We’ve spent long enough on the internet to watch the web reinvent itself—twice before breakfast on some days. We’ve seen users chase SEO fads, social algorithms, video pivots, and now we’re staring down a world where machines can spit out a passable first draft before we’ve even finished our coffee. In a world where machines can churn out articles at scale, it’s easy to wonder what’s the point of adding your voice when a model can draft the same thing in seconds. But that’s the wrong question. What you should really be asking is: how do I write in a way that no model—or no copycat—can replicate? This piece is about that distinction—how to stay unmistakably you while writing in a world that’s happily automated the boring parts. Because you’re not competing against a model, you’re competing against other humans who know how to use models without letting models use them. What Machines Can’t Steal What Machines Can’t Steal The internet doesn’t reward sameness for long. It rewards taste, reporting, and point of view—the three things AI can’t credibly fake at scale. Taste is your internal compass: what you choose not to cover, which details you elevate, the angle you find obvious that others miss. Taste comes from what you read, watch, and play; it’s a fingerprint.


Reporting is friction. It’s the DM you send, the call you place, the dataset you scrape, the test you run. When you touch the world, your copy becomes unfakeable.


Point of view is responsibility. You’re not summarizing—anyone can. You’re interpreting for readers who don’t have the time or context. Taste is your internal compass: what you choose not to cover, which details you elevate, the angle you find obvious that others miss. Taste comes from what you read, watch, and play; it’s a fingerprint. Taste is your internal compass: what you choose not to cover, which details you elevate, the angle you find obvious that others miss. Taste comes from what you read, watch, and play; it’s a fingerprint. Taste not Reporting is friction. It’s the DM you send, the call you place, the dataset you scrape, the test you run. When you touch the world, your copy becomes unfakeable. Reporting is friction. It’s the DM you send, the call you place, the dataset you scrape, the test you run. When you touch the world, your copy becomes unfakeable. Reporting touch the world Point of view is responsibility. You’re not summarizing—anyone can. You’re interpreting for readers who don’t have the time or context. Point of view is responsibility. You’re not summarizing—anyone can. You’re interpreting for readers who don’t have the time or context. Point of view interpreting AI can remix the internet; it can’t create new facts, fresh interviews, or your lived take. That’s your moat. How to Stay Original on Purpose How to Stay Original on Purpose “Originality isn’t about being clever. It’s about being deliberate.” — unknown “Originality isn’t about being clever. It’s about being deliberate.” — unknown “Originality isn’t about being clever. It’s about being deliberate.” — unknown Authors often think originality means coming up with never-before-seen ideas or reinventing the wheel on every assignment. But that’s not true: you don’t stumble into originality—you build it into your process. You make conscious choices, again and again, that pull your work away from the generic and toward the distinct. Here are some tips on how you can build originality in your own work: 1. Start With a Spine 1. Start With a Spine Before you write, sketch the skeleton of your story: what happened, why it matters, who’s affected, what’s new, what’s next. This spine keeps you honest. If a paragraph doesn’t connect back, cut it. Writers who skip this step end up with a copy that feels hollow. 2. Touch the World 2. Touch the World If you’re just restating what’s already public, you’re competing with machines—and losing. Add friction: test the product, call the source, compare claims to filings. Even a small act of reporting makes your story impossible to duplicate. 3. Use AI, Don’t Let It Use You 3. Use AI, Don’t Let It Use You Treat AI like a spell-checker with benefits. It’s fine for brainstorming headlines, summarizing background docs, or pressure-testing your outline. But never let it write your lead or quotes. That’s where your story’s soul lives. Once you give that away, you’re just another remix. 4. Mind Your Verbs 4. Mind Your Verbs Look at your draft. If every sentence leans on “is,” “was,” or “are,” your writing will feel lifeless. Strong verbs do the heavy lifting. “Microsoft slashed prices” is better than “Prices were cut by Microsoft.” An active voice makes your perspective felt. “Microsoft slashed prices” “Prices were cut by Microsoft.” 5. Write to Someone You Know 5. Write to Someone You Know Forget the vague “audience.” Picture a friend, a sibling, someone real. Write like you’re explaining it to them. The sharper your imagined reader, the clearer your voice will be. The Pitfalls to Avoid The Pitfalls to Avoid The Generic Lead The Generic Lead If your first line starts with “In today’s fast-paced world…” stop. Open with an image, a moment, or a telling detail. The couch that ate your robot vacuum. The mom whose accent Siri finally understood. Specifics create trust. The Quote-as-Filler The Quote-as-Filler A good quote does one of three jobs: lends authority, shows conflict, or adds color. If your quote just repeats what you already wrote, cut it. Don’t pad your work with “he said, she said.” The Search Engine Trap The Search Engine Trap Yes, SEO matters. But don’t sell your soul to it. Write for humans first, then make sure your keywords are clear and natural. A good headline isn’t just findable—it’s memorable. “Steam’s refund tweak just killed impulse buys” beats “Steam announces new refund policy.” “Steam’s refund tweak just killed impulse buys” “Steam announces new refund policy.” You will produce many drafts that feel replaceable. Don’t panic. Voice is a volume knob, not a light switch. Reporting is a habit, not a hero moment. Taste is a garden, not a gift—you tend it by feeding it well. Use AI to widen your field of view, not to narrow your signature. Automate the chores so you can spend time on the parts only you can do: asking better questions, noticing the telling detail, and choosing the angle that makes a reader text someone and say, “you have to see this.” There’s one more responsibility you carry as a writer: transparency. If you use AI in your process, know where the line is. Don’t generate quotes. Don’t slip in “facts” you haven’t verified. If you touch meaning—images, transcripts, conclusions—label it. Readers can forgive rough edges; they won’t forgive being misled. Taking in all of this at once might seem a bit overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t have to. Taking in all of this at once might seem a bit overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t have to. The HackerNoon Blogging Course with its self-paced structure, on-demand video lessons, practical tools and templates (yours to keep), exercises, and a community to learn with, allows you to digest all the resources you need to grow your reach and authority as a writer. And that’s just in one of eight modules curated by a stellar Editorial team responsible for publishing 150,000+ drafts from contributors all over the world. The HackerNoon Blogging Course with its self-paced structure, on-demand video lessons, practical tools and templates (yours to keep), exercises, and a community to learn with, allows you to digest all the resources you need to grow your reach and authority as a writer. And that’s just in one of eight modules curated by a stellar Editorial team responsible for publishing 150,000+ drafts from contributors all over the world. HackerNoon Blogging Course Want to become an authority even in the age of AI? Want to become an authority even in the age of AI? Sign up for the HackerNoon Blogging Course today! Sign up for the HackerNoon Blogging Course today! Sign up for the HackerNoon Blogging Course today! Sign up for the HackerNoon Blogging Course today!

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Beyond the Bots: What Real Writing Looks Like in the Age of AI

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