10 Ways to Improve AI-Generated Writing (With Examples)

Last updated: March 2026 · 13 min read

AI can write a full novel in 10 minutes. That's wild. But here's the thing nobody tells you when they're hyping up AI writing tools: the raw output is a first draft, and first drafts need work.

Not a rewrite. Not starting over. Just... polish. The kind of editing that takes something from "this is fine" to "okay wait, this is actually good."

I've edited dozens of AI-generated books at this point. I've developed a system. These 10 techniques are what make the biggest difference, and I'm including before/after examples for each one so you can see exactly what I mean.

Whether you're using ShakespeareAI, ChatGPT, or any other writing tool — these tips work on any AI output.

1. Mix Up Your Sentence Lengths

AI loves medium-length sentences. It'll write 15-20 word sentences all day long, one after another, with the same rhythm, until your reader's brain goes numb.

Great writing has rhythm. Short punches. Then a longer, winding sentence that draws you in and holds your attention for a beat. Then another short one.

Before (AI default):

She walked into the room and noticed the window was open. The curtains were blowing gently in the evening breeze. She felt a chill run down her spine as she looked around. Something didn't feel right about the empty apartment.

After (varied rhythm):

She walked in. The window was open — curtains lifting, falling, lifting again in the evening breeze. Something was wrong. She could feel it before she could name it, that prickle at the back of her neck that said the apartment wasn't as empty as it looked.

See the difference? Same information. Completely different feel. The short sentences ("She walked in." "Something was wrong.") create tension. The longer sentence in the middle creates atmosphere. That's rhythm.

2. Kill the Fancy Words Nobody Uses

AI has a vocabulary it's weirdly attached to. Words like "use" (just say "use"), "commence" (just say "start"), "endeavor" (just say "try"), "pertaining to" (just say "about"). These words aren't wrong — they're just stiff. They make your writing sound like a legal document.

Before:

She endeavored to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing documents, utilizing every resource at her disposal.

After:

She tore the office apart looking for those files, checking every drawer, every shelf, every ridiculous place someone might stash a folder.

The second version actually shows something happening. The first version tells you in the most boring way possible.

Quick kill list: use → use. Commence → start. Subsequently → then. Furthermore → also. In the realm of → in. Endeavor → try. Facilitate → help.

3. Swap Vague for Specific

AI defaults to vague. "A beautiful sunset." "A delicious meal." "A large crowd." These phrases are technically fine and communicate absolutely nothing interesting.

Specifics are what make writing stick in people's brains.

Before:

The restaurant was nice. They had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed the atmosphere.

After:

The restaurant had exactly one candle per table — the kind of place that thinks dim lighting is a personality. They split a plate of overpriced gnocchi and pretended the wine wasn't too sweet.

Specifics do double duty: they paint the picture AND reveal character. "Pretended the wine wasn't too sweet" tells you way more about these people than "enjoyed the atmosphere" ever could.

4. Add Personal Touches and Opinions

AI plays it safe. It rarely takes a strong stance or says anything surprising. That's because it's trying to be helpful and inoffensive, which is great for customer service and terrible for engaging writing.

Your job: inject opinions, hot takes, and personal flavor.

Before (AI-safe):

There are many approaches to writing a novel, and each author must find the method that works best for them.

After (has a pulse):

Most writing advice is recycled garbage from people who've never finished a book. Here's what actually works, based on finishing 12 books in 4 months.

The second version has a point of view. It's opinionated. You might disagree with it, and that's fine — at least you're engaged. The first version is the verbal equivalent of a shrug.

5. Use Real Dialogue Patterns

AI dialogue tends to be too clean. Complete sentences. Proper grammar. Nobody interrupts. Nobody trails off. Nobody says "uh" or changes the subject mid-sentence.

Real people talk like a mess. And that mess is what makes dialogue feel alive.

Before (AI-clean):

"I think we should discuss what happened at the meeting," Sarah said.
"I agree. It was quite concerning," Tom replied.
"Perhaps we should speak to the manager about it," Sarah suggested.

After (human-messy):

"So the meeting." Sarah poked at her salad. "That was—"
"A disaster. Yeah." Tom hadn't touched his food. "Did you see Karen's face when he said the budget thing?"
"I thought she was going to throw her laptop."
"Honestly? Same."

People interrupt. They finish each other's thoughts. They talk about specific things, not abstract "concerns." Dialogue should sound like eavesdropping on real people.

6. Cut the Filler Phrases

AI loves filler. It's like verbal tics — phrases that sound like they're saying something but actually just waste space. Learn to spot them and delete on sight.

The most common AI filler phrases:

• "It's worth noting that..." (just say the thing)
• "In terms of..." (cut it, restructure the sentence)
• "The fact that..." (almost always unnecessary)
• "It is important to remember that..." (just say it)
• "When it comes to..." (delete and get to the point)
• "At the end of the day..." (unless a character is literally talking about the end of a day)
• "That being said..." (transition? Just use "but")

Before:

It's worth noting that, when it comes to AI-generated writing, the fact that the technology has improved significantly means that, at the end of the day, the quality is much better than it used to be.

After:

AI writing quality has gotten dramatically better. Like, actually-good better.

Same point. A quarter of the words. Twice the impact.

7. Add Sensory Details

AI usually covers sight. Maybe sound. It almost never does smell, taste, or touch unless you specifically push it. But those other senses are what make a scene feel real rather than described.

Before (sight only):

The kitchen was old and hadn't been cleaned in a while. Dishes were stacked in the sink and the counters were cluttered with various items.

After (multi-sensory):

The kitchen smelled like old grease and something sweet that had gone bad — fruit, maybe, or that yogurt she'd opened last Tuesday. Dishes towered in the sink, crusted with things she didn't want to identify. The linoleum stuck to her bare feet.

Smell. Touch. Specific details. Now you're in that kitchen, not just looking at a description of one.

8. Break Up the Monotony

AI tends to write in the same format: paragraph, paragraph, paragraph, paragraph. No variation. No surprises. Reading it feels like walking on a flat road forever.

Mix it up:

• Drop in a one-sentence paragraph for emphasis
• Use a list when you've got multiple quick points
• Throw in a question to the reader
• Use a fragment. Like this.
• Break a tense scene with a short, dry observation

For fiction, this also means varying chapter structure. Not every chapter needs to follow the same pattern. Some can be short and punchy. Some can be long and immersive. Some can start mid-action. Some can start with a quiet moment.

Unpredictability keeps people reading.

9. Layer in Subtext

AI says what it means. Directly. Clearly. All the time. Which is great for instruction manuals and really boring for fiction.

Subtext is when characters say one thing and mean another. It's the gap between what's spoken and what's felt. It's what makes readers go "ooh" and feel smart for catching it.

Before (no subtext):

"I'm still angry about what you did," she said.
"I know, and I'm sorry," he replied. "I was wrong."

After (subtext doing the work):

"You want coffee?" She didn't look at him. Already reaching for only one mug.
"Sure." A pause. "If you're making some."
She set the single mug on the counter. Poured. Didn't offer sugar, even though she knew he took two.

Nobody says "I'm angry." Nobody has to. The single mug, the missing sugar — every detail screams it. That's subtext. That's what makes writing feel like a real story instead of a script summary.

10. The Final Pass: Read It Out Loud

This is the oldest editing trick and it still works better than anything else. Read your AI-generated text out loud. Actually speak the words.

Your ear catches what your eye misses:

• Sentences that go on too long (you'll run out of breath)
• Awkward phrasing (you'll stumble over it)
• Repetitive words (you'll hear the echo)
• Robotic cadence (you'll feel the monotony)
• Unnatural dialogue (nobody would say that sentence out loud)

If a sentence makes you cringe when spoken aloud, rewrite it. If you have to read it twice to understand it, simplify it. If it bores you to say it, it'll bore someone to read it.

This one pass will catch more problems than any fancy editing software. Do it last, do it thoroughly, and trust your instincts when something sounds off.

Putting It All Together

Here's the workflow I use for editing every AI-generated book:

1. First read: Story and structure. Does the plot work? Any holes? Any characters who disappeared?
2. Second read: Apply tips 1-9 above. Vary sentences, kill filler, add specifics, fix dialogue, layer subtext.
3. Third read: Read out loud (tip 10). Catch the last rough edges.

Total time for a full novel: 4-8 hours. That's it. Compare that to the months of drafting you'd do without AI. The math is silly.

If you want the AI itself to produce better first drafts (less editing for you), check out ShakespeareAI's style controls on the Writer plan. You can tune the voice, tone, and style before generation, which means the output is already closer to what you want.

More on the writing process: how to write a novel with AI, can AI write entire books, and the 2026 AI book writing guide.

FAQ: Improving AI Writing

How do you make AI writing sound more natural?

Vary sentence lengths, swap fancy words for simple ones, add specific details, use real dialogue patterns, cut filler phrases, and read it aloud. The goal is rhythm and personality. If it sounds like a press release, keep editing.

What makes AI writing feel robotic?

Same-length sentences repeating forever, overuse of words nobody actually says ("use," "endeavor," "commence"), zero contractions, vague descriptions, and no personality or opinion. Real writing has rhythm, surprises, and a point of view. AI defaults to safe and flat unless you edit it.

How long does it take to edit AI-generated writing?

3-8 hours for a full novel. Light pass for basic readability: 2-3 hours. Medium pass where you're actually polishing: 4-6 hours. Deep edit for every sentence: 6-8+. Most people doing genre fiction land in the 4-6 hour range.

Should I edit AI writing or just regenerate?

Depends. If a chapter is fundamentally off — wrong tone, plot going nowhere — regenerate it. If the bones are good but it needs polish, edit. Editing is usually faster for refinement. Regeneration is better when you need a fresh direction.

Can AI writing tools improve their own output?

Some can. ShakespeareAI has style controls on the Writer plan that let you adjust tone and voice before generating. This gets you closer on the first try, meaning less editing after. But the best results always come from human editing on top.

What's the biggest mistake people make with AI writing?

Publishing without editing. The raw AI draft is a solid starting point, not a finished product. People who get great results treat it as a first draft and invest time in polish. People who get mediocre results hit publish and wonder why it reads flat.

Does ShakespeareAI have style controls for better output?

Yeah. The Writer plan ($9.99/mo) and above have style and tone controls — you set your preferred voice before generating, and the AI adjusts accordingly. Less editing work for you, better results from the start.

How do you add personality to AI-generated text?

Opinions. Anecdotes. Humor. Specific cultural references. Varied formality. AI writes safe; your job is adding edge, warmth, or weirdness. The stuff that makes someone stop scrolling and actually read.