How are children supposed to write creatively in the AI age?
Have you ever lost someone you love and wished you could do something to keep their memory alive? A dog or cat. Or loved one. Anyone close.
Maybe you have a stack of letters, journals, or stories they left behind, and you wonder what to do with them. Or maybe you have a burning desire to share their memory, humor, or courage with the world.
Writing a book without AI might be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a way to honor your loved one’s legacy. A book can be a powerful tribute, a healing process, and a lasting gift for yourself and others. But how do you write a book that captures the essence of your loved one and does justice to their life?
That’s the question posed in Posthumous, a story about Ellie, a 12-year-old girl who returns to the US with her father after living in Paris and losing her mother to cancer. Ellie wants to publish the children’s stories her mother wrote before she died, but she can’t access her mother’s computer without the password that someone mysteriously changed the day her mom died. With the help of friends, Ellie embarks on a quest to crack the code and the remnants of clues her mother left behind.
Posthumous is a book that will make you cry, laugh, and think. It’s a book that explores the themes of grief, love, and hope. It’s a book that shows how writing can be a way of coping, connecting, and celebrating.
It’s a book that offers some practical tips for children and adults on how to write a book without GPT or AI that honors your loved one’s memory.
Here are some of the lessons I learned from reading Posthumous:
Start with a clear purpose. Why do you want to write a book about your loved one? What do you want to achieve? What do you want to say? A clear purpose will help you focus your writing and motivate you.
Choose a genre and format that suits your style and goals. Do you want to write a memoir, a biography, a fiction, or a hybrid? Do you want to write a full-length book, a short story, a poem, or a collection? Do you want to use your loved one’s words, your own words, or a combination? There is no right or wrong answer if you choose a genre and format that works for you and your audience.
Use your loved one’s voice and personality. One of the best ways to honor your loved one’s memory is to let them speak through your writing. Use their words, quotes, jokes, anecdotes, and expressions. Try to capture their tone, style, and voice. Make them come alive on the page.
Be honest and authentic. Don’t sugarcoat or embellish the truth. Don’t shy away from the hard or painful parts. Don’t try to please or impress anyone. Just be yourself and tell your story as it is. Your readers will appreciate your honesty and authenticity.
Posthumous can be a perfect introduction for children who want to write an essay, blog, or book in the AI age. The eternal optimism in this book will light the creative process for children (and adults!)
Seek feedback and support. Writing a book can be a lonely and challenging process, especially when you’re dealing with grief and loss. That’s why it’s important to seek feedback and support from others. Find a writing group, a mentor, a coach, or a friend who can help you with your writing. Ask for honest and constructive feedback, and be open to suggestions and improvements. You don’t have to do this alone.
If you’re looking for a book that will inspire you to write a book that honors your loved one’s memory, I highly recommend Posthumous by Paul Aertker. It’s a book that will touch your heart and spark your creativity. You can find it on Amazon here.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post. If you did, please share it with your friends and leave a comment below. And if you have any questions or suggestions on how to write a book that honors your loved one’s memory, please let me know. I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for reading! (We are all looking for children who want to write creatively in the AI age!)
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