You’ve heard that AI can help with fiction writing. However, you’re not sure where to start. Maybe you’ve tried it once or twice. The results felt generic. Or worse, they felt like the AI was trying to write your story for you.
Here’s the truth: AI won’t write your novel. Instead, it can be your brainstorming partner. It can help you think through problems. It can offer fresh perspectives when you’re stuck.
But first, you need to understand three foundational techniques. These are the core skills that make AI useful for creative work. Once you grasp these basics, everything else becomes easier.
Technique #1: Structured Brainstorming
Think about how you brainstorm now. Perhaps you stare at a blank page. Maybe you hope inspiration strikes. Sometimes it does. Often it doesn’t. AI changes this process. Instead of waiting for ideas, you can generate them on demand. However, this doesn’t mean asking “give me ideas” and hoping for magic.
Structured brainstorming means asking specific questions. For instance, you might ask:
“What are five ways my detective could discover the victim’s hidden bank account?”
Notice what you’re doing here. You’re not asking AI to plot your whole mystery. Rather, you’re exploring one specific problem. You’re generating options. Then you choose what fits your story.
Why this works: AI excels at generating possibilities. It can offer ten different approaches in seconds. Some will be terrible. Some will be obvious. But one or two might be exactly what you need.
Moreover, you stay in control. You’re not accepting AI’s suggestions blindly. Instead, you’re using them as creative fuel. You’re building on what works. You’re discarding what doesn’t.
When to use structured brainstorming:
- You need plot possibilities for your current scene
- You’re exploring “what if” scenarios
- You want to avoid the first obvious solution
- You’re stuck between multiple story directions
Furthermore, structured brainstorming helps you think beyond your usual patterns. Consequently, you discover story possibilities you might never have considered alone.
Technique #2: Character Deepening
Next, let’s talk about character development. You probably know your protagonist’s basic traits. Perhaps she’s brave, stubborn, and afraid of abandonment. That’s a good start. But AI can help you go deeper.
Character deepening means using AI to explore the layers beneath surface traits. For example, you might ask:
“My character is afraid of abandonment because her father left when she was eight. How might this fear show up in small, everyday moments with her new boyfriend?”
See the difference? You’re not asking AI to create your character. You already know who she is. Instead, you’re exploring how her past shapes her present behavior.
Why this works: AI can suggest specific behavioral details you might overlook. It can connect emotional wounds to concrete actions. As a result, your character feels more real. More consistent. More human.
In addition, this technique helps you avoid stereotypes. Generic “trust issues” become specific relationship patterns. Vague “difficult childhood” becomes particular fears and coping mechanisms.
When to use character deepening:
- You know your character’s backstory but not how it affects their choices
- Your character feels flat or one-dimensional
- You need to show emotions through action instead of telling
- You’re writing a scene and your character’s motivation feels unclear
Therefore, character deepening transforms basic personality sketches into fully realized people. Your readers notice the difference.
Technique #3: Overcoming Creative Blocks
Finally, there’s the problem every writer faces. You sit down to write. Nothing comes. Your brain feels empty. The story that excited you yesterday feels impossible today. This is where AI becomes your creative partner. Not because it writes for you. Rather, because it asks you questions. It offers prompts. It helps you think through the stuck point.
For instance, imagine you’re blocked on a crucial scene. You might tell AI:
“I need my protagonist to confront her sister about their mother’s care. But I can’t figure out where this scene happens or how it starts.”
Then AI might respond with questions:
- What’s the emotional state of each character before this conversation?
- What forces this conversation to happen now instead of later?
- What does each character want from this conversation?
Suddenly, you’re not staring at blankness. Instead, you’re answering questions. You’re thinking. You’re writing again.
Why this works: Often, you’re not actually stuck. You’re overwhelmed. Too many choices. Too much pressure. AI breaks the problem into smaller pieces. Each piece becomes manageable. Consequently, you move forward.
Moreover, AI is available 24/7. You don’t need to wait for your writing group. You don’t need to bother your critique partner at midnight. The brainstorming partner (I use Claude AI) is always there.
When to use AI for creative blocks:
- You know what needs to happen but can’t start the scene
- Your plot feels predictable and you need fresh angles
- You’re second-guessing every choice
- You need someone to help you think out loud
As a result, blocks become temporary pauses instead of days-long stalls.
How These Techniques Work Together
Here’s what matters most. These three techniques aren’t separate tools. They work together. They build on each other.
First, you use structured brainstorming to explore possibilities. Then you use character deepening to make those possibilities feel authentic. Meanwhile, when you get stuck, you use the creative block techniques to keep moving forward.
For example, imagine writing a mystery novel. You brainstorm five ways your detective could find the crucial clue. Then you deepen your detective’s character to determine which method fits his personality. Later, when you’re stuck on the confrontation scene, you use AI to talk through the emotional dynamics.
In other words, AI becomes part of your creative process. Not the creator. Not the writer. Instead, it’s the partner who helps you think more clearly about your own story.
What These Techniques Are Not
Let’s be clear about what AI can’t do. It can’t write your novel. Neither can it replace your creative vision. It won’t capture your unique voice automatically.
Instead, these techniques offer options, ask useful questions, and generate raw material. But you’re still the artist. You still make every important choice.
So approach AI as a tool, not a shortcut. Use it to enhance your process, not replace it.
Getting Started
So where do you begin? If you don’t have an AI partner that you like, take a look at Claude.ai. This is one of the very best AI programs for creative writers.
Then start simply. Pick one technique. Try it with your current project. Perhaps ask AI for five ways your current scene could unfold. See what happens. Notice which suggestions spark ideas. Discard the rest.
Next try character deepening. Explore one character’s motivation more deeply. Ask AI how a past wound might affect present behavior.
Finally, when you hit a block, use AI to talk through it. Treat it like explaining your problem to a patient friend.
Each technique gets easier with practice. Soon, you’ll know instinctively how to solve every creative writing situation.
Learn More
These three foundational techniques are just the beginning. There’s much more to explore. For instance, how do you write prompts that get specific results instead of generic ones? How do you maintain your unique voice while using AI suggestions? When should you ignore AI advice completely?
Want to dive deeper?
Check out these detailed articles:
- AI Writing Prompts for Fiction – The One Technique That Makes All the Difference – Learn prompt specificity
- Why AI Can’t Replace Your Writing Voice Unless You Allow It – Address creativity fears
- Your Around-the-Clock AI Writing Partner Is Available Now – Explore AI as brainstorming partner
- The Back-and-Forth Method – Why One Prompt Isn’t Enough – Master iterative dialogue
- When AI Suggestions Feel Generic And How to Fix It – Troubleshoot bad responses
Ready to master all these techniques and more? My book Get Unstuck: Writing Fiction with the Help of AI provides a complete guide to using AI tools effectively for fiction writing. Learn practical strategies, avoid common pitfalls, and discover how to make AI your most valuable creative partner.
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