Welcome to The CHOW Kitchen! CHOW - or Chat-Oriented Writing - is transforming how we create content. Think of those bustling restaurant kitchens: AI started as the prep cook, chopping vegetables and measuring ingredients. Then it became a line cook, helping with recipes and plating. Now? It’s becoming a sous chef, capable of crafting entire dishes from your creative vision. Our AIs are getting more sophisticated daily, and we’ll explore how to make the most of this culinary revolution in writing.
The concept emerged from the realization that traditional writing processes are being transformed by Large Language Models (LLMs). As these models become more sophisticated at tasks like research, outlining, and even drafting, the role of the writer shifts towards higher-level creative direction and refinement. This isn’t just about AI replacing basic writing tasks - it’s about a new way of working where writers who embrace CHOW can achieve significant productivity boosts while maintaining their unique voice and vision.
The Foundations of CHOW
Before we explore how AI transforms writing, let’s understand the foundations that CHOW builds upon. After all, even the most sophisticated AI kitchen needs to understand the basics of cooking!
The Art of Writing
The Enabling Environment
Learning from CHOP
CHOW builds on the principles of Chat-Oriented Programming (CHOP). While CHOP revolutionizes how we write code, CHOW applies similar patterns to writing prose:
The Evolution of AI Writing
The journey to CHOW has been remarkable:
-
Basic Assistance (The Prep Cook)
- Simple grammar checking
- Spell checking
- Basic synonym suggestions
- Word count tools
-
Interactive Support (The Line Cook)
- Style suggestions
- Tone analysis
- Content organization help
- Research assistance
-
Full Content Generation (The Sous Chef)
- Complete draft generation
- Style-aware writing
- Convention-driven content
- Structure suggestions
What is CHOW?
CHOW (Chat-Oriented Writing) represents a fundamental shift in how we create written content. Instead of staring at a blank page or struggling with writer’s block, we engage in a high-level dialogue with AI about our writing goals. Think of it as having a writing partner who can understand your style, research topics instantly, and help craft compelling narratives through natural conversation.
The Evolution of AI Writing
The journey to CHOW has been remarkable:
-
Basic Assistance (The Prep Cook)
- Simple grammar checking
- Spell checking
- Basic synonym suggestions
- Word count tools
-
Interactive Support (The Line Cook)
- Style suggestions
- Tone analysis
- Content organization help
- Research assistance
-
Full Content Generation (The Sous Chef)
- Complete draft generation
- Style-aware writing
- Convention-driven content
- Structure suggestions
Core Concepts
-
Natural Language Collaboration
- Express writing goals conversationally
- Iterative refinement through dialogue
- Style-aware responses
-
Content Understanding
- AI comprehends your writing style
- Follows established conventions
- Maintains consistency across pieces
-
Convention-Driven Writing
- Uses style guides as knowledge base
- Learns from your preferences
- Maintains consistent voice and tone
Key Tools
The landscape of AI writing tools is evolving rapidly. Rather than provide a potentially outdated list of specific tools, I’ll update this section periodically with current best practices and tool recommendations. The key is to focus on the principles and patterns of CHOW, which can be applied regardless of which specific AI assistant you’re using.
For now, experiment with the major AI platforms (you know the ones), and find what works best for your writing style and needs. Remember: the best tool is the one that helps you maintain your creative vision while enhancing your productivity.
CHOW and the Four Writing Personas
Writing breaks down into four distinct phases, each with its own persona: the Madman, Architect, Carpenter, and Judge. AI can be a powerful partner in each phase, enhancing your natural abilities while maintaining your creative control. Let’s explore how CHOW can amplify each role:
The Madman: Unleashing Creative Chaos
The Madman phase is all about uninhibited brainstorming and idea generation. Here’s how AI can enhance your creative madness:
Prompt Storming
Use AI to generate multiple angles on your topic:
- “Show me 10 different ways to approach this topic”
- “What are some unconventional perspectives on this?”
- “Help me explore the extreme edges of this idea”
Idea Expansion
Let AI help you go deeper into each thought:
- Feed it your raw ideas and ask for related concepts
- Use it to find surprising connections between topics
- Ask it to play “what if” with your concepts
Research Assistant
While you’re in creative flow, AI can:
- Find relevant quotes and references
- Suggest related topics to explore
- Gather supporting evidence for your ideas
Remember: In this phase, quantity beats quality. Let both your mind and the AI run wild.
The Architect: Structuring Your Thoughts
The Architect phase is about organizing your chaos into coherent structure. AI can help by:
Pattern Recognition
Feed it your Madman output and ask:
- “What themes do you see in these ideas?”
- “How might we organize these thoughts?”
- “What’s the most logical flow for these concepts?”
Outline Generation
Work with AI to:
- Create multiple possible outlines
- Test different organizational frameworks
- Identify gaps in your structure
Examples:
- Restructured my retirement guide’s TOC using AI to improve flow and consistency - see the conversation and changes
- Organized book references using consistent conventions - see the changes and conversation
Audience Analysis
Use AI to consider:
- How different readers might approach your content
- What background knowledge they’ll need
- Where you might need more context or explanation
The Carpenter: Crafting Your Words
In the Carpenter phase, you’re building your first draft. AI can be your assistant by:
Draft Collaboration
Generate initial sections based on your outline:
- Generate initial sections based on your outline
- Suggest transitions between ideas
- Offer alternative phrasings
Examples:
- Added a security considerations section to CHOP documentation - see the changes and conversation
Style Consistency
Help maintain your voice throughout:
- Help maintain your voice throughout
- Check for tone consistency
- Suggest improvements while preserving your style
Enhancement Suggestions
Identify areas for improvement:
- Identify places for examples or analogies
- Suggest where to add data or quotes
- Recommend areas that need more detail
The Judge: Polishing Your Work
The Judge phase is about critical review and refinement. AI can help by:
Technical Review
Ensure technical accuracy and polish:
- Check grammar and style
- Identify repetitive phrases
- Ensure consistent terminology
Content Analysis
Verify the quality and flow of content:
- Verify logical flow
- Check for gaps in argumentation
- Ensure all claims are supported
Reader Perspective
Consider the audience’s viewpoint:
- Simulate different reader reactions
- Identify potential points of confusion
- Suggest clarifications where needed
Key Principles for AI-Enhanced Writing
-
Keep the Phases Separate:
- Don’t let AI’s capabilities tempt you to mix phases
- Complete each phase before moving to the next
- Use different prompts for different phases
-
Maintain Creative Control:
- AI is your assistant, not your replacement
- Use AI to enhance your ideas, not generate them entirely
- Trust your instincts when AI suggestions don’t feel right
-
Iterate with Purpose:
- Use AI feedback to improve each phase
- Don’t get stuck in endless refinement
- Know when to move forward
Deep ideas
Generating the content for the reader
The author now provides the raw content, and it can create content on demand optimized for the reader, which can include pivots like:
- Should it be interactive
- What age level to write for
- What interests does the read have.
- What format (text, tweet, video, audio)
Aerial talks about this nicely here
For computer folks this is like write path vs read path in data systems
New monetization strategies
Instead of selling static assets (book, video) - you provide the content and it is generated for the reader.