Peggy Arthur

By Peggy Arthur

Greetings!

Artificial intelligence, or AI, has become one of my most valuable tools as I craft the world of The Pretender’s Game. I use it in three key ways: research, planning and plotting, and formatting.

Research

While The Pretender’s Game is a work of fantasy, it’s deeply rooted in reality. And contrary to popular belief – I don’t know everything. That’s why I rely on a mix of traditional research tools like the library and modern technology such as AI to verify and refine my content.

For example, parts of the story are set in Nashville,TN, a city I’ve both lived in and frequented. But other scenes take place in the Low Country of South Carolina, an area I’m less familiar with. I’ve spent countless hours exploring the weather, terrain, wildlife, and cultural nuances that make up that world.

AI helps me explore those details efficiently, confirm facts, and organize the information in ways that enhance both accuracy and creativity. It’s not a replacement for imagination or human intuition; it’s simply a smart, supportive assistant that helps me dive deeper into the story I want to tell.

Planning and Plotting

As I shared in a previous blog post reviewing the book Writing from the Middle, I use an AI-powered tool called Plottr for story development. This app allows me to build my story structure, create visual timelines, perform character studies, and track important elements such as locations and plot threads.

Using AI alongside Plottr helps me fill in missing story beats and strengthen weaker areas of the manuscript. I rely heavily on color coding to identify sections that need more depth or clarity. I also revisit my character profiles to make sure each arc, layer, and tone remains consistent.

The visual outline has been invaluable in managing pacing and maintaining a clear sense of how each scene connects to the larger emotional journey of the story.

Formatting

When I first started writing, no one was teaching us how to format text messages or Teams chats but in today’s world, that’s part of how we communicate. And yes, The Pretender’s Game includes Teams messages! (Hopefully my corporate friends won’t be triggered.)

Apparently, this approach falls under a style known as Corporate Realism, which I blend with Magical Realism. It lets me weave the modern professional world into a supernatural, mythic framework.

I also use AI to format public-domain materials such as Bible verses and songs. These sections require accuracy and proper citation, and AI helps me ensure they follow correct formatting guidelines. That said, the standard reference style for fiction writers is The Chicago Manual of Style, not APA (that’s for academic papers). Even here, AI keeps me aligned with the right style guide!

Final Thoughts

As a creative, I view AI not as a replacement for originality but as an enhancer of it. It helps me stay organized, think critically, and push my storytelling further than I could on my own.

Whether I’m researching, plotting, or formatting, AI gives me the freedom to focus on what matters most: the story itself.

What about you?
Have you experimented with using AI in your creative process whether for writing, art, or business? I’d love to hear how you’re blending technology with imagination in the comments below.

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