When I sit down to write, whether on this blog or any of my others, I can get a little carried away. To say I become preoccupied, or even slightly controlling with my time, might be putting it mildly. When an idea strikes, my attention narrows, conversations fade, and my focus sharpens to an almost uncomfortable intensity. It’s not the most pleasant of sensations, but it’s undeniably part of who I am. I do my best thinking and creating in solitude, which is why welcoming my newest collaborator, ChatGPT, has been both a challenge and an intriguing change.
The above paragraph was edited and “smoothed” by ChatGPT.
I’ll admit, I was a skeptic when it came to this whole AI phenomenon. I first heard about it when everyone else did – amid the buzz of new data centers, endless web scraping, and a flood of random questions and answers. At first, I dismissed it as nothing more than a glorified search engine. But recently, I’ve discovered it’s far more than that; so much more that I’ve now woven it into my daily workflow. To say I’ve been impressed would be an understatement.
AI Is Great at Proofreading
Ideally, I’ve always needed another set of eyes to edit my posts. If you’ve ever written a blog post or an article, you know how easy it is to become blind to your own words. That’s why it’s often recommended to proofread outside the blog editor, and better still, to have someone else do the proofreading for you. When working alone, I’ve followed the advice of reading my drafts outside the editor, and it’s been surprisingly effective. I’ve caught more mistakes than I can count; mostly spelling errors. But when it comes to grammar and sentence flow, solo proofreading can only take a person so far.
These days, I rely on an AI writing editor called LanguageTool for my proofreading. It’s one of hundreds of similar tools out there, and its free version is solid. It catches spelling and grammar mistakes and offers useful suggestions, but more nuanced feedback, like advice on sentence structure, comes at a cost. While I have no doubt the premium service is worth the price, I’m not entirely convinced it’s something I’m ready to invest in.
Here’s how my process works: I write a paragraph in my blog editor and, once I’m satisfied with it, I copy and paste it into the LanguageTool editor for review. Any suggested changes are underlined, and with a click, they’re corrected automatically. It’s straightforward and it works.
Enter ChatGPT
A few weeks ago, I began using ChatGPT in earnest to support my blogging efforts. After registering for an account, I was immediately struck by its capabilities. For editing, it’s similar to LanguageTool – only seemingly supercharged. At first, I opened the app just to experiment, tossing out random questions like “What’s the meaning of life?” and “Will humans ever really live on Mars?” My aim was to simply test the system. The responses, however, were astonishing. After a bit more experimenting, a light bulb went off: if ChatGPT could handle so much, why not have it help me edit my paragraphs as well? As it turns out, it can, and quite effectively.
Artificial Intelligence for Editing
Below is a paragraph I wrote entirely on the fly, aiming to make it as absurd as possible. I intentionally filled it with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
I have the most bestest friends in the world. There real great. I once had so many of them but now I have less of them. That’s fine, because all I really need to be happy is my wife and I.
I copied the paragraph and then asked this of ChatGPT:
Can you please edit a paragraph for me for correction?
ChatGPT replied:
Of course — please paste the paragraph here, and I’ll revise it for clarity, grammar, and flow while keeping your intended meaning intact.
Notice the Oxford comma in the reply. Brilliant.
I pasted the paragraph into ChatGPT and below is our entire exchange:
Here’s a corrected and smoother version of your paragraph:
I have the best friends in the world. They’re truly great. I used to have many, but now I have fewer. That’s fine, because all I really need to be happy are my wife and me.
Would you like me to also make it sound a bit warmer and more heartfelt while keeping it simple?
Yes, please.
Here’s a warmer, more heartfelt rewrite:
I’m lucky to have the best friends in the world. They mean a lot to me. Over time, I’ve had many, but now just a few remain — and that’s okay. All I really need to be happy is the love I share with my wife and the close friends who are still by my side.
Thank you.
You’re welcome — glad I could help polish it up for you.
Oh, one more thing. Can you please make this paragraph sound like Old English?
Here’s your paragraph rewritten in an older, more archaic English style:
I count myself most fortunate to possess the finest of friends in all the world, for they are dear unto me. In times past I did number many among my fellowship, yet now but a few remain, and this contenteth me well. For all that I require to know happiness is the love I share with my good wife and the steadfast companions who yet abide by my side.
Can you now make the paragraph rhyme?
Here’s your paragraph rewritten in a rhyming style while keeping the Old English-inspired tone:
Most blessed am I with friends so true,
Their worth to me none else could do.
Once many stood within my hall,
Now few remain, yet I want not all.
For joy I find in my dear wife’s grace,
And loyal friends who keep their place.
I’m sure I don’t need to convince you of the potential I’ve discovered. It’s a little harsh to admit, but if I were paying someone to edit my work, their job wouldn’t be secure for much longer; I’ve found their replacement. Sadly, this shift is happening across the world, but with work of this quality, it’s difficult to fault anyone for making the change.
Artificial Intelligence for Summarizing
One of the most time-consuming parts of blogging is the research. At the moment I’m working on a post about the most popular magazines of the 1980s. The idea came to me recently and I thought it would be an interesting and nostalgic topic to explore.
At first I planned to write about a few of my own favorite magazines and then invite readers to share theirs in the comments. Once I began writing in earnest, however, I realized I should include the magazines that truly influenced the nation and the world. I read, researched, and explored different sources until I’d compiled a list of nineteen magazines that now need to be studied and summarized. What began as a simple post has turned into something much more involved, requiring hours of research and writing.
I had an idea. Rather than reading through each magazine’s Wikipedia page and official website to learn when it was first launched, what its primary focus was, and how it has influenced its readers, I could simply ask ChatGPT to provide a summary for me and use that as my starting point.
This is what I asked of ChatGPT:
Can you please describe National Lampoon magazine during the 1980s?
The chatbot produced an excellent summary of the magazine for the timeframe I requested. I won’t include the entire summary here, but I will share the final paragraph.
In the 1980s, National Lampoon was still an unpredictable, edgy humor magazine—part parody factory, part counterculture prankster—but it was also a brand increasingly defined by its movie and media spin-offs rather than the print magazine itself.
When it comes to saving time on researching almost any topic, artificial intelligence is the clear winner. It is simply too powerful a tool not to use.
Artificial Intelligence for Blog Post Ideas
I recall a conversation I had years ago with a budding blogger whose goal was to write about her life and her children’s experiences. She set up her blog and published a few posts, but after producing only a handful, she hit a wall and ran out of ideas. Discouraged, she came to me for advice. This is a common occurrence in the blogosphere, where many new writers quickly exhaust their topics and abandon their blogs as a result.
The advice I gave my friend still holds true today, although it may not suit every type of blogging. I told her, “Carry your camera wherever you go, and if you see something interesting, take a photo. Let that photo be your idea and your starting point. Build your post around the image and treat it as your muse.” She was overjoyed and grateful for the suggestion, and she continued blogging for a long time afterward.
The challenge is this: what if a blog is not built around images? In such cases, my advice of working from a photo wouldn’t apply. For text-based posts, bloggers must generate ideas on their own – a task that can quickly become daunting. So, what should a writer do when the well of inspiration runs dry?
I may have found the answer.
Before I share my current approach, let me first tell you what I used to do – and still occasionally do.
At the top of my web browser sits a bookmarked folder filled with links to my favorite blogs. There are about ten in total, and when I need inspiration, I browse through them to see what others are writing about. Often, all it takes is a title to spark an idea. I have never struggled with writer’s block, so if a headline catches my attention, I can run with it. The problem, of course, arises when my favorite bloggers are not writing about anything particularly engaging. In those moments, I’m left wondering where to turn next.
Here’s what I do: I turn to ChatGPT for ideas. To show you what I mean, let me share an example. Below is a recent conversation I had with the chatbot.
Can you please give me ideas for how a blogger can use ChatGPT for their blogging?
Sure — here are some practical and creative ways a blogger can use ChatGPT to make their blogging faster, easier, and more engaging.
Content Creation
- Brainstorm Blog Post Ideas
Generate fresh topics based on your niche or trending subjects. - Draft First Versions of Posts
Provide a rough outline or notes, and have ChatGPT turn them into a readable draft. - Rewrite or Rephrase Content
Take older posts and refresh them with updated language or style. - Create Catchy Headlines
Ask for multiple headline options and choose the one with the most punch.
Research & Summarizing
- Summarize Long Articles or Reports
Paste in long text and get a concise summary to work from. - Pull Key Facts on a Topic
Get quick overviews to speed up background research. - Compare Multiple Sources
Ask ChatGPT to highlight differences and similarities in various materials.
Editing & Proofreading
- Check Grammar and Flow
Have ChatGPT edit for clarity, style, and readability. - Offer Multiple Style Versions
Request formal, conversational, or persuasive rewrites. - Spot Repetition or Awkward Phrasing
Let it point out areas that could be tightened or improved.
SEO & Marketing
- Generate SEO-Friendly Keywords
Suggest search terms that can boost traffic for a post. - Write Meta Descriptions
Create short, compelling blurbs for search engine previews. - Create Social Media Captions
Turn a blog excerpt into shareable Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter posts.
Reader Engagement
- Create Quizzes or Polls
Use ChatGPT to draft interactive questions to include in your posts. - Write Email Newsletter Content
Generate summaries of recent posts to share with subscribers. - Answer Reader Questions
Turn FAQ-style responses into full blog posts.
Productivity & Organization
- Outline Blog Series
Plan a multi-part series with a clear structure. - Suggest Content Calendars
Organize upcoming post ideas for weeks or months ahead. - Repurpose Content
Convert a blog post into a script for a podcast or YouTube video.
If you want, I can give you a ready-to-use blogging workflow that integrates ChatGPT into every stage — from idea generation to promotion — so you never face writer’s block again.
Thank you. This is wonderful, but I think you may have misunderstood me. I’d like to write a new blog post. Can you give me the top ten most popular blogging topics that pertain to writing?
Here are ten popular blogging topics related to writing that consistently attract readers and engagement:
- Writing Tips and Techniques – Practical advice for improving grammar, style, tone, and clarity.
- Overcoming Writer’s Block – Strategies to spark creativity and keep the words flowing.
- Storytelling Skills – How to craft compelling narratives, whether for fiction or nonfiction.
- Self-Editing and Proofreading – Methods for refining drafts and catching mistakes.
- Writing Prompts and Exercises – Creative ideas to inspire new stories, essays, or poems.
- The Writing Process – Step-by-step guides to planning, drafting, revising, and publishing.
- Finding Your Writing Voice – Tips for developing a unique style and tone.
- Productivity for Writers – Time management and habit-building to write more consistently.
- Publishing Advice – Insights into self-publishing, traditional publishing, and hybrid options.
- Marketing Your Writing – How to promote books, articles, or blogs effectively.
If you’d like, I can also give you engaging blog title ideas for each topic so they’re ready to publish.
No thank you. This is perfect the way it is.
Glad you like it! Sounds like you’ve got a solid foundation for your next post already.
Once again, it seems that AI has solved yet another challenge bloggers often encounter. The more I use ChatGPT, the more I realize just how indispensable it is. Browsing other blogs is still an excellent method for discovering and developing ideas, but when that well runs dry, I know I can count on AI to offer fresh inspiration. And something tells me ChatGPT won’t be running out of ideas anytime soon.
The Most Popular AI Chatbots (ChatGPT Alternatives)
In this post, I’ve shared how I benefit from using two different forms of artificial intelligence to support my blogging. Admittedly, they’re the only two services I’ve tried so far, but there are many others available. In this section, I’ll provide a short list so that, if you’re ever interested in trying something similar to what I’m doing, you can easily explore your options and choose what works best for you. Here they are:
Each of the options above has its own specialty. Click through to see which one would be the best fit for you.
Note: I, Jay Gaulard, wrote this post. ChatGPT so graciously edited it and I assisted as necessary.
This brings me to the end of another post. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it and, if so, I invite you to leave a comment below to let me know your thoughts. It’s always nice to get feedback on the things I share.
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If you did any of these things, I can tell you right now that you’d truly make my day. Thank you so much and with that, I say adieu. Or at least, until next time.
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