South Florida Writers Debate AI's Publishing Impact

Local authors and publishers explored artificial intelligence's growing role in writing and publishing during a recent episode of The Miami Book Hub Podcast. The South Florida Writers Roundtable featured South Florida Writers Association (SFWA) president Amy Nicole Naim, vice president C.V. “Ceci” Shaw, and Tabitha Rose, founder and publisher of Life to Paper Publishing.

The discussion addressed both AI's benefits and concerns. Naim stated she opposes using AI for original creative work but sees value in it as a tool for organization, research, and administrative tasks. “It should not replace the writer’s original voice,” she said.

Rose agreed, sharing that AI assisted her publishing business during a busy period. However, she emphasized that AI cannot author books, stressing the necessity of a writer's unique voice derived from human experience.

Shaw cautioned authors seeking traditional publication. Publishers and agents scrutinize AI involvement in manuscript development and query materials. “They want the humanness so that they can connect,” Shaw explained. She advised writers pursuing traditional publishing to use AI with extreme caution to preserve authenticity and human connection.

The roundtable also covered other literary events. Shaw recapped Andrea Askowitz’s SFWA presentation on authenticity and reliable narrators and shared highlights from her Miami-Dade Public Library System program, “Tea Among the Witches.” The discussion concluded with a segment on SFWA member Forrest Jones’s geopolitical thriller, “The Placebo Agenda,” and announcements for upcoming writing workshops, contests, and literary events.