You ask your AI writing assistant for help brainstorming a character’s backstory. Instead, you get something that could apply to literally anyone: “She had a difficult childhood and struggles with trust issues.”
Technically accurate, but not very useful.
If you’ve experienced this frustration, you’re not alone. However, generic AI responses aren’t a sign that AI “doesn’t work” for creative writing. Rather, they’re a signal that your AI tool, such as Claude AI, needs more specific information.
Once you understand why AI generates generic responses, you can easily fix the problem.
Why AI Defaults to Generic
First, let’s understand what’s happening behind the scenes. AI writing tools are trained on massive amounts of text from across the internet. Consequently, when you ask a broad question, they pull from the most common patterns they’ve seen.
For example, think about the phrase “difficult childhood.” That appears in thousands of stories, articles, and discussions. Therefore, when an AI lacks specific details about your particular story, it defaults to these universal patterns.
In other words, generic output isn’t a failure of the AI. It’s the AI doing exactly what it was trained to do. It does it’s best d when it doesn’t have enough specific information to work with.
Fix #1: Add Your Story’s Specific Context
The fastest way to eliminate generic responses is to fill your prompt with your actual story details. For instance, instead of asking:
“What are some character flaws for my protagonist?”
Try this:
“My protagonist is a small-town librarian who discovers her late husband was laundering money through rare book sales. What character flaws would make her both believable in this role and complicate her investigation?”
See the difference? The second version gives the AI tool your story’s specific world to work within. As a result, you’ll get suggestions tailored to your actual story rather than generic character flaw lists.
Fix #2: Specify the Tone and Style You Need
Next, consider that AI doesn’t automatically know whether you’re writing cozy mystery, literary fiction, or dark thriller. So, it might give you responses that are technically correct but completely wrong for your genre.
To illustrate, compare these two prompts:
Generic: “Describe a confrontation between two sisters.”
Specific: “Describe a confrontation between two sisters in the style of a cozy mystery. They are sharp but not cruel, with underlying affection despite the conflict.”
Fix #3: Push Back on Bland Suggestions
Don’t accept generic responses passively. Instead, use them as a starting point to insist on better.
When the AI gives you something bland, try this response:
“That’s too generic. My character isn’t dealing with generic trust issues. Specifically, she can’t trust her own judgment about people’s intentions because her mentor betrayed her. Give me backstory details that explain why she second-guesses herself in social situations.”
In addition, you can ask the AI to explain its reasoning: “Why did you suggest that?” This often prompts the AI to think more deeply and offer refined alternatives.
Remember, you’re not texting another human who might be offended by being repeatedly questioned. You’re conversing with a machine that is designed to receive questions and directions. It is then programmed to spit out answers that can help you gather the information you need to develop your best story.
Fix #4: Break Big Requests into Smaller Pieces
Similarly, instead of asking for everything at once, break your request into manageable chunks.
For example, rather than:
“Help me develop my antagonist.”
Try this sequence:
- “What’s my antagonist’s core motivation for sabotaging the town’s water supply?”
- “How does this motivation connect to his childhood growing up during the drought of 1988?”
- “What specific skill set does he have that makes him capable of pulling this off?”
This approach gives you better results because each answer builds on the previous one. Meanwhile, the AI maintains focus on your specific story details rather than drifting into generic tropes.
Fix #5: Provide Examples of What You Want
Finally, one of the most effective techniques is showing the AI exactly what “good” looks like for your project.
To demonstrate, try this:
“Here’s a paragraph from my manuscript that captures the voice I want: [paste your example]. Now help me brainstorm three possible plot complications that match this tone and style.”
Alternatively, you can show the AI what you don’t want:
“You gave me ‘she walked nervously into the room.’ That’s too tell-y and generic. Instead, I need specific physical details that show her nervousness without naming it. Try again.”
The Pattern Behind All These Fixes
Ultimately, all five fixes share a common thread. They move from vague to specific.
Think of it this way: AI is like a search engine for creative possibilities. The more precise your search terms, the more relevant your results.
This doesn’t mean you need perfect prompts every time. Instead, refine as you go. The back-and-forth dialogue is where the real magic happens.
Your Stories Deserve Specific Suggestions
Generic AI responses are frustrating because your story isn’t generic. You have unique characters, specific settings, and particular plot challenges that need tailored solutions.
Fortunately, AI tools, such as Claude AI, are capable of providing exactly that specificity. In the end, they just need you to guide them there through concrete details, clear style direction, and willingness to push back when responses miss the mark.
Therefore, the next time you get a bland, generic suggestion, don’t give up on AI. Instead, recognize it as an invitation to get more specific about what you actually need.
After all, great brainstorming partners, whether human or AI, work best when they understand your creative vision clearly.
Want to master more techniques for working effectively with AI as a fiction writer? Check out my book Get Unstuck: Writing Fiction with the Help of AI, where I share practical strategies for brainstorming, character development, and overcoming creative blocks using AI tools.
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