Ghostwriting agency Gotham Ghostwriters has published a set of AI guidelines for writers and editors who work for hire. It offers a list of recommended disclosures about AI use among all parties across various categories (utilitarian and administrative; research, analysis, and collaboration; generative). The guidelines also state plainly that writers cannot be expected to comply with a demand like “Do not use AI at all,” because standard software and services frequently integrate AI tools. The guidelines also include tips on understanding and managing AI risks.
I find these guidelines welcome and reasonable—far more realistic and helpful than prohibiting AI use. That said, anyone working in the nonfiction space (especially in thought leadership, business, and other such categories) has long been dealing with clients who use AI and know that prohibitions do not solve anything.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
