Let’s be honest, whether we like it or not, AI isn’t going anywhere. It’s weaving it’s way into search results, chatbots, art generators, and, of course, generative writing resources like ChatGPT. And, despite not having any lived experience or emotion to draw from, it’s showing up in the world of poetry as we speak.

But just because AI is sticking it’s algorithm in the middle of our art doesn’t mean poets can’t take advantage of this new technology. AI is a tool after all. So, how can poets use AI as a resource while still maintaining creative integrity?

Think about non-creative aspects of writing, such as research, editing, or digging through a thesaurus to find the perfect word. AI is great at these types of tasks. So, we’ve put together a list of ways poets can use AI to improve their writing, challenge themselves, and truly showcase their best work.

Prompt Generator

What better way to work your poetry muscles than utilizing a great poetry prompt. They help push you out of your comfort zone. Prompts ask you to write about topics you’ve never considered or in styles you never try help you grow. It not only gives you new tools in your creative toolbox, but improves your finely tuned techniques.

How to Use AI for Poetry Prompts?

1. Ask AI for a list of poetic prompts based on a specific topic or theme.
2. Consider writing in a specific style and ask AI to evaluate the outcome.
3. Prompt AI to generate poems with a certain voice or mimicking a well-known poet. Evaluate the poems yourself and challenge yourself to create something better.

via GIPHY

AI writes based on patterns and mimicry, it will always lack the emotion and experience that makes

Research Assistant

From poetic forms to famous poets to pieces of a poem to poetic language, there are so many different aspects of poetry that it can be a bit overwhelming. If you need help defining terms, explaining ideas, or finding examples, AI can come in handy as a research assistant.

We all know that AI is not infallable. Actually, it hallucinates information all the time. When it comes to AI overviews and search bots, you can generally trust it to point you in the right direction toward answering your questions.  Just make sure you always verify your information using trustworthy links.

How to Use AI for Poetry Research?

1. Ask it to explain the details of different poetic forms in simple and easy terms.
2. Prompt it to show you an example of a sonnet, a couplet, or a metaphor.
3. Have it describe a famous poet’s style or what makes them unique.
4. Tell it to look for resources online regarding craft.

Writer’s Block and Other Frustrations

As writers, we’ve all had those moments where we end up starring at a blank screen, unable to write out a single word. Or those times when you are at a loss for the exact right way to say what you are thinking. What if you could work through writer’s block in real time? Bounce ideas off a wall until the creative juices start flowing? AI can help with that.

Utilize AI’s ability to respond like a person. Write out or even speak aloud your problems and work through them by allowing AI to rephrase what you are trying to say or summarize a theme, or even help you make sense of an idea. AI can be used like a writing buddy ready with a quick answer.

How to Use AI to Defeat Writer’s Block?

1. Ask AI to help you re-work a verse by coming up with alternate phrasing or replacing words.
2. Brain dump your idea into AI and ask it to help you solidify it.
3. If you can’t think of the right way to say something, ask AI to come up with a new way to say it.

Remember you are the writer, not AI. It is here as a tool to help you find the right words, organize your thoughts, or simply say something in a new way. All of it is to help spark your creativty, get you on the right path, and outline a plan.

A Tool is Never a Replacement

At the end of the day anyone can ask generative AI to write a poem. It can use flowerly language, discuss a deep topic, and even be relateable to readers. Some might even say they like it! But there are so many things that AI cannot do, and create true poetry is one of them.

Poetry is Human

1. It is fueled by emotion.
2. It is written from experience.
3. It’s created though intentional choices.
4. It has meaning beyond the definition of it’s words.
5. It is beauty, joy, courage, and chaos.
6. It is grief, guillt, and growth.
7. It is life on the page.

AI as a poetic resource can choose words based on a definition, mimic poets form, style, and word choice, describe experiences its read about, and even convince people it has written a quality poem. But AI cannot write poetry like you can write poetry and it never will.