Witerati: Of Writer's Block & ChatGPT's Unlock
ChatGPT has become ubiquitous in the writing world. It features everywhere - from newspaper headlines and op-ed pages to television channels and social media handles. It has become so pervasive that it's comparable to the omnipresence of Big Brother from 1984. ChatGPT is like a sauce from a Subway sandwich that manages to trickle onto all of your clothes, and it's hard to get rid of it. A recent literary debate focused on the benefits and drawbacks of ChatGPT. The speakers discussed how ChatGPT can produce customised romantic couplets and even help with penning poems like Rumi when one is romantically challenged. But the most intriguing claim was that when grappling with a lack of ideas to write a book or newspaper column, ChatGPT could produce a million different storylines to choose from.
But does ChatGPT's AI technology mean an end to the uniquely human writer's block? It is a daunting prospect for many writers who consider it an occupational hallmark. Even the most skilled writers have faced writer's block at some point. For some writers, a block was proportionate to the number of cigarette butts piling up around their workstation. Editors have often been seen blowing smoke rings as they try to brainstorm an idea. Suddenly, a perfect idea would come to mind, and the block would lift. For other writers, endless cups of tea or coffee were the solution to their writer's block. It had a direct correlation to the severity of their writer's block. Some writers used various tricks to overcome writer's block, such as using a paperweight as a pen. A quick spin of the paperweight was enough to inspire them. The paperweight would spin faster when the writer's block became more severe. However, ChatGPT risks taking away the struggles that are inherent in writer's block. With the tap of an app, writers can overcome their blocks in seconds or minutes, rather than spending hours or weeks brainstorming ideas.
If you're struggling to write like Shashi Tharoor, ChatGPT can help. The technology can now generate ideas in a matter of seconds, helping writers create better content. However, some argue that this makes writing too easy and that the struggles are the essence of writing. Regardless of the outcome, ChatGPT's AI technology is sure to change the face of writing and may even make writer's block a thing of the past.
