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Levi, a programmer with literary aspirations, has conducted an experiment demonstrating the potential of AI to dramatically accelerate the novel-writing process. Frustrated with the time constraints of traditional writing, Levi created Varu AI, aiming to empower authors by enabling AI assistance and freeing them to pursue projects they’re most passionate about.

The core question: Could AI rapidly generate a novel-length first draft? He challenged Varu AI with a classic science fiction premise: a boy living on a mining colony who dreams of escaping to a space academy. Through roughly 30 minutes of active prompting and guidance, the AI produced a 59,000-word manuscript.

Levi emphasizes that Varu AI is designed for collaboration, not automation. Human input is essential, guiding the AI with “plot promises” based on Brandon Sanderson’s ‘promise, progress, payoff’ principle. He incorporated specific plot elements like a tournament arc and a romantic subplot through these prompts.

So, how did the AI-generated novel stack up? Levi acknowledges a mixed bag. On the plus side, the plot was surprisingly coherent, the prose was generally acceptable, and the AI successfully integrated the requested subplots. The pacing was also described as quick and engaging.

However, the draft exhibited typical first-draft weaknesses: plot holes, character inconsistencies, uneven writing quality, and formatting issues. The AI also struggled to maintain context across the entire manuscript, relying on scene summaries to maintain continuity.

Levi dedicated two hours to editing approximately half of the manuscript (30,000 words). Despite the need for revision, the speed of generation was remarkable. He concludes that AI can be a valuable tool for quickly generating usable first drafts, but it’s not a replacement for human creativity. The output lacked the nuance, distinctive voice, and thematic richness inherent in human writing. Interactive guidance was critical for shaping the narrative.

Levi now poses key questions to the writing community: What are the implications of this technology for writers? How close are we to AI genuinely capable of crafting compelling novels? What are the ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated literature?