In 2024, I got into my dream creative writing program at the University of Sydney. It was supposed to be a turning point — a chance to sharpen my craft, earn an MFA, and break into the literary world. But I turned it down. Not because I didn’t want it — but because I no longer believed the path was viable.
The reason? Artificial intelligence. Within months, I watched the creative industry shift dramatically as AI-generated writing flooded the market and human writers got pushed aside. It wasn’t just tech news — it was personal. And it changed everything.
The High Cost of a Dream in an AI World
Spending over $50,000 on a two-year graduate program started to feel like a gamble. Not against my talent or passion — but against an industry that was evolving faster than any classroom could teach. I saw respected publications laying off writers. I saw AI pumping out commercial content at lightning speed. And I realized: the rules of the game had changed.
Some people said I was overreacting. I think they underestimated how fast the creative world is shifting.
A New Kind of Creative Career
Since walking away from the program, I haven’t stopped writing — I’ve just started doing it on my own terms. I freelance. I collaborate with communities that value real, human storytelling. I adapt, learn, and grow in real-time.
The goal isn’t to reject AI entirely. It’s to navigate the space where art and automation collide — and find new ways to thrive without losing my voice.
What AI Is (and Isn’t) Taking from Us
AI tools like ChatGPT can mimic patterns and generate content, but they can’t replicate lived experience, emotional depth, or vulnerability. That’s what makes human stories powerful — and that’s what still matters.
The challenge now is standing out in a world where machines can talk like us. But it’s also an opportunity: to create more honest, raw, and uniquely human work.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions About AI and the Creative Industry
Q: Why did you really turn down grad school?
I feared spending big money on a degree while the industry was rapidly shifting toward AI-driven content, potentially making it harder for human creatives to earn a living.
Q: How bad is AI’s impact on writing jobs?
It’s significant. Layoffs are happening, and AI-generated books, articles, and marketing copy are on the rise — often at the expense of real writers.
Q: Are creative degrees still worth it?
It depends. They can still teach valuable skills and build community — but they also need to evolve and acknowledge how AI is reshaping the landscape.
Q: Can human creativity survive this shift?
Absolutely. AI may be efficient, but it lacks the soul that true storytelling requires. What we create still matters — maybe now more than ever.
Q: What’s next for creatives like you?
Adaptation. Learning to use AI as a tool, not a replacement — and continuing to tell stories that only a human can.
This isn’t the end of the creative path — it’s a new chapter. One where the rules have changed, but the purpose remains: to tell stories that make people feel something. And no machine can take that away.
Sources Business Insider
