Just for the fun of it, I asked ChatGPT to write something in the style of “Author Crissi Langwell,” fully expecting a blank page and confusion from AI. Instead, ChatGPT actually wrote something in what it deems is my style! Here’s what it wrote:
To capture Crissi Langwell’s style, her writing typically blends emotional depth with uplifting moments, often using introspective narration and a reflective tone. Here’s a short piece inspired by her approach:
The sky wasn’t just gray, it was heavy. Each cloud seemed to press down on me, mirroring the weight I’d carried for longer than I could remember. Maybe it had always been there—this invisible anchor that kept me rooted in a place I no longer recognized. I hadn’t noticed it at first. It started slow, like the gradual cooling of the earth before the first frost.
But now, there was no ignoring it. The chill had settled in.
I looked out over the ocean, watching the waves fold into themselves, a quiet rhythm that somehow made sense when nothing else did. There was a peace in the chaos of the water, a reminder that even the most tumultuous storms could find their way back to calm.
I longed for that calm. For the certainty that, after all the crashing and thrashing, there would be something left of me to reclaim.
A seagull called from somewhere above, its cry piercing the quiet, and I lifted my eyes to the horizon. In the distance, the sun fought to break through the clouds, a soft golden light stretching toward me like a promise.
And maybe that was enough for today—the hope of something better, even if it was just a sliver.
After all, storms didn’t last forever.
***
This piece reflects Langwell’s tendency to weave in themes of hope, reflection, and personal growth, even when faced with life’s challenges.
My next question was to ask ChatGPT which books helped it to determine my writing style. Here’s what it said:
The piece I wrote wasn’t directly taken from any of Crissi Langwell’s specific works, but rather, it was inspired by the general tone, themes, and style often found in her writing. Crissi Langwell frequently explores themes like personal growth, emotional healing, and finding hope in difficult situations. Books like A Symphony of Cicadas and The Road to Hope include reflective, introspective moments that balance between the weight of struggle and the promise of better days.
My aim was to evoke that same kind of emotional depth and hopefulness that characterizes her storytelling.
But my favorite part was when I asked ChatGPT about Crissi Langwell as an author, and then got to read a snapshot of who I am based on blog posts and books I’ve written:
Crissi Langwell is an indie author known for writing emotionally engaging stories that explore themes of love, loss, hope, and personal growth. She began her writing career with the self-publication of her novels, but she has since expanded her work to include various genres, including magical realism, contemporary romance, and fantasy retellings.
Writing Style and Themes:
Langwell’s books often focus on characters who are navigating complex emotional landscapes. Themes of resilience, redemption, and healing are common, as her characters often face significant personal challenges like grief, trauma, or deep regret. Her stories are character-driven, and she often weaves in messages of hope, even when her characters face hardships.
Journey to Becoming an Author:
Crissi started writing seriously in 2013 when she published her first book. Her journey into self-publishing began with a mix of ambition and learning through trial and error. In a blog post, she shared that one of the important lessons she learned early on was that self-publishing is not a quick way to get rich, but rather a long-term commitment to building an audience and crafting meaningful work(Link).
Personal Insights:
Langwell frequently discusses her personal struggles, particularly with grief and loss, which have deeply influenced her writing. This vulnerability resonates with her readers, as she writes about universal experiences in a relatable and introspective way. She is also an advocate for the creative process, encouraging writers to pursue their passions and remain patient as they build their writing careers.
Community Engagement:
Beyond her books, Crissi Langwell is active in the writing community. She shares advice and lessons learned from her own self-publishing experiences on her blog, offering guidance to aspiring authors on topics like marketing, editing, and working with beta readers. Langwell also engages in social media, where she interacts with her readers and promotes her work.
Books and Works:
Langwell’s portfolio includes over a dozen books across various genres. Some of her most notable works include:
- The Road to Hope (contemporary fiction)
- A Symphony of Cicadas (afterlife/philosophical fiction)
- Come Here, Cupcake (magical realism)
- Loving the Wind (a retelling of the Peter Pan story from Tiger Lily’s perspective)
Author’s Advice and Reflections:
Crissi often reflects on the challenges of self-publishing, emphasizing the importance of persistence and learning from mistakes. She advises authors to focus on creating high-quality work through the use of beta readers, good cover design, and professional editing(Link).
For more about Crissi Langwell’s journey and her books, you can visit her official website.
Ways I Have Used AI in My Author Career
Now, don’t worry. I am not using AI to write any of my books. And honestly, I’m not entirely certain the writing AI produced is my style. But it’s kind of cool to read a positive reflection of who I am as an author and a positive summary of my writing style…even if it’s written by artificial intelligence.
That said, I have used AI in my writing career and have found it to be quite helpful. Here are a few recent topics I have asked AI’s assistance with:
- How to balance work and writing
- How to use Pinterest to market my books
- Create a 30-day social media content calendar
- What are some good author interview questions
- How can I promote my book after it launches
- How can an author get comfortable talking about their book
- Help with a book marketing plan
- Book-themed questions I can ask my readers
- Help with marketing verbiage for Amazon ads
- Engaging short-form questions for social media engagement
What I Learned:
ChatGPT is pulling information from a year to a few years ago, which means it is talking about Crissi in the past. What really struck me was what ChatGPT gathered for personal insights and community engagement, most notably about using personal experiences to connect with readers, being an advocate for the creative process, and encouraging other writers.
Over the past few years, I’ve really struggled on ways to connect in an authentic way while also promoting my books. I have really held back in the vulnerability department, mostly by not writing in this blog or on social media except for things about my books. I don’t know what the easy answer is, because there are so many “rules” on what authors should do to promote their books, and one of them is not revealing too much of yourself because your human side could turn away potential readers.
Another rule is to talk to READERS, not other writers.
That’s fine and all, but my community is full of writers, and I understand the plight of the writer all too well. And when I look back at past blog posts, I love that the address the difficulty of self-publishing, the imposter syndrome writers can feel, the struggle to be seen, how to support other authors… And I love the posts where I’m vulnerable, even negative about my experience, for two reasons: a0 other authors may see themselves and feel less alone, and b) I am further down the road, and can see how things have improved, and will continue to improve.
So, this whole ChatGPT exercise was not only ego-building, but a fun trip down memory lane.
What are your thoughts on using AI? If you use it, HOW have you used it?