Guest Post by YA Author Melissa Knight: Thoughts on AI

Melissa Knight is the author of two series, and a devotional for teens. She writes contemporary novels for teens that deal with present day issues.

In her latest Christian YA novel, “The One You See”, the use of AI becomes part of the conflict. Check out this stand-alone book in the Rayburn High Romance Series. Currently on pre-order, Miranda’s story releases on November 3^rd.

I tried an experiment the other day. Opening a new word doc on my laptop, I considered the question that now appears at the top of an empty page, before a single letter is typed.

“What do you want Copilot to draft?”

I write Christian YA Romance, so I went with that: “Write the first chapter of a young adult Christian romance novel.” Within seconds, there it was. Here are a couple of excerpts:

“Emily Turner tightened her hold on her backpack strap, her heart pounding with the familiar blend of nerves and hope that always marked the start of a new school year.”

“As Ms. Russell began roll call, Emily found herself sneaking quick glances at Luke. There was something gentle but guarded about him, a weight in his eyes that piqued her curiosity. She wondered if he was searching for something, too—maybe even the same hope she clung to.”

Decent descriptions? Intriguing? Authentic teen behavior? You be the judge, but personally I would say yes to each of those questions. Does Copilot have the ability to write an entire fiction novel? I haven’t tried it but have read that Artificial Intelligence can struggle with more complex elements such as structure, timelines, and subplots.

The Controversy

There’s a lot of noise out there about AI and what it means, or will mean, for writers. My post isn’t intended to discuss the moral, legal or ethical implications. AI is a hot-button technology yet it’s only a tool, just like the internet and cell phones. It’s what we do with those tools that will always matter and require measured discipline.

As an author, I use AI for grammar and spell checks. What a time-saver! I’ve used it to find synonyms, translate, and collect information about an unfamiliar subject. But when it comes to writing a novel, that story is going to be mine, folks. Each chapter will be influenced by my experiences and observations, laced with the sting of my own failures and wrong conclusions. My personal faith and imagination will infuse the story with hope.

“… he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.” 

– Exodus 35:31

A machine will never possess wisdom, empathy or love. It might write books that sell, in all kinds of genres, but only imitates what is “fed” into it.

As authors, our secret weapon is in our humanity

Let’s remember why many of us write in the first place with a simple exercise. Now, it’s tempting to skip this part because we’re all busy and have a hundred things to do. Keep it on the back burner of your mind, however, and try it later.

• Think of one incident in your life when you felt ashamed, humiliated or devastated, perhaps something you’ve never shared with a living soul. List the sequence of events. No fancy prose here, just the facts. Who was there? How old were you? Did anyone help you, and how? Focus on a more positive event if you prefer.

• Now describe the way you handled—or mishandled—the incident. How did you feel? What did you do and say? If you’ve had time to process your reaction, would you change anything? What did you learn?

You’ve now created a rough draft of a personal memory that will never originate from a machine. It’s yours and yours alone. Maybe you’ll incorporate it into a scene one day, or rewrite events the way you wish they had happened. Either way, I choose to believe that honest, battle-weary yet victorious stories will always resonate with readers. Failures may compel readers to nod their heads and keep turning the pages even more than the “it-all-magically-worked-out” successes.

Consider this quote from the editors of Science News Today:

“Perhaps that’s the final difference. We tell stories to understand ourselves…they (AI) imitate the map, but do not walk the journey.”

(“How AI Writes Stories That Sound Almost Human”, 7/18/25)

Authenticity, my friends, will win.

What concerns do you have about AI? Please comment below with your own observations and thoughts.

Melissa Knight is the author of the High School 101 series and the Rayburn High Romance series. She writes Christian YA Romance, wrestling with all kinds of challenges and issues that teens face. Follow her on Facebook, X, Goodreads, Bookbub, and/or her Amazon author page.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.  Her novel When the Wildflowers Bloom Again is a 2025 ACFW Carol Award Winner. 

Her contemporary young adult novel, Promise Me Tomorrow, is available in ebook, print, and KU.

For the latest news on upcoming releases and other author news, sign up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.