Artificial Intelligence, Stilts, and the Quill: The Truth About Tools and Talent

A proper introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the MSc Integrative Therapy program at London Metropolitan University has left me feeling like a kid on Christmas morning—surrounded by dozens of shiny new toys, each full of exciting possibilities. Among them, my favorite is a set of stilts—a perfect metaphor for the newfound perspective and reach AI offers.

Standing at just 5’2”, I know what it’s like to navigate a world built for taller people. These metaphorical stilts give me the ability to see further, to reach higher, and to step beyond what I once thought possible. But, like any new skill, using them requires balance, patience, and a fair amount of trial and error. If I’m not careful, I could end up flat on my back, staring at the sky—laughing at my own misstep before getting up to try again.

New tools often bring mixed reactions. Some assume my stilts give me an effortless advantage, that I’ve suddenly leaped ahead without the years of effort it takes to stand tall on my own. But those who truly understand know the truth: stilts don’t replace skill—they require it. And, just as important, they require the courage to use them in the first place.

The Quill and the Stilts

This conversation about tools and ability is not new to me. As a writer, I have spent over 40 years developing my craft—honing my voice, refining my thoughts, and embracing the messy, tactile process of creation.

I write not just for the final words on the page but for the experience itself—the smell of ink, the glide of a pen across textured paper, the soft scrape of a metal tip over ridges. My notebooks are filled with scratches, scribbles, and doodles—small imprints of my thought process captured in every crossed-out sentence and margin note. Every boarding pass is covered in poetry. Every dinner napkin holds snippets of thought.

For me, writing is a deeply personal and intentional act—a daily self-care ritual. Every November, for more than 15 years, I have dedicated an entire month to crafting over 100,000 words in less than 30 days. In writing circles, this is known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Most years, I start preparing as early as August, eager to immerse myself in the creative process.

So when AI tools entered the picture for me just two weeks ago, I understood why some might feel uncertain or skeptical. There is a natural hesitation when something new challenges traditional ways of doing things. But just as I no longer write by candlelight—choosing instead to embrace electricity to work through the night—AI, too, can be a useful tool.

At its core, what I know to be true is this:

AI is no more my writer than stilts are my legs.

Tools Don’t Create Talent—They Enhance It

No matter what tools we use, success comes from dedication, experience, and the willingness to push forward. Stilts don’t suddenly make me a marathon runner—just as AI doesn’t turn someone into a master storyteller overnight.

What truly defines expertise isn’t the tools at our disposal, but the years of effort, the lessons learned through trial and error, and the resilience to keep going even when progress feels slow. It’s the early mornings spent refining our craft, the late nights spent wrestling with ideas, and the countless moments of doubt that we push through to create something meaningful.

“A paintbrush doesn’t make an artist, a violin doesn’t make a musician, and AI doesn’t make a writer—these tools amplify what already exists within us. Just as a musician must first learn the language of melody and composition before picking up an instrument, a writer must develop their voice, perspective, and storytelling ability long before AI can assist in shaping those ideas.”

AI as a Creative Partner, Not a Replacement

If anything, AI has enhanced my creativity, not diminished it. Rather than replacing my role as a writer, it has encouraged me to think in new ways—to explore concepts I might not have considered, to refine my work with fresh perspectives, and to push past creative roadblocks more efficiently.

That said, AI is not a routine part of my writing process. The vast majority of my ideas don’t emerge while sitting in front of a screen. Creativity, for me—and for most creatives I know—happens in motion. Inspiration strikes while walking, observing, or simply being lost in thought during everyday moments. My process is to dictate thoughts to myself or scrawl notes in my well-worn notepad until I can return to a keyboard. Writing is, and has always been, a deeply physical experience—one of movement, rhythm, and the tangible connection between thought and pen.

Like stilts that offer a new vantage point, AI allows me to see ideas from angles I hadn’t imagined before. But it doesn’t create the spark. It doesn’t replace the long walks or drives that untangle complex ideas, the hurried notes jotted in the margins of my day, or the visceral connection I feel when ink meets paper. It is merely one tool among many—useful at times, but never a substitute for the organic, deeply personal process of creation.

The Heart of Creativity Belongs to Us

What AI offers is an opportunity—an invitation to experiment, to stretch beyond what we thought was possible, to challenge the limits of our own creativity. But the ideas, the artistry, the soul of the work? That is ours.

AI may assist in shaping words, but it doesn’t dream up the stories that make people feel something. It doesn’t live the experiences that inspire poetry, nor does it wrestle with the deeply personal struggles that fuel raw, authentic storytelling. That part—the most essential part—belongs to the writer alone. And especially for those like me who write about emotional healing and mental health, the raw, intimate, personal experience is what shapes the trajectory of our work. There is nothing artificial about it.

So while I welcome new tools that help me refine and elevate my craft, I do so with full confidence in this truth:

The words on the page, the stories I tell, and the voice behind them?

They are, and always will be, mine.

Embracing Innovation Without Losing Ourselves

I understand why some hesitate when it comes to AI—change always brings questions. But I also know that throughout history, innovation has never diminished true skill; it has only revealed new ways to express it.

The key isn’t to resist new tools out of fear but to approach them with curiosity, discernment, and confidence. AI doesn’t replace creativity—it amplifies the voice, skill, and dedication that were there all along.

So, to those who wonder if the stilts did the work, I say: Watch me run.

To those who assume AI has taken the place of my pen, I say: Watch me write.

And to those embracing new tools with the same love for their craft that has always driven them forward, I say: Let’s create something extraordinary.

Reference Note:

This article was refined for flow and clarity with the assistance of ChatGPT as part of an experimental writing process. However, all creative direction, intellectual property, and final editorial decisions remain solely those of LeighWilliam.com.

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