I knew my writing students were using AI. Their confessions led to a powerful teaching moment | AI (artificial intelligence)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/may/10/fiction-writing-professor-ai
Publish Date: 2026-05-10 09:00:00
Source Domain: www.theguardian.com
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Peer Review Process: Micah Nathan emphasizes the importance of peer review in fiction writing, where readers provide detailed feedback, often critically, to help the writer improve.
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Challenges of STEM Students in Fiction Writing: The author notes that students coming from STEM backgrounds often find fiction writing difficult, as it lacks the clear right-wrong framework of scientific problems and solutions.
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Intrinsic Value of Writing Process: Nathan argues that the writing process itself, with all its struggles and imperfections, is crucial for developing thought and communication skills.
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Perception of AI-generated Writing: AI-produced writing is seen as “dead perfection,” lacking the character and growth evident in student-written but flawed fiction.
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Concerns About AI in Education: There is a concern that using AI for writing may weaken students’ cognitive and creative abilities, discouraging them from engaging with the difficult but essential process of writing.
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Teaching and Workshop Shift: Nathan changed his approach to workshops, focusing on maintaining the value of the writer’s engagement and struggle, rather than condemning AI outright.
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Orwellian Concerns About Friction in Writing: Drawing from Orwell’s essay, Nathan discusses how bypassing the friction inherent in the writing process with AI threatens the development of critical thinking and deeper engagement with writing.
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Sanctuary for Authorship: The current focus in Nathan’s workshops is to protect the space where individual authorship and the unique struggle of translating thought into words can thrive.
