The Writer Weeps

When Technology Takes the Tools Away

The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers.

—Sydney J. Harris

Above: Essential ingredients for good writing, along with blood and sweat.

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First AI came for the em dash—

and I did not speak,

because it was “just punctuation.”


Then AI came for the tricolon,

and I did not speak,

because it was “just a trick.”


Then AI came for repetition—

the steady beat of again, again, again—

and I did not speak,

because it was “too easy.”


Then AI came for metaphor,

and I did not speak,

because I thought imagination was safe.


Then AI came for the last line,

the clean snap of a sentence,

and I did not speak,

because I could always write another.


Then AI came for my voice.

And I tried to speak—

but it sounded like everyone else’s.

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Per my about page, White Noise is a work of experimentation. I view it as a sort of thinking aloud, a stress testing of my nascent ideas. Through it, I hope to sharpen my opinions against the whetstone of other people’s feedback, commentary, and input.

If you want to discuss any of the ideas or musings mentioned above or have any books, papers, or links that you think would be interesting to share on a future edition of White Noise, please reach out to me by replying to this email or following me on X.

With sincere gratitude,

Tom