Is writing dead and what will replace it?

I going around the bookstore last weekend and felt genuine sadness. The sincere joy I used to feel when learning from an author feels long gone. While there are a lot of authors who do not use AI to think, my brain does not want to filter through who is genuine or not. It’s not to say those that use AI is not genuine. Of course not. AI-enhanced work implies laziness (critics feel free to come at me) and I feel robbed reading it.

I have trust issues now with text that is published post-ChatGPT.

The easiest way to feel that joy of reading again is to read books pre-ChatGPT. When I am 100% sure that the authors would research their work and write them in paper by hand before turning the text into a book. Or compile their words in thousand page long MS Word or Google Doc files. Not prompt a machine and let it write the full text for you.

Is writing dead? No it’s not. Especially if it’s for ourselves.

Is writing for others dead? No it’s not, if the other person has the attention span to read it and trusts you enough to read your words. That or your story is interesting.

Is reading dead? No, if we develop the patience and love for the text in front of us.

I don’t know what next for literature or writing. If people will continue to read because they have no choice even if it’s AI-enhanced. Who knows, AI-enhanced might be even better than human work. But what is better?

All I know is I hope sincere work doesn’t die. That laziness doesn’t win. That genuine craft where time is invested is respected. With respect from readers and the commercial world, hopefully sincere authors will feel inspired to put their soul into paper again and bless us with their gift.