A thread for examples of writing that was rejected for being generated by AI.

[AwkwardMD]

I suspect that she won't respond, but I feel confident enough to put a few words in Laurel's mouth; Lit is a place where adults come together, tell stories, and share fantasies. A machine that chews up other peoples ideas and spits them back out with minor differences is anti-thetical in principle, regardless of how refined or indistinguishable it is.

 

[Bamagan]

As long as people visit the site, and click on ads, there will be no reason for the site model to change. If availability of good AI stories leads to hardly anyone coming to the site, then it might retire. If visitors keep coming, why would the existence of good AI stories matter to the site at all? Why would human stories become more expensive than their current price of free?

I wouldn't expect it to happen overnight, so to speak, but I believe Lit and similar sites would lose traffic because it would be easier to find stories that are exactly what you're looking for with the hypothetical AI; the kinks (light or heavy) will be served just as you asked, you won't have to wait for chapters or sequels to be released, and perhaps you could make it as short or long as you prefer. Certain types of readers would find the customization and instant gratification to be irresistible. Certain types of authors, such as those who write the stories they aren't able to find in the first place, probably would not spend the time doing so if the AI will provide it instead.

Aside from that, if Laurel isn't able to curate the site the way she wants to, how much reward or incentive is there for her to continue vetting submissions? I think she'd choose to more or less hang up her spurs if there was no chance of reliably attributing authorship, especially if the volume of submissions spiked because of the ease of creating AI stuff (which may already be happening, to some extent). She might continue accepting stuff from trusted old-timers for a while, but probably not anything else of unknown origin. Fewer new submissions likely leads to further audience attrition in that case.

As for the price thing, if that came to pass, I'd expect it to be because of the 'bragging' value of owning something 'traditionally made' as opposed to machine manufactured. A status thing, basically. Certain people pay premium prices for items that are often, at least in a purely material sense, no better than machined ceramics or textiles or what-have-you. If people are willing to pay a human to slowly write and edit a book (or whatever) for them, it is likely to be a further disincentive to give such stuff away, aside perhaps from samples. If Lit's archives became a valuable trove of 'authentic human' works, it might be attractive or even necessary to charge a fee for access, and random new authors would be even less likely to get anything posted, because it might dilute the authenticity of the site if they prove to be deceitful about their work.

My ideas are obviously all speculative, and it's entirely possible AI authorship plateaus well shy of true creativity, so the whole thing is just an exercise in 'what-if?' thinking and extrapolation.

 

[Portly_Penguin]

If the threshold for AI being able to pass a Touring test is for it to be mistaken for human 30% - 50% of the time, at what point will Laurel have to concede that identifying AI writing is not reliable enough to warrant rejecting stories?

The thing is, those of us who have faced these rejections are a minority. There isn't a big issue of people being rejected, just a small handful of us compared to the stories that get published daily. It's not a wide-scale issue that would warrant a big enough examination on Laurel's behalf because the majority of stories are getting through. Newer users are more heavily scrutinised and I think those of us - like me - who admitted to using Grammarly for grammar issues (I never let it rewrite my sentences) are under even deeper scrutiny because we admitted to using it.

At the end of the day, the AI rejection issue isn't big enough for Laurel to take a look at the way stories are being rejected. I don't like it, but it's her site and she can do whatever she wants. If she wants to accuse me of doing something I didn't do then she's free to do so and there's nothing I can do.

 

[StillStunned]

As for the price thing, if that came to pass, I'd expect it to be because of the 'bragging' value of owning something 'traditionally made' as opposed to machine manufactured. A status thing, basically. Certain people pay premium prices for items that are often, at least in a purely material sense, no better than machined ceramics or textiles or what-have-you. If people are willing to pay a human to slowly write and edit a book (or whatever) for them, it is likely to be a further disincentive to give such stuff away, aside perhaps from samples. If Lit's archives became a valuable trove of 'authentic human' works, it might be attractive or even necessary to charge a fee for access, and random new authors would be even less likely to get anything posted, because it might dilute the authenticity of the site if they prove to be deceitful about their work.

People still pay huge amounts of money for natural diamonds and other gemstones, rather than cheaper synthetic stones. There will always be a market for premium goods.

 

[Bamagan]

People still pay huge amounts of money for natural diamonds and other gemstones, rather than cheaper synthetic stones. There will always be a market for premium goods.

That's true, but slightly different from what I was talking about, since those are naturally occurring substances. I was more referring to things like, say, a hand-tailored suit or dress versus one produced in a textile mill.

 

[AlexBailey]

I suspect that she won't respond, but I feel confident enough to put a few words in Laurel's mouth; Lit is a place where adults come together, tell stories, and share fantasies. A machine that chews up other peoples ideas and spits them back out with minor differences is anti-thetical in principle, regardless of how refined or indistinguishable it is.

It seems well understood that many Lit readers come here for quick stroke stories. I doubt many of them would care about the source of the material. What’s sexy and enticing about a dildo compared to a human partner?

Maybe some prefer self gratification because they can reliably and quickly hit that spot whereas a human partner may have needs that take other attention and effort to satisfy. The same may be true for a reader who is just looking to get off. Why sift through human written stories looking for just the right thing when you can order exactly what you want from an AI?


I don’t know if there’s a way to identify that group except that they may simply stop coming here once they find AI works satisfying. I don’t know what AI smut is like, the free ChatGPT version I have doesn’t allow explicit content.

I suspect there will still be a large audience for authentic human works. I’m certainly among them, partly because I like knowing that other people share some of my interests - AI provides none of that except that some nebulous programmed material had something related to what I might like.

Still, the ability to accurately identify what is or is not authentic human material is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

 

[AwkwardMD]

It seems well understood that many Lit readers come here for quick stroke stories. I doubt many of them would care about the source of the material.

You are conflating the purpose of the site, from the position of the owner, and the purpose of the site to the average visitor.

 

[AlexBailey]

You are conflating the purpose of the site, from the position of the owner, and the purpose of the site to the average visitor.

Maybe, but it’s the combination of reasons for reader interest that is responsible for the total number of visits the site receives.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Maybe, but it’s the combination of reasons for reader interest that is responsible for the total number of visits the site receives.

I write for myself, but others read my work to get off. These are differing motivations, but they are not mutually exclusive.

 

[AlexBailey]

I write for myself, but others read my work to get off. These are differing motivations, but they are not mutually exclusive.

I should also add that I have no doubt there are Lit readers who truly appreciate the craft and soul of many writers. I doubt AI will take away many of these.

 

[RejectReality]

The thing is, those of us who have faced these rejections are a minority. There isn't a big issue of people being rejected, just a small handful of us compared to the stories that get published daily. It's not a wide-scale issue that would warrant a big enough examination on Laurel's behalf because the majority of stories are getting through. Newer users are more heavily scrutinised and I think those of us - like me - who admitted to using Grammarly for grammar issues (I never let it rewrite my sentences) are under even deeper scrutiny because we admitted to using it.

At the end of the day, the AI rejection issue isn't big enough for Laurel to take a look at the way stories are being rejected. I don't like it, but it's her site and she can do whatever she wants. If she wants to accuse me of doing something I didn't do then she's free to do so and there's nothing I can do.

I wouldn't count on the number of rejections being a minority. Few people ever visit the forums. There could be hundreds of authors getting rejected for AI that we'll never hear from, just as there are umpteen authors who have been here for years and never come to the forum.

 

[Portly_Penguin]

I wouldn't count on the number of rejections being a minority. Few people ever visit the forums. There could be hundreds of authors getting rejected for AI that we'll never hear from, just as there are umpteen authors who have been here for years and never come to the forum.

I know that, but even on the forums - where there are fewer people - rejections are still a minority. It's usually the same people talking about it or one or two people popping up every few weeks to say they got rejected to. It stands to reason that it's not that wide-spread of an issue even if you look at the forums being only a portion of the wider users.

I'm not saying it's a fact, but from where I'm sitting, and from being involved in these threads since last November, it seems like a minority of users are hit with the rejections.

 

[Bramblethorn]

In a discussion I had with Laurel some time back, she said that they weren't getting a huge volume of AI submissions, though I don't know whether that's changed since.

 

[Portly_Penguin]

If we just look at the forums in relation to AI rejections, it's still a small number. Most of those people seem to post about it, get their story through, and move on with their lives. The common denominator in most of these AI threads is me which is why it doesn't feel like a huge issue with regards to the wider Lit community.

If only one person, even in the scope of the forums, is making a big deal about it, then is it really a big deal? Logic says it's not.

 

[SookieHaze7]

If we just look at the forums in relation to AI rejections, it's still a small number. Most of those people seem to post about it, get their story through, and move on with their lives. The common denominator in most of these AI threads is me which is why it doesn't feel like a huge issue with regards to the wider Lit community.

If only one person, even in the scope of the forums, is making a big deal about it, then is it really a big deal? Logic says it's not.

I had a story in chapters that was well received, but I haven't been able to get my third chapter through. It got rejected for AI despite the fact that I didn't do anything different from the first two chapters. I then completely rewrote the third chapter and even changed the story, but now I can't even get rejected. It's been sitting in my pending file for weeks.

I don't use AI for anything. I did notice recently that the grammar and spell check in Word is making suggestions it didn't make before, but I just hit "Don't check for this issue" during the editing process and moved on. I don't want a computer telling me how to write.

I came here to have a bit of fun with topics I wouldn't include in my books and to share them with others. Using AI is antithetical to the enjoyment of my craft, so I was very surprised when I started getting rejected for it. Frankly, I see using AI as cheating, and I'm the sort of person who waits at red lights at one in the morning when no one else is around.

I wouldn't use AI for things I get paid to write, so I certainly wouldn't use it for something that was just supposed to be a bit fun.

 

[AG31]

I had a story in chapters that was well received, but I haven't been able to get my third chapter through. It got rejected for AI despite the fact that I didn't do anything different from the first two chapters. I then completely rewrote the third chapter and even changed the story, but now I can't even get rejected. It's been sitting in my pending file for weeks.

I don't use AI for anything. I did notice recently that the grammar and spell check in Word is making suggestions it didn't make before, but I just hit "Don't check for this issue" during the editing process and moved on. I don't want a computer telling me how to write.

I came here to have a bit of fun with topics I wouldn't include in my books and to share them with others. Using AI is antithetical to the enjoyment of my craft, so I was very surprised when I started getting rejected for it. Frankly, I see using AI as cheating, and I'm the sort of person who waits at red lights at one in the morning when no one else is around.

I wouldn't use AI for things I get paid to write, so I certainly wouldn't use it for something that was just supposed to be a bit fun.

Can you post a few paragraphs here as examples? Maybe the first four paras of Chapter 2 and then the first four paras of Chapter 3?

 

[Portly_Penguin]

I had a story in chapters that was well received, but I haven't been able to get my third chapter through. It got rejected for AI despite the fact that I didn't do anything different from the first two chapters. I then completely rewrote the third chapter and even changed the story, but now I can't even get rejected. It's been sitting in my pending file for weeks.

I don't use AI for anything. I did notice recently that the grammar and spell check in Word is making suggestions it didn't make before, but I just hit "Don't check for this issue" during the editing process and moved on. I don't want a computer telling me how to write.

I came here to have a bit of fun with topics I wouldn't include in my books and to share them with others. Using AI is antithetical to the enjoyment of my craft, so I was very surprised when I started getting rejected for it. Frankly, I see using AI as cheating, and I'm the sort of person who waits at red lights at one in the morning when no one else is around.

I wouldn't use AI for things I get paid to write, so I certainly wouldn't use it for something that was just supposed to be a bit fun.

Mine was the same thing. It started on the second part but I managed to scrap that, and two other parts, through before getting stonewalled on part 5 and giving up entirely

 

[Melody_Lightdraft2]

I use AutoCrit software to tighten up my stories, hopefully as a new writer on here it won't trip the AI detection?

 

[SookieHaze7]

Can you post a few paragraphs here as examples? Maybe the first four paras of Chapter 2 and then the first four paras of Chapter 3?

Sure. I should point out that Chapter 2 is from the husband's perspective, while Chapter 3 is from the wife's.

Chapter 2
Over the next few weeks, I engaged in my usual Thursday night poker playing and afterward rushed home to look in on my naked and excited wife. It never even occurred to me that others might find my actions odd. I just found our little game erotic and fun.

One night, I arrived at Rob’s only to discover that I’d missed his last minute text cancelling that night’s game. After we talked a few minutes, I drove right back home figuring I could save my evening by watching my wife play before she expected me. On the way, I stopped by the corner store to buy a six pack and snacks.

I stuffed my provisions in my backpack and grabbed my field jacket from the trunk before walking home. When I rounded the corner of our house, I stopped short at the sight of a dark figure lurking just outside the family room window. Some other guy had beaten me to the punch!

My first instinct was to confront the peeper, but before I took two steps I stopped short. This was my wife’s ultimate fantasy. Should I let it happen and tell Brooke about it afterward? Since the guy had already seen her and didn’t pose any real threat now that I was there, I decided to wait a bit before busting him.

Chapter 3
I was mortified on New Year’s day when my husband brought up my drunken confessions from the previous evening. My peeping Tom fantasy had always been my most embarrassing kink, and I’d kept it hidden from everyone for nearly twenty years. Frankly, I intended to take knowledge of that particular depravity to my grave.

That said, I felt so loved and understood when Ethan patiently listened as I tried to explain my most shameful desire. Even better, my husband didn’t become jealous. Though he’s an intelligent man, I honestly didn’t expect him to understand that my fantasy wasn’t necessarily a desire for other men so much as a compulsion to have a certain experience.

When he suggested incorporating my fantasy into our sex life, I found myself adoring Ethan even more. I just wish I’d come clean years earlier. I wasted so much time hiding my true self from the love of my life.

At first, I had doubts about my husband’s idea of him peeping on me, but it turned out to be more erotic than I anticipated. My fantasy had always revolved around a stranger watching me in my most intimate moments, but revealing my utmost carnal self to the man with whom I’d spend the rest of my life turned out to be sexy as all get out. A stranger would’ve been a fleeting experience, but my exposure was so much more consequential when I’d have to face my peeper across the dinner table for the next forty or fifty years.

 

[AG31]

Sure. I should point out that Chapter 2 is from the husband's perspective, while Chapter 3 is from the wife's.

Well, I, for one, can't tell any difference. Nor does your writing, as a whole, seem particularly stiff or klunky. Maybe they should just make a rule not to run chapters 3 or greater through the AI detector.

 

[Norway_1705]

good writerly advice. Such as: use active voice over passive, vary the length of your sentences, use lively dialogue, show don't tell, don't do IKEA plug A into slot B type narrative, etc, etc, etc; and everyone would have nodded, saying, yep, that's really good advice.

Great. The Ikea narrative sounds always awful to me.
Either a novelist add some new adjective to it (metaphorical or somehow) or plug A into slot B is the worst ever.

 

[SkyBubble]

I am EXTREMELY pissed.

I write all my own work. I have now had three stories THAT I WROTE rejected as AI, one of them for a THIRD time. I am inclined just to remove all my stories (70 of them) from the site and stop writing here. I find it insulting that they would do that. I've just about had it.

I've been writing here for 18 yes, since 2006, and I like this site a lot. But I am tired of being subjected to such questionable treatment.

If I disappear soon, you'll know why.