Exploring the Power of AI in Writing with Greg McQueen [S4 E7]

Welcome to a new episode of the Business Book Bites podcast! Today, Karen Williams, The Book Mentor, is joined by Greg McQueen, a former TV writer turned ghostwriter and AI writing specialist.

Greg brings a unique perspective to writing, blending decades of storytelling expertise with a deep curiosity for AI and technology. With a background shaped by his successful writer father—who worked on the renowned series The Bill—Greg grew up immersed in the world of television writing. His career has since evolved from screenwriting to ghostwriting nonfiction, where he now helps professionals turn their expertise into impactful books.

In this conversation, we dive into Greg’s journey from photography to writing, how AI has transformed his workflow, and why he sees AI as “Photoshop for writers.”

We explore tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, discuss the practicalities of using AI for research and structuring books, and unpack the risks of emerging AI tools. Whether you’re new to AI or already experimenting with it, this episode is packed with insights to help you make the most of these evolving technologies in your writing process.

** Check Out Our Upcoming Events **

Fancy being inspired to write your book? Join our next Coffee and Connect Café networking event. It’s on the first Tuesday of each month, from 12-1pm UK time. Our next session on Tuesday 1st April gives you the opportunity to ask Karen any question you like about the book-writing process.

Also coming up soon is our Book Kick-Start workshop and Writing Retreat in Spain.

You can check out all our events here: www.librotas.com/librotasevents.

Key Takeaways

Leverage AI Tools: Greg views AI as "Photoshop for writers", highlighting how tools like ChatGPT and Claude can enhance the writing process by improving efficiency while maintaining human authenticity.

AI in Research & Writing: Discover how AI can assist in keeping track of background materials, offering draft suggestions, and ensuring a cohesive writing process by continually referencing stored project data.

Adopt AI for Future Readiness: As Greg suggests, AI tools might soon become industry standards, much like Photoshop in photography. Now's the perfect time to explore and embrace these technologies to avoid falling behind.

Bio

Greg McQueen, a former TV writer (including "Life Force" with Damian Lewis), now specializes in ghostwriting nonfiction and AI writing. He helps professionals transform their expertise into engaging books and training materials, combining storytelling expertise with teaching experience to make complex topics accessible while preserving their impact.

Website: www.signaltowords.com

Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmcqueen-ghostwriter/

Time stamped overview:

00:00 Writer's Legacy in Creative Upbringing
05:29 "Haiti Relief Anthology Initiative"
08:15 Exploring AI Evolution and Impact
13:01 AI-Assisted Ghostwriting Benefits
15:36 "Enhancing AI with Project Preloads"
17:44 Preloading Instructions for Writing Projects
21:14 Book Comparison Using ChatGPT
27:15 Navigating AI in Writing
30:25 AI Data Usage Misunderstanding
33:10 Embrace Evolving Tech in Writing

Keywords: AI writing, ghostwriting, storytelling expertise, nonfiction writing, TV writer, writing tools, book creation, writing profession, TV writing career, publishing process, book proposal, earthquake Haiti, anthology short stories, AI tools, ChatGPT, Claude AI, writing research, DeepSeek AI, Perplexity AI, AI privacy, AI-generated content, nonfiction writing, AI for writers, Greg McQueen, Karen Williams Book Mentor