Line editing with ChatGPT

For years we’ve had access to tools that help improve writing, going back to Microsoft Word and its spell checker.

Around 2019, I started writing fiction and tested tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid. I finally landed on ProWritingAid and bought a lifetime license. I then started to write out my chapters and run them through the tool for feedback.

What I learned was helpful. First, I don’t know if I’ll ever fully figure out comma placements. But far more important, I found so many ways to improve sentence structure. You can write for clarity, for impact, or to enhance meaning by tweaking the placement of words.

Writing, then using a tool to review your writing, can be a crutch. But it can also help you grow.

Recently I’ve been testing ChatGPT for line editing. I’ll write out my content, usually something close to longform length, then I’ll feed it into the LLM and ask for feedback one line at a time. Then I look through the suggestions and revise the lines myself, using my own words.

That part is important. Instead of copying the chatbot’s output, I use it to bring fresh eyes to my piece. I love using ChatGPT for this. While it doesn’t truly know anything, it’s ingested enough writing to recognize patterns and compare my work against best practices.

By reviewing feedback line by line, I can improve my writing for clarity and still keep my own voice. ChatGPT has a way of writing that is flowery and over-the-top. When you’ve written long enough, you start to develop your own way of saying things. And frankly, that’s far more interesting than whatever run-of-the-mill wording ChatGPT will use. Maybe that will become less relevant in the future, but for now, it still matters.

Another benefit of line editing is that it builds awareness of where your writing starts to bog down. It’s important to avoid editing while writing. Those are two distinct modes creative modes that should be kept separate. But even then, the habit of reviewing your work will influence how you create. You’ll still want to edit at the end, but there will be less to do.

If you haven’t spent a ton of time writing, and are trying to find your footing, I’d encourage you to do you best (or worst), and put words to page. Just go make it happen. The world deserves the thing you have to say. And sure, it might be hot garbage initially. But through the dross something beautiful can emerge.

Thanks to Saadia for suggesting I write this. Also, as you may have guessed, this post was line edited by ChatGPT. However, I was super careful to try and change as little as possible to keep it in my own words. Also, I don’t mind when some sentences are structured a bit weird. That’s my way of being true to myself and keeping things feeling just a little bit human.