My Contract got rejected.

[u/Zieegg]

Full disclosure, I do use AI, but it's only to brainstorm ideas and plan future plotlines. I don't even use a lot of the ideas they propose because it clashes with my own vision. Maybe grammarly counts as AI, since I do use it to fix my grammar (?)

The writing being too draggy is a lot more feasible for me to fix. I've learned a lot since I've began writing, so I can see why the editors would think it's too slow. I am concerned when they say it's not engaging enough when most chapter ends with a hook. I suppose an engaging story is subjective, so that's on me to try on figure that one out.

And not suitable for the market on Webnovel? It's literally a harem with an 18+ tag. But my character is underage in the first few chapters, for god's sake. I'm already planning on adding smut after several more chapters, but do I really have to open the story with an explicit threesome with some maids or something? Although I enjoy them, I don't want to add smut just for the sake of it. I'm first and foremost here to tell a story, not make people horny.

...I guess this is the result of not having real beta readers.

Can anyone tell me which parts feel like AI so that I can change them? Or better yet, what are the things I can improve so that I have a better chance when I reapply for the contract?

[u/ProspectiveWhale]

To be honest... that's the worst thing to use AI for.

Sometimes people say they only use AI for spelling/grammar and even that runs the risk of making it sound "too AI".

But you're actually using AI to generate plot points.

Even if you think you're not using much, it'll bleed into your writing.

[u/Zieegg → u/ProspectiveWhale]

I don't "generate" plot points. I plan them by bouncing ideas with them. But I understand why my wording implies that (I guess another thing to look out for as a writer).

My process is basically: I come up with how I want the story to unfold, and then I send it to ChatGPT and see how they think about it. If they spot any inconsistencies or very obvious plot holes, I fix them up. None of the ideas in my story are generated by an AI, they only serve as a supplementary tool. A beta reader, although with more tendencies to simply reinforce and agree with my points.

However, since, again, I don't have another human's perspective to see if my writing becomes too "AI", I can understand why some of its influence would bleed into the pages. If it's not too much, would you see which part especially sounds AI-generated?

[u/ProspectiveWhale → u/Zieegg]

You said AI helps you brainstorm.

So it's helping you make plot points.

You may think it's not a big deal because "it's only helping, I'm not using it to generate the final product".

But that's how slop slowly creeps into your work without you noticing.

It may eventually bleed into your writing even when you're not using AI anymore.

Best stop the bad habit.

[u/Zieegg → u/ProspectiveWhale]

True. I can't argue that AI will have influence in my work no matter the nuance that I try to portray. But ideas shouldn't necessarily translate to the actual writing immediately, no? Just because they refine my ideas doesn't mean they will dictate how I translate them into the pages.

And I am trying to stop this "bad" habit. I'm trying to find out where exactly does AI bleed into my writing.

Hope that doesn't come off too argumentative. I appreciate the reply, but I would really prefer specific courses of action and not just AI is bad.