As writers, we always want our writing to not just be read and forgotten. We think and write hard to leave an impression and be remembered by our readers. That’s why, if I’m asked about the definition of “impactful writing”, I will say that impactful writing is writing that successfully sparks public discussion and dialogue on certain issues that are important for the welfare of society. Not just ‘merely’ writing that describes an issue or factual condition in the field.
This demand to produce impactful writing was expressed by Okky Madasari as the mentor in the “Writing Retreat Satu Pena 2024” event held on August 30, 31 and September 1, 2024 at De Pointe Resort, Puncak, Bogor. 25 writers participated in this writing retreat and were required to produce quality writing after brainstorming sessions, discussions, and receiving feedback/criticism.
As one of the participants, I also wrote. The topic given by the mentor was “Has the Indonesian people achieved independence?”. And since I live in Banten, I wanted to relate this major topic to the phenomenon of political dynasties in Banten, which is quite strong, and Okky then suggested that I examine this phenomenon from the theory of escape mechanisms developed by thinker Erich Fromm in 1942. I then tried to further sharpen the discussion in the essay I wrote based on Okky’s input.
As a writer, I have indeed often discussed and applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in my creative process. Some of my writings that discuss AI are “Important for Editors and Educators! This is How to Detect AI Writing”, “Why We Must Limit the Use of AI If We Still Love the Earth”, “AI as a Tool to Revive Local Media Businesses”, and others that you can read in my profile. One article I made with the help of AI even became a headline on Kompasiana and was read 1688 times until this writing was published: “Remembering Joko Pinurbo: He Once Burned Poems Because They Were Rejected by Publishers”.
From Dynasty to AI
Back to the writing retreat, when Okky reviewed the draft of my writing, she frankly said she liked it and that the development of my essay/opinion writing was better than the first draft paragraph I had previously submitted.
In this essay, I criticized the phenomenon of political dynasties in Banten (the dynasties of Ratu Atut, Jayabaya, and Natakusumah) and how political dynasties hinder the economic growth of a region (citing World Bank research data) and that this phenomenon arises because the people of Banten are still confused and unable to be independent because they are still uneducated and plagued by extreme poverty.
The short-term solution is to rely on a leader figure who can do everything for them because the lives of the Banten people are already difficult. Although in the long run, this kind of tendency will make it difficult for them to progress.
I theorized in the essay that the phenomenon of political dynasties can arise due to the greed of the regional political elite who have become indigenous comprador as well as the pampering of the lower middle class who are reluctant to change to progress. Because to progress, radical changes that are very uncomfortable are needed.
Since the committee and mentor previously did not mention a prohibition on using AI during the writing process, I used AI in the process of writing this essay. Because I haven’t finished reading, I used claude.ai to get a summary of the novel Max Havelaar which is set in Banten in the 1860s and the deplorable condition of the people under the Dutch forced cultivation system. I also used claude.ai to summarize Erich Fromm’s theory of escape mechanisms, which he wrote in the seminal “Fear of Freedom” (1942).
As I mentioned earlier, Okky as the mentor praised the content of my essay. However, shortly thereafter, a question arose from Wina Armada, one of the members of the Satu Pena Board of Trustees: “Did you use AI here?”
I honestly answered that I did use AI to write this essay more quickly and efficiently.
Danny J.A., the General Chairperson of Satu Pena, also gave a plea about the use of AI in creative works. He said that the use of AI in writing, as in the field of art, will be unstoppable because AI is an inevitable development of the times. As writers, we must be ready to welcome it, whether we like it or not.
From here, the discussion about my essay shifted to the question of whether writing made with AI should be included in books and how to apply ethics when a writer produces work with AI. Should they write openly that they used AI in their writing process?
A Discussion Trigger
From fellow writers, I also received various reactions. Young writers said they also write with AI, although they use software to paraphrase and polish the writing so that it is not detected by humans and other machines. Here I laugh inwardly. What’s the difference, since they’re all using AI? The difference is just admitting it or not, being caught or not.
Meanwhile, more conservative writers reject the use of AI in writing and the creative process. One even said, “I admire your honesty but I am disappointed in your actions.” In other words, he forbids the use of AI in the writing process.
It took some time to digest all these reactions, and I was able to think more clearly in responding to them after setting aside my enormous but fragile ego as a writer. It’s no secret that writers are very sensitive to criticism. Criticized a little can burn their self-esteem, make them angry and furious.
But I tried to separate my ego and my work. What they consider disgusting is my work that uses AI, not me as a person. That’s it. Thus, I can think and discuss more relaxed and open, even with those who disagree on the use of AI in writing.
But returning to the question of the definition of impactful writing, if I ask myself: “Has my essay had an impact?”, I think I will answer: “Yes. At least it has sparked a discussion about the ethics of using AI in the writing process.” Haha.
What about you? Are you pro or anti AI in writing? And if you’re anti-AI, is it because you don’t know how to use it or because you know how to use it but consider it cheating? Because I have to say, let’s not hate something just because we don’t understand it or are still unfamiliar with it. (*/)
P.S.: This writeup is not written from scratch with AI but translated from Indonesian with AI.
