closing that thought model
a review and an experiment
I really do not like the cover of this book, so I will not get it. However, I like its structure a lot. It could be an hour-long lecture on writing for any of the disciplines contributing to the creative industry. All books of the genre seem to have similar contents but use words differently. There is consistency of process, which is of four parts. Before getting to the middle, a note about the beginning is essential. There is no blank page in the age of generative AI. There is so much material, that any writing is but first an assembling of found pieces of text to either make up a text or references to go along.
These days, if you have a book title, description, and contents, it is enough to dump it into an LLM and x-ray, a reading of what could be. There is thus no blank page; bits of texts everywhere force you to be modular, and any act of creation comprises four stages. There is no method but just a complete process, to force methods is an overkill. Once you have a block of notes, it is subject to a forced outline. Trying to connect the bits gives you the draft and this you go on to edit. My resale is a four draft process, or architectural thinking, a sum of art, planning, design and engineering.
The writing building blocks are revealing. It is a definite beginner stance. You start with sentences, then build them into paragraphs. That is basic. Paragraphs become narratives; is the stage of learning after. Ideas don’t always just fall into place, you have to move them around manually or get the bot to recommend revisions. Two years with bots can change the way you think about fixing the work you output. I haven’t got to this phase myself but after the narrative, fixing phrases and fine-tuning words to get a ring to the text is a new thought space I found exists. There is a book of architectural writing between this and Warner’s manual.
Experiments: Often, I review what I wrote on different LLMs, even obscure ones I have tried. They do not always have anything positive to say. How they perform has kept changing, so for my purposes, they are not quite there as an aid. There are times when results require unpacking. My prompt is relatively standard, {review the text, list its inconsistencies, and recommend revisions based on the recommendations}. If need be, I request a {rewrite based on the suggestions}. AI to address brings an added paradigm that can disrupt regimental or structured human thinking.
Findings: Of the two, I lean more towards the ChatGPT output. It has directly rewritten my block of text, fixing the narrative inconsistencies. Claude accounts for the reaction to the book outline and my text block. Both prompts are the same. With a few more revisions, I could get a similar set of three paragraphs. I am intrigued by the conclusions, both of which state that I have found the book to be beginner reading material. The process of writing may be designed, but it is consumed as an art. As with all creative knowledge products, patronage governs credentials and quality of work.
ChatGPT
The structure of *Writing is not Magic, it’s Design* is appealing, transforming the daunting task of writing into a process that’s accessible to designers. It could easily serve as the basis for a valuable lecture on writing across creative disciplines. However, in an era of generative AI, the traditional concept of a “blank page” feels increasingly obsolete. With so much available material, writing now often begins as an assembly of existing texts — pieces and references combined to either create something new or to build upon what’s already there.
This book’s four-stage process — Note, Outline, Draft, Edit — is practical yet feels rigid in light of AI’s potential to make these stages more fluid. There is value in process, yet forcing a set method may feel excessive when today’s AI-assisted tools allow writers to modularize and repurpose content naturally. Notes lead to outlines almost intuitively, and drafts emerge as you interconnect ideas, transforming writing into a seamless flow rather than a staged progression. Here, my approach to writing parallels architectural thinking — a process of art, planning, design, and engineering that evolves without strict adherence to method.
The book’s “Writing Building Blocks” section, which encourages starting with sentences and progressing to paragraphs, then narratives, provides a solid foundation for beginners. AI, however, reshapes this approach, allowing for faster evolution from basic construction to complex expression, where suggestions for revisions can be automated. Although I haven’t fully adopted this approach myself, I recognize that with AI, a new realm of fine-tuning and phrase-crafting is emerging. In this sense, the book feels like an introductory step within a broader journey — a useful guide that bridges the gap between traditional writing methods and more fluid, AI-enhanced processes that many writers are now exploring.
Claude
A Modern Perspective on Writing Process: Review of “Writing is not Magic, it’s Design”
Context and Structure
The book “Writing is not Magic, it’s Design” presents a structured approach to writing for creative professionals, organizing the writing process into clear, sequential stages. While the book’s structure effectively mirrors traditional writing methodology, it prompts a crucial discussion about how modern tools, particularly AI, are transforming the writing landscape.
The Myth of the Blank Page
The book’s premise about the “blank page” challenge requires reconsideration in our current context. In the age of generative AI, we rarely face a truly blank page. Instead, writers begin with an abundance of material — existing texts, references, and AI-generated content. The contemporary challenge isn’t overcoming blankness, but rather skillfully assembling and curating the wealth of available information.
Process vs. Method: A Critical Analysis
The book presents a four-part process that aligns with traditional writing approaches. However, I’d argue that while the process is consistent across creative disciplines, treating it as a rigid method may be restrictive. Drawing parallels from architectural thinking — a field I’m familiar with — writing can be viewed as a synthesis of art, planning, design, and engineering. This framework offers more flexibility than a prescribed method:
- Art: Initial creative impulse and conceptual development
- Planning: Organization and structural decisions
- Design: Crafting the narrative and flow
- Engineering: Technical refinement and optimisation
Building Blocks and Beyond
The book’s focus on fundamental building blocks (sentences and paragraphs) serves beginners well but could acknowledge more advanced stages of writing development. The progression I’ve observed follows this path:
- Basic: Sentence and paragraph construction
- Intermediate: Narrative development and flow
- Advanced: Fine-tuning for rhythm and resonance
The AI Integration Perspective
Two years of working with AI tools has revealed new dimensions in the writing process. Modern writing involves:
- Strategic use of AI for initial content generation
- Hybrid approach to revision (manual and AI-assisted)
- Development of new skills in prompt engineering and content curation
- Evolution from pure creation to intelligent assembly and refinement
Advanced Considerations
Beyond the book’s scope, there’s an emerging “new thought space” in writing — the realm of fine-tuning and phrasal adjustment for optimal impact. This space exists between basic writing mechanics and what’s covered in more specialized texts like Warner’s manual of architectural writing. It’s an area that merits further exploration, especially as AI tools become more sophisticated.
Synthesis of Traditional and Modern Approaches
While the book provides a solid foundation for understanding writing structure, contemporary writers need to bridge traditional methodology with modern tools:
- Content Generation: Leveraging AI while maintaining authentic voice
- Organization: Combining classical structure with dynamic, AI-assisted reorganization
- Revision: Integrating manual editing with AI-powered suggestions
- Refinement: Developing an ear for language while utilizing technological assistance
Conclusion
“Writing is not Magic, it’s Design” offers valuable structural insights for beginners in creative fields. However, the rapidly evolving landscape of writing tools and methodologies suggests the need for an updated framework that acknowledges both traditional writing principles and modern technological capabilities. The future of writing lies not in choosing between classical methods and AI assistance, but in thoughtfully integrating both to enhance creative expression and communication effectiveness.
The book serves as a useful starting point for understanding writing mechanics, but practitioners should view it as one component in a broader toolkit that includes both traditional techniques and contemporary tools. The real magic of writing in the modern era lies in the synthesis of methodical process, creative insight, and technological augmentation.
