By Braam Pretorius

Every now and then, the world of books erupts in debate. The latest? Whether an author can still call themselves an “author” if they used AI while writing.

You may have seen the recent headline: “Rie Qudan, Japanese Author, Prize winning novel written partly with ChatGPT!” 

Some readers cheer; others clutch their hands together in silent prayer. Meanwhile, I can’t help but smile. Because honestly, it reminds me of that one wild bearded author in his bungalow somewhere in the bush.

Picture him:

He insists he writes the pure way. Only a pencil and paper. Only by candlelight, and not a store-bought candle, mind you, but one he made himself from goat fat. His bungalow has no glass windows (too modern), just a hole in the mud wall. When the wind blows through, he nods wisely: “The wind must taste my words before any reader does.”

Good for him. Really. But here’s the thing, does his method make the story better? Or is it just another quirky flex, like people who boast about running barefoot marathons?

For me, the joy is in storytelling. And storytelling is about connection, not the tools. Whether you write on stone tablets, a MacBook, or with the help of AI, what matters is whether the words reach someone’s heart.

I have now written nineteen books using AI to edit my work. And I don’t hide it, I celebrate it! In fact, every book proudly acknowledges that the words were crafted using AI for research and editing.

So let others guard their goat fat candles and muddy rondawels. I'll keep telling stories with all the tools at my disposal. Because in the end, I believe that the reader doesn’t care how the words were written. They only care if the words made them laugh, cry, or stay up way past midnight turning pages.

And if that’s “impure”… well, pass me another chapter, boet.