Smarter Writing with AI: How to Make It Work for You

Dear Techies,

Last week we talked about how the quality of your prompts shapes the quality of AI’s output. This week, let’s build on that by looking at something most people struggle with: writing.

Whether it’s a blog post, an email, a school newsletter, or even social media updates, writing can take a lot of time and energy. The good news is that AI can help, not by replacing your voice, but by assisting you along the way.

When people think of “AI writing,” they often imagine clicking a button and letting the tool spit out a full article. But that’s usually not the best use. AI works far better when you treat it like a partner who gives suggestions, drafts, and feedback, while you remain the final editor.

Let’s explore how you can make AI a helpful writing assistant in practical, everyday ways.

1. Beat the Blank Page

One of the hardest parts of writing is getting started. AI can give you that first spark so you’re never staring at an empty screen. For example, instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, you might say:

• Suggest 5 opening lines for a blog about healthy snacks.

• Write a short introduction for an email about a school fundraiser.

Now you’ve got a head start. You don’t have to use everything AI gives you, but even one or two ideas are enough to get the ball rolling.

2. Organize Your Thoughts

Many of us write in bits and pieces—random notes in our phone, bullet points in a notebook, or scattered sentences in a document. AI is great at turning that mess into something structured. You can paste in your notes and ask:

Here are my notes for a talk. Organize them into three main sections with clear sub-points.

The output gives you a roadmap for your draft. You stay in control of the message, but AI does the heavy lifting of sorting and arranging ideas.

3. Get Quick Alternatives

Sometimes your first draft feels flat. Maybe your sentences are too long or the tone is too stiff. Instead of rewriting over and over, try asking AI for alternatives:

• Rewrite this in a friendlier tone.

• Give me 2 shorter versions of this paragraph.

This saves time and shows you different ways of saying the same thing, helping you find the style that works best.

4. Polish and Proofread

Even the best writers make mistakes. Typos slip in, sentences get wordy, and sometimes we repeat ourselves. AI can be your quick proofreader. Paste in your draft and ask it to:

• Check grammar

• Suggest simpler words

• Shorten long sentences

This isn’t about making your writing perfect, it’s about making it smoother and easier to read.

5. Repurpose Your Content

A powerful but often overlooked use of AI is repurposing. Let’s say you’ve written a blog. With a few tweaks, AI can help turn it into:

• A LinkedIn post.

• A short tweet or thread.

• A summary email for your newsletter.

For example, you might say:

Turn this 500-word blog into a conversational LinkedIn post under 200 words.

This allows you to get more out of what you’ve already written and saves you from starting fresh every time.

Key Takeaway

AI is best used as a helper, not a replacement. You bring the unique ideas, stories, and final voice. AI helps you start, organize, polish, and reformat your work so that writing feels lighter and faster.

✅ Try this today: Pick one thing you’re working on (a post, an email, or notes). Ask AI to help you outline or rewrite a small part. See how it changes the process and share your quick wins. I look forward to reading from you.

Your Tech Partner,
Ijeoma Ndu, PhD

P.S. Did you know I wrote a book? Tech Savvy Starts Here is available on Amazon—a practical, engaging guide for families and educators helping kids build confidence with technology. Check it out here.

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