Writing Literary Fiction in the Era of AI

The rapid rise of large language models and their ability to produce fluent, seemingly effortless prose has raised urgent questions for writers and teachers of fiction. If machines can generate competent narrative at scale, what does that mean for the craft of storytelling and for the humans who practise it?

In this talk, led by Dr. Joseph Reed, Course Director for the MSt in Creative Writing at PACE, you’ll explore why the emergence of AI‑generated prose does not diminish the value of well‑crafted fiction, and why human authorship remains qualitatively distinct. 

Dr. Reed will examine how LLMs shape expectations around speed, style, and productivity, and how writers may need to adapt their processes in response. At the same time, he will argue that the depth, intentionality, and imaginative coherence of human‑made fiction continue to set it apart from text produced by generative systems.

The session will consider what AI can and cannot meaningfully replicate, voice, emotional resonance, lived experience, and the complex decision‑making that underpins narrative art. It will also look at how writers can engage critically with these tools without losing sight of the creative instincts and interpretive choices that define their work.