We asked ChatGPT to write like Marian Keyes, John Boyne and ...
AI v authors John Boyne, Marian Keyes and Paul Howard We asked ChatGPT, the artificial-intelligence content generator, to write in the style of the bestselling authors John Boyne, Marian Keyes and the Irish Times columnist Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, aka Paul Howard. Could it do a convincing take – and what would those award-winning writers think of the robot’s attempts? The chatbot came up with its version of each author’s prose in mere seconds, which you can read below – along with each author’s responses.
Marian Keyes
Marian Keyes has sold more than 30 million copies of her novels, including Rachel’s Holiday, This Charming Man, Anybody Out There? and her latest, My Favourite Mistake. Her recent bestseller Grown Ups is being adapted for television by Netflix.
John Boyne
John Boyne is the author of several acclaimed novels for adults and younger readers, including The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, A Ladder to the Sky, The Heart’s Invisible Furies and The Echo Chamber. His novels are published in more than 50 languages.
Paul Howard
Paul Howard, the creator of Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, is the author of 24 satirical novels set in the south Dublin stomping ground of Ireland’s most notorious rugby jock. Howard recently announced that the next Ross book, Don’t Look Back in Ongar, will be the last, although he will continue to write Ross’s adventures in his weekly Irish Times column.
The Writing Experiment
The old, dilapidated house loomed in front of me, its weathered facade a stark reminder of the secrets that lay buried within its walls. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I was ready to confront the ghosts of my past that had haunted me for so long.
As I stepped inside, the musty scent of dust and neglect filled my nostrils, sending a shiver down my spine. Memories flooded back to me in a rush, each one a painful reminder of the events that had led me to this moment.
I made my way through the darkened hallways, the floorboards creaking beneath my feet as if whispering their own secrets to me. I knew I was getting closer to the truth, closer to the answers I had been seeking for so long.
Finally, I reached the room at the end of the hall, the room where it had all begun. With trembling hands, I opened the door and stepped inside, the weight of years of guilt and regret heavy on my shoulders.
But as I looked around the room, I realised that the past was just that – the past. And in that moment, I knew that I had the power to shape my own future, to let go of the pain and finally find peace.
John Boyne's Response
Every writer has some device they unintentionally rely on in their prose. A few years ago, I realised that every time I wanted to slow a scene down, a character would ‘hesitate for a moment and look away’. So it was hard not to laugh when I reached the second sentence of ChatGPT’s offering and found most of this phrase there.
The writing is bland, generic stuff, lacking any wit or originality, so obviously it’s a million miles away from my own work, which fizzes with humour and crackles with inventiveness! However, I’ll admit the themes are a little familiar. After all, hidden secrets, long-repressed memories, and suggestions of emotional resolution appear in my novels more often than red-dye recipes cribbed from The Legend of Zelda. But, ultimately, it feels more like parody than plagiarism – and shouldn’t parodies make people laugh? This just feels stilted.
Ross O’Carroll-Kelly's Response
I was standing in the queue at the coffee shop, trying to decide between a double-shot macchiato or a caramel frappuccino. A difficult decision, I know, but one that had to be made with the utmost care – after all, my reputation as a coffee connoisseur was at stake.
As I waited for my coffee, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me. Life may be full of uncertainties and challenges, but one thing was for sure – I, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, would always know how to enjoy the finer things in life.
Paul Howard's Response
As I sipped my third cup of tea that morning, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me like a heavy fog. The sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room, but inside, I felt cold and lost.
Little did I know, those letters would hold the key to unlocking secrets long buried, and setting me on a path towards healing and redemption.
