J’accuse: Authors post TikTok videos to prove their books aren’t AI-generated

Authors across TikTok are posting videos of their writing processes to combat accusations of using AI to generate their books, with bestselling author Victoria Aveyard leading the charge by sharing footage of herself editing a 1,000-page manuscript. This digital defense movement reflects growing tensions in the publishing industry as writers struggle to distinguish human-created work from AI-generated content amid an influx of self-published authors and concerns about artificial intelligence infiltrating traditional publishing deals.

What you should know: High-profile authors are using social media to prove their work is human-generated after facing AI accusations from readers and fellow writers.

• Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of the Red Queen series, posted TikToks showing herself editing physical manuscripts, telling her 460,000 followers: “Using GenAI to write a book doesn’t make you a writer, it makes you a thief.”
• The videos garnered over 350,000 views each, with Aveyard warning against using AI to create “tropey, regurgitated romantasy sludge” to secure traditional publishing deals.
• Other authors like Ashley Godschild and Rachel Menard have followed suit, posting time-lapses of their writing processes and emphasizing their lengthy creative workflows.

The big picture: The publishing market is expected to grow by 8.9 million between now and 2029, but the influx includes AI-generated content that’s making it harder to identify authentic human work.

• The r/WritingWithAI subreddit has over 40,000 subscribers and is growing, representing what Aveyard calls a concerning trend.
• Independent authors are combating what some describe as an AI-generated “witch hunt” as accusations fly across social platforms like Threads and TikTok.
• Writers are using these controversies to highlight the complex human skills required for compelling storytelling that AI cannot replicate.

Why this matters: The movement reveals deeper concerns about AI’s impact on creative industries and the value of human artistic expression.

• Authors argue that AI lacks the cultural fluency and emotional depth necessary for authentic storytelling, particularly for works requiring specific cultural perspectives.
• The controversy underscores broader questions about intellectual property theft and the integrity of creative work in an AI-driven landscape.
• Publishers and readers are grappling with how to verify authenticity as AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated.

What they’re saying: Authors emphasize the irreplaceable human elements in their creative processes.

• “Everyone has forgotten what makes a book good, and it’s the work that goes into it,” says indie author Rachel Menard, who noted it took her “78 drafts” to complete one manuscript.
• Quan Millz, who has over 830,000 TikTok followers, explains AI’s limitations with cultural authenticity: “There’s no way in hell you’re going to get any of these AI models to really capture the essence of just how Black people talk.”
• “When you read AI text, even if you do a good job of trying to edit it or make it your own, there’s still something amiss,” Millz adds, describing a “transcendent” quality unique to human creativity.

Key challenges: Some authors question whether posting proof of their writing process is necessary or effective.

• While Godschild supports authors being “loud and clear” that AI isn’t welcome in the industry, she doesn’t think authors should feel obligated to post proof.
• Millz has stopped hosting live writing sessions because constant interaction with commenters hindered his creative process.
• The burden of proof may become more complex as AI tools become more sophisticated and harder to detect.