essential character empathy or that prepare the reader for a tonal shift.
• Experimental or lyrical sequences where rhythm and repetition are purposeful artistic choices.

Final checklist before submission

• Do all scenes have a visible external goal or a clear reason for their length?
• Are repeated facts and backstory consolidated and presented only where they serve tension or character change?
• Does the middle maintain escalating stakes or deliberate reversals to avoid sagging?
• Are sensory details aligned with the POV character and used to heighten immediacy?
• Have you re-run diagnostics and read the revised sections aloud to confirm regained momentum?

Closing guidance

Use AI to map the problem and give options, then apply human judgement to decide which fixes preserve emotional truth while restoring momentum. Treat the AI as a diagnostic tool and an honest first-draft editor, not the final arbiter. When you combine automated pattern detection with targeted rewrites and read-aloud validation, you turn slow stretches into purposeful beats and keep readers moving through your story.

About the author

As an introvert haunting the corners of storytelling festivals, it’s incredibly difficult to track Emma down. She’s best known for writing Scottish fiction about working-class women and communities and their misrepresented lives. You can find her recent book The Secret Cult of the Miners’ Library here. Or get writing help here.

L’article Use AI to Find Dead Zones in Your Manuscript and Speed Up Pacing est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

Why run an AI line-edit before submission

According to AI it excels at consistent mechanical fixes, catching patterns human eyes miss, and producing fast alternatives for awkward phrasing. That makes it ideal for a final sweep to remove typos, tighten language, and flag inconsistencies. Um … not in my experience. As AI is only a tool: it cannot fully replace a careful human pass or editorial judgement. The checklist below will help you keep speed without sacrificing voice, accuracy, or originality.

The checklist

(run these in order)

• 1. Global read-through for tone drift Ask the AI to compare the start, middle, and end of your manuscript for consistency in tone and register, and to flag chapters where voice or tense shifts unintentionally.
• 2. Dialogue distinctiveness scan Have the AI list patterns for each character: average sentence length, common words or phrases, and register. Flag characters whose speech metrics overlap too closely.
• 3. Mechanical clean-up (grammar, punctuation, spelling) Run a constrained pass that fixes only objective mechanical errors. Tell the AI explicitly not to alter slang, dialect, or deliberate grammatical choices.
• 4. Passive voice and weak verb report Request a list of instances of passive voice and soft verbs (e.g., “was,” “had,” “felt”) with suggested stronger verbs or active constructions, focusing on scenes that should carry momentum.
• 5. Repetition and filler detection Ask the AI to point out repeated words, phrases, and filler constructions within each chapter and to suggest concise alternatives or indicate where repetition is purposeful.
• 6. Head-hopping and focalization check Have the AI identify sentences or paragraphs that shift perspective within a scene and mark them for you to confirm whether the shift is deliberate.

And yes we keep going!

• 7. Continuity and timeline audit Ask for a concise timeline of major events and character states across chapters; flag inconsistencies in dates, ages, or physical states.
• 8. Named-entity and prop consistency Request a list of character names, locations, objects, and their first mention; flag inconsistent spellings, changing traits, or props that vanish and reappear.
• 9. Sensory balance and specificity pass Ask the AI to score scenes for sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) and suggest one concrete sensory detail per under-specified scene aligned to the POV character’s life experience.
• 10. Red-flag content scan Request detection of potentially problematic content: stereotypes, uncontextualized trauma, or factual red flags that may need sensitivity reading or expert review.
• 11. Query/package readiness check Have the AI produce a short synopsis, 1–2 sentence hook, and a 250–300 word pitch for submission, then compare tone to the manuscript to ensure alignment.
• 12. Final voice-preservation pass Ask the AI to propose only minimal edits that preserve sentence rhythm and diction; produce two variants per flagged sentence: “clean” and “voice-first.”

How to prompt AI for safe, useful edits

• Start with explicit constraints: “Edit for clarity and mechanical correctness only; do not change dialect, slang, sentence fragments, or repeated motifs used for voice.”
• Provide voice cues: “Voice: sardonic first person; short, clipped sentences; recurring nautical metaphors.”
• Ask for labeled outputs: “Return edits as: 1) Original sentence, 2) AI-clean suggestion, 3) Voice-first suggestion, 4) Short rationale (10–15 words).”
• Use small batches: submit chapter-sized excerpts or 500–1,000 word chunks to maintain context and control.
• Request a changelog: ask the AI to produce a numbered list of every edit type it applied (grammar, tense, wording) so you can quickly review categories rather than individual changes.

Practical workflow to combine AI with human judgment

1. Backup your manuscript and save a timestamped copy before any AI pass.
2. Run the constrained mechanical clean-up first and accept changes only where they don’t alter voice.
3. Run the repetition, passive-voice, and continuity checks and mark suggested fixes in a separate file or using tracked changes.
4. Do a focused voice-first pass: accept only the “voice-first” variants that preserve cadence; reject or adapt others.
5. Perform a read-aloud pass—either by voice actor, text-to-speech, or out-loud yourself—to catch rhythm, tone, and dialogue authenticity.
6. Send key chapters to a trusted human editor or beta reader with notes listing AI changes so reviewers focus on voice, character, and emotional impact rather than copy edits.
7. Implement final human edits, run one last mechanical check, then prepare submission package materials.

Red flags and when to skip AI for a section

• If scenes hinge on cultural nuance, lived trauma, or technical accuracy, prefer human experts or sensitivity readers first.
• If you rely heavily on unique diction, dialect, or experimental syntax, avoid broad AI line-edits that lack voice scaffolding.
• If your draft contains contractual obligations or third-party materials you cannot risk exposing, don’t upload those sections to public/free AI tools.

Quick templates you can reuse

• Mechanical clean-up template: “Fix grammar, punctuation, and spelling only. Do not change slang, intentional sentence fragments, or character-specific diction. List edits with short rationale.”
• Voice-first template: “Edit for clarity while keeping [character name]’s voice. Voice cues: [3–4 keywords]. Provide two variants per sentence: clean and voice-first.”
• Continuity audit template: “Create a timeline of key events and list all named characters, locations, and props with first-mention chapters. Flag inconsistencies.”

Final thoughts

An AI line-edit should leave your manuscript cleaner but unmistakably yours. Use the checklist to structure passes, protect character voice, and combine machine speed with human discernment. When AI is confined by smart prompts, strong templates, and a human-in-the-loop workflow, it becomes a powerful editing assistant that helps you submit work that’s polished, faithful to your voice, and professionally ready.

About Emma

As an introvert haunting the corners of storytelling festivals, it’s incredibly difficult to track Emma down. She’s best known for writing Scottish fiction about working-class women and communities and their misrepresented lives. You can find her recent book The Secret Cult of the Miners’ Library here. Or get writing help here.

L’article The AI Line-Edit Checklist est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

Why AI edits can hurt character voice

AI models are optimized for general clarity and broad readability. They favor neutral, idiomatically safe constructions that minimize ambiguity. That optimization produces consistent, polished prose but also flattens stylistic extremes. Unique diction, syntactic quirks, dialect, register shifts, purposeful repetition, and deliberate “errors” used for characterization. Important author tools, in other words. Can all be flagged as problems and replaced with safer alternatives by an AI assistant.

AI also lacks lived experience and the subtle sense of motive and embodied perspective that shapes authentic voice. It cannot reliably infer why a narrator shortens sentences, misuses an idiom, or shifts tense for psychological effect. When an AI “fixes” these features it substitutes a model of clarity for a model of character, and you lose the cues readers need to inhabit the mind behind the words.

Common patterns of voice erosion and how to spot them

• Over-correction to neutrality AI replaces idiosyncratic phrasing with bland alternatives. Spot it by comparing problematic passages to earlier drafts or to dialogue samples where the voice feels strong.
• Regularized syntax AI rewrites sentence fragments, run-ons, or elliptical constructions into standard grammar. Spot it by listening for lost rhythm or a change in sentence length distribution.
• Tone leveling AI smooths out registers so distinct characters sound the same. Spot it by reading only dialogue lines in sequence and checking whether each character still “speaks” differently.
• Loss of purposeful “mistakes” AI corrects nonstandard grammar, slang, or malapropisms that were intentional. Spot it by marking places where language choices inform class, education, or mindset.
• Diminished sensory specificity AI substitutes generic adjectives and erases odd but revealing metaphors. Spot it when imagery becomes recyclable or when images stop aligning with the character’s lived experience.

Fast line-level fixes you can use immediately

1. Re-run the original line through your voice template. Remind the AI of tone cues like wry, forgiving, childlike, or brusque, and ask for alternatives rather than single rewrites.
2. Use micro-examples. Show the AI one or two lines that exemplify the voice you want and ask it to match them.
3. Mark “do not change” elements inline. Bold or tag proper nouns, slang, and sentence fragments you want preserved before asking for edits.
4. Ask for variants: request one “AI-clean” edit and one “voice-preserving” edit so you can choose.
5. Keep an eye on rhythm. If sentence length changes noticeably after an edit, restore the original cadence by reintroducing shorter or longer beats.

Scene and character-level strategies

• Create a one-page voice profile for each point-of-view character. Include keywords, rhythm notes, favored imagery, common sentence patterns, and typical grammatical quirks. Paste the profile into prompts whenever you ask an AI to edit a scene.
• Build a short list of “signature phrases” for each character and keep a find-and-replace checklist to prevent the AI from overwriting them.
• Use comparative prompts that ask the AI to edit for clarity but preserve the protagonist’s sensory field and worldview. For example, ask it to “keep imagery grounded in the protagonist’s trade and hometown” or to “preserve emotional undercutting by using understatement.”
• Reserve AI for neutral tasks like consistency checks, easy fact lookups, line edits for grammar, and pacing diagnostics. Keep creative choices — metaphor, rhythm, unusual syntax — to humans. Or to an AI only when guided by strong voice scaffolding.

Recovery workflow when AI has already eroded voice

1. Retrieve the pre-AI draft or the last manual revision and put the two versions side by side.
2. Identify the key voice losses: diction, syntax, imagery, or tone. Mark examples in both versions.
3. Restore the original phrasing selectively where voice matters most, such as chapter openers, internal monologue, and pivotal dialogue.
4. Use a “voice-first” pass: ask the AI only to flag mechanical errors while leaving flagged stylistic elements untouched.
5. Run a focused read-aloud pass to catch rhythmic changes that slip past silent reading. Read characters’ dialogue in different voices to ensure distinctness.
6. Recruit at least one human reader who knows the manuscript and can point out where characters sound the same or where the narrator feels flattened.

Prompts and template examples for voice-safe edits

• Create a short template to preserve voice: “Edit for clarity and grammar but maintain this character’s voice. Voice cues: [two to three keywords]. Keep sentence fragments, slang, and [signature phrase]. Output two variants: 1) minimal tidy; 2) voice-forward rewrite with one optional smoother sentence.”
• Diagnostic prompt: “Highlight up to ten edits that change diction, rhythm, or register. For each, explain why it harms character voice and suggest an alternative that preserves voice.”
• Restoration prompt: “Here is a paragraph from draft A and the AI-edited paragraph from draft B. Produce a merged paragraph that keeps the most distinctive words and rhythm from draft A while applying only essential mechanical corrections.”

Practical checklist before accepting AI edits

• Does the edit preserve the narrator’s sensory field and primary metaphors?
• Would this sentence still make sense if read by the character out loud?
• Is any slang, dialect, or grammatical irregularity explained by social background, education, or emotional state?
• Did the AI remove repetition or eccentric phrasing that was serving a stylistic or narrative purpose?
• After the edit, do all characters still have unique speech patterns?

Parting words

AI is a powerful drafting and editing ally when used sparingly. Protect your voice with profiles, signature phrases, and targeted prompts. Treat AI edits as suggestions, not a final authority on your book. Reclaim rhythm with read-alouds and a human eye. When you make these checks habitual you gain speed without paying the price of uniformity, and you preserve the singular human presence at the heart of your novel.

About Emma

As an introvert haunting the corners of storytelling festivals, it’s incredibly difficult to track Emma down. She’s best known for writing Scottish fiction about working-class women and communities and their misrepresented lives. You can find her recent book The Secret Cult of the Miners’ Library here. Or get writing help here.

L’article When AI Suggests Edits That Hurt Character Voice and How to Fix Them est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

Safe uses

Or safe-ish? A brainstorming tool for character prompts, setting ideas, plot twists, and scene starters if you are stuck. One example is plotting. When you have a novel idea you can draft a complete outline to save time, then write it out scene by scene adding your own ideas and style. Then, if anything like me, completely changing it as you go along! Keep your original AI output as proof that you have completely changed and made it into your own.

Use it for those difficult sentences that you think could be better phrased. For example to pull up 10 alternative sentences, even more! Then sit back and read through them and tweak as needed.

The same is true for structural analysis. This involves sorting out pacing problems, revealing weak or repetitive phrasing. Though ensure you tell it the exact genre and audience, or the output is generic. Plus, if you use dialects and local words it tends just to be annoying, unless you tell it to ignore them.

This tip might be in the unsafe category as AIs make mistakes. But you can use it to check historical facts as a shortcut to trawling through internet sites. Using AI as a search assistant you can summarize background material, compile quick facts, and produce concise timelines. Though I think historical bloggers and folks with passion, sharing their experience online would appreciate direct links, comments and reads!

Sort out those mechanical, time sucking edits. This includes grammar, punctuation, consistency checks, and basic line edits to save time before human revision. However, it does make mistakes and has a nasty habit of rewriting what you don’t want and introducing new errors. So, for a professional finish hire a proofreader.

Have you heard of prompt templates? These are instructions capture what you want the AI to do, the tone you want, constraints, and examples that instruct the AI to follow each time. It means any resulting text better matches your voice and constraints. For instance, do you want UK or US English? Are you writing horror or young adult fiction?

Type up your blurb/synopsis ideas for the back of the book and ask the AI to create it for you using your text. Use more detailed instructions for more specific results. I tested AI for this, but found it oversimplified the text and introduced phrasing I didn’t like. So it’s a shortcut, but not a perfect one.

Evaluate your sentences for reading-level, age, accessibility checks. If your writing YA there may be complex things you don’t want, or need explanation and definitions in the novel. So it is handy to evaluate sentence complexity.

Things to be careful of:

• Document AI usage where required — disclose AI assistance to collaborators, publishers, or platforms following industry or contractual rules.
• Verify factual details independently — cross-check dates, technical facts, cultural practices, and legal info with authoritative sources.

Unsafe practices

Using it to draft a complete novel, because even if it takes your ideas and creates something new, only paid AI versions can guarantee that the resulting text is plagiarism and copyright free. So do your own writing and enjoy the process. Some ChatGPS promise to ensure plagerist-free text if you upgrade to a paid version, but do the necessary background checks for this.

Replicating another author’s voice. Someone has worked hard to produce a book, regardless of how long it takes to read. That’s just outright stealing.

Be sure to check the facts. AI can get specialised details wrong (medical, legal, historical facts). Best use your brain to think about each reply and verify from a more trusted source.

Do double check possible violations of privacy checks on the AI you use, will it ever leak data? Those that can claim broad license over your text can unintentionally transfer author rights. Examples which aren’t that clear, from my experience (bearing in mind this constantly changes) are: Adobe free AI tools, Grammarly.

Grammarly’s public Terms of Service have included language that grants the company broad rights to use user content to provide and improve its services, which is the kind of clause writers should watch for.

Copilot? Microsoft 365 Copilot documentation states that prompts and data accessed through Microsoft Graph are not used to train foundation LLMs and makes specific enterprise privacy and data-residency commitments. For Copilot however you need to upgrade to a paid plan to have protection. Or delete saved drafts and prompts in your Copilot history. Opt out of having your conversations used to train Microsoft’s models and disable personalization in the consumer Copilot settings.

The take away

Always revise AI output yourself or with trusted editors. Ask yourself if you are writing the book, cause if the AI is, then check out my ethics and AI article, and also ask then why write?

Keep copies of the AI outputs you have edited as proof to protect yourself as an author that your work is genuine, as brains come up with the same ideas sometimes!

About Emma

My new book is out! The Secret Cult of the Miners’ Library. As an introvert haunting the corners of storytelling festivals, it’s incredibly difficult to track Emma down. She’s best known for writing Scottish fiction about working-class women and communities and their misrepresented lives. You can find her other book A Gypsy’s Curse here. Or get writing help here.

L’article How to safely use AI as an author, and should you? est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

Recognizing the Gypsy, Irish Traveller, and Roma Communities in the UK Census

The Gypsy, Irish Traveller, and Roma communities have long been an integral part of the UK’s cultural tapestry. However, their recognition in official records has been a relatively recent development. The 2011 UK Census marked a significant milestone by officially acknowledging the “Gypsy or Irish Traveller” ethnic group, allowing for a more accurate representation of these communities in demographic data. This inclusion was further expanded in the 2021 Census with the introduction of a new category for “Roma.” Thereupon, we will explore the historical context of these terms, why “Gypsy” was once considered a slur, and how the journey towards inclusivity has evolved.

Historical Context and the Term “Gypsy”

The term “Gypsy” has a complex and often contentious history. It originated from the mistaken belief that the Romani people, who began arriving in Europe around the 14th century, were from Egypt. This mislabeling led to the term “Gypsy,” which has been used to describe the Romani people ever since¹.

Historically, the term “Gypsy” was often used pejoratively, reflecting widespread prejudice and discrimination against the Romani people. They were frequently marginalized, stereotyped as criminals, and subjected to various forms of persecution, including forced assimilation and violence². The negative connotations associated with the term “Gypsy” contributed to its perception as a slur by many within the Romani community³.

The Shift Towards Inclusivity

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to use more respectful and accurate terminology when referring to the Romani people and other similar communities. This shift is part of a broader movement towards inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. The term “Roma” is now widely accepted as the preferred term for the Romani people, reflecting their true ethnic identity and heritage⁴. Other cultures prefer being called Gypsy and Traveller.

Basically, the inclusion of the “Gypsy or Irish Traveller” category in the 2011 UK Census was a significant step. One towards acknowledging the unique identities and experiences of these communities. It allowed for a more accurate representation in demographic data, which is crucial for addressing their specific needs and challenges⁵. The 2021 Census further expanded this recognition by introducing a separate category for “Roma,” ensuring that the distinct identities within these communities are properly acknowledged⁶.

The Importance of Accurate Representation

Accurate representation in official records is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to ensure that the needs of these communities are properly understood and addressed. By collecting accurate demographic data, policymakers can develop targeted initiatives to improve access to education, healthcare, housing, and other essential services⁵.

Secondly, it helps to combat stereotypes and prejudice. By recognizing the unique identities and contributions of the Gypsy, Irish Traveller, and Roma communities, society can move towards greater understanding and acceptance. This, in turn, can help to reduce discrimination and promote social cohesion⁶.

Honouring their rich heritage

To sum up, the journey towards inclusivity and accurate representation continues. For the Gypsy, Irish Traveller, and Roma communities in the UK. It has been a long and challenging road. The official recognition of these communities in the 2021 UK Census is a significant milestone. One that reflects a broader commitment to cultural sensitivity and respect. By continuing to use respectful and accurate terminology, we can honour the rich heritage and contributions of these communities. And, in conclusion, to hopefully work towards a more inclusive society.

¹: Grammarphobia ²: National Organization for Women ³: JSTOR Daily ⁴: Smithsonian ⁵: VisitScotland ⁶: GMCVO

L’article The Journey to Inclusion est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

I have been reflecting on that since October …

Do I write or be a social media influencer?

It seems, after talking to some fellow book and play writers that publishers have been asking that question increasingly. It’s not enough to have won a writing prize (Just Imagine Short Story Competition, for A Traveller’s Daughter). It’s not enough to have done creative writing courses (St Andrew’s MA, and Curtis Brown course).

I do not intend this post to be a rant about changing technologies and curcumstances. I have been writing for over twenty years. You used to have to post things away on paper and pay for postage, so the industry has improved in that sense. I am still waiting for them to do away with cover letters and just read the writing.

I really enjoyed the Curtis Brown writing course with David Nicholls. We watched videos, read and did tasks. The feedback from Anthony Trevelyn was invaluable. It gave me the confidence in my writing.

This high was swiftly followed by the realisation that I can’t get traditionally published unless I have a following on social media. I have always focused more on my writing, as that is the most important aspect (to actually write).

Social media dilemma

Now, I am told I should have also spent the last twenty years posting online. Hmmm. My current focus is my quality of life. I love gardening, writing (of course), reading, and seeing my friends and family. I detest social media and all the posing involved. I’m not a pouty, glam person. I’m a writer.

Returning to university as a mature student has improved the depth of my writing. But I’m going to save time here and type and post without editing, cause life is happening all around us. Not on this screen. Any time spent here takes away from the business of living (in my experience). Which may resonate with those of us who grew up without mobiles, computers and the Internet.

I had hoped that lockdown would lead people to spend more time with loved ones, and reading, and less on social media. Has it?

Social media a publisher’s perspective

I understand from a publisher’s perspective because they want to sell books. But I feel sceptical that if we spend time learning marketing, social media, etc., etc., when does the writing happen? I am downsizing my life, so no thanks. I will provide a link in my books so people can get a little freebie short story when they sign up to the mailing list. But I am drawing a firm No under this one. I am not a social media celebrity, neither do I want to be one. I want to write, write, read, and write. So … perhaps like H.C. Andersen I will die in obscurity. But popularalism isn’t for me, isnae, as we say in Scotland. I don’t need fame, and if some readers find my books in the millions of other works out there great.

I wish you pleasant reading. And a full life away from the screens that try to dominate our lives if we let it.

Emma Parfitt, February 6th 2019.
© Helen Pugh Photography
Tel: 07837533051

Who is Emma?

As an introvert haunting the corners of storytelling festivals, it’s incredibly difficult to track Emma down. She’s best known for writing Scottish fiction about working-class women and communities and their misrepresented lives.You can find her recent book A Friendship of Thistles here.

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First lines. Confused? May be we sweat a little too much about first impressions. There’s nothing to them. The best way to find them is often to write and a sentence will jump out at some stage. In other words, don’t worry about first lines until you’ve written the entire manuscript. Controversial? Possibly.

Yet, now and again as a writer I do like to focus on a certain element of a book. For example, first lines. Because you never know when you’ll learn something new. For example, casting my eye over some of the novels books I have read this year reveals the following:-

Some quotations

Dylan was six years old when I noticed a mark behind his left ear the size of a thumbprint

—After the End, Clare Mackintosh

My calendar is full of dead people.

—The book of two ways, Jodi Picoult

I am scared of my wife’s eyes.

—The beekeeper of Aleppo, Christy Lefteri

I have heard it said, by those that cannot possibly know, that in the final moments of a man’s existence he sees his whole life pass before his eyes.

—Bellman & Black, Diane Setterfield

Megan’s legs swung forward, back … thump, forward, back … thump, on the picnic bench.

—Shattered Roses, E.L. Parfitt

I have told Eileen to get rid of all of the mirrors.

—Away with the penguins, Hazel Prior

Listen.

—The giver of stars, Jojo Moyes

At night I would lie in bed and watch the show, how bees squeezed through the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that propeller sound, a high-pitched zzzzzz that hummed along my skin.

—The secret life of bees, Sue Monk Kidd

So great was the noise during the day that I used to lie awake at night listening to the silence.

—A far cry from Kensington, Muriel Spark

A brass bell chimes as an unexpected visitor pulls its cord.

—A Friendship of Thistles, E.L. Parfitt

When I was seven, I found a door.

—The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alix E. Harrow

In the vast, steep garden or Bell Gardia, great gusts of wind lashed the plants.

—The Phone Box at the Edge of the World, Laura Imai Messina

Jonah Hancock’s counting-house is built wedge-shaped and coffered like a ship’s cabin, whitewashed walls and black skirting, beam pegged snugly to beam.

—The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, Imogen Hermes Gowar

The baby’s black crying wormed and bloomed.

—Conjure Women, Afia Atakora

Marsh is not swamp.

—Where the crawdad’s sing, Delia Owens

Final thoughts

A lot of shorter sentences mentioning death and bees, some with a nice rhyme to them, some catching humour or an unusual aspect, others more descriptive of the setting or atmosphere (I sneaked in a few of my own there). So however you start your book some reader out there is bound to resonate with it once you have found your voice. That is, if it’s a good one.

Megan’s legs swung forward, back … thump, forward, back … thump, on the picnic bench.

—Shattered Roses, E.L. Parfitt

Currently promoting your book? If you click the link here and mention my name you’ll get one free month of book promotion as part of a review programme. Think review exchange.

L’article First lines: the importance of est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

The story of Heather and Fran brings Edinburgh alive, during lockdown from 2019 to 2020. From a working-class perspective, Parfitt has created a memorable in-depth look at friendship and community. A Friendship of Thistles is also the story of a nation divided. Through the lives of Fran and Heather, Parfitt gives her readers the story of a country and its people undergoing stupendous change to remind us of the importance of community.

The book is about contemporary Scotland, about relationships, about the resilience of friendship, about hope and faith during adversity. A smattering of politics about Brexit and the Covid lockdown in 2020.

About the book A Friendship of Thistles

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I was stopped in my tracks today by this humble sentence about a character’s eyes from Jodi Picoult’s The Book of Two Ways:

 

“They made me think of the heart of a glacier, of how, even when you touch dry ice with your bare skin, you cannot let go even if you try.”(p.18)

 

Egyptian hieroglyphs

She’d already won me over at this stage with her depictions of Egyptian hieroglyphs and history and references to IndianaJones. What I love about this sentence is the sensory and emotional experience. I’m sick of reading she/he had green or grey eyes when the majority of people have brown, followed by blue (in certain cultural contexts). So blue eyes, check, while avoiding the cliche’s of a lake, the sky, etc. Double check! We instead get treated to ice reflecting the sky in its centre in a form of a glacier. Making me feel the character’s cold disinterest in me.

Word choice

Then she choses the word ‘dry’ reinforcing this lack of life, and yet ‘with your bare skin’ brings to mind the sensual. Exactly. The women is describing an ex-lover. Thus, being stuck to the ice (‘you cannot let go’) is more about tongue and lolly freeze. We are transported to a place of shivery recognition of the attraction she is describing. It wasn’t a mistake Picoult used ‘heart’ after all. She does not want to become unstuck from this man. As a reader, I assume at this point as I haven’t read further, the story will bring them into contact once more. No spoilers here. Combined, physical, emotional and narrative connections work together in one simple sentence. Doesn’t feel so simple after all now, does it?

 Continued reading …

Okay, excuse me, I have to go and read some more …

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