Writing at the Speed of Imagination – How AI Is Changing the Creative Process

For most novelists, the biggest challenge isn’t dreaming up ideas—it’s sustaining the discipline and momentum to transform those ideas into finished stories. Writer's block, research rabbit holes, and endless edits can stall even the most inspired projects.

Kate Trgovac, a storyteller and content strategist, came to the AI Upgrade for Creative Professionals program with a vision: use AI not as a ghostwriter, but as a creative amplifier—a tool to spark ideas, deepen characters, and stay in the flow of writing.

The Problem: Creativity Meets the Grind

Kate described her starting point like this:

“We use AI now mainly for idea generation—writing social media posts, dabbling in image creation. But I want AI to go deeper: how can it help me take ideas to something more substantial?”​

Writers like Kate face common hurdles:

• Blank-page syndrome and motivation dips

• Complex worldbuilding and timeline continuity

• Long research hours to maintain accuracy

• Difficulty maintaining voice across revisions

The Solution: A Multi-AI Story Engine

Instead of replacing the writing process, Kate built a creative support system—a suite of tools that accelerate storytelling without compromising originality:

• ChatGPT for brainstorming, outlining, and unblocking narrative structure

• Claude AI for refining character dialogue and keeping voice consistent

• Perplexity AI for quick, verifiable research—especially helpful with niche details

“I’m excited about Perplexity—the source citations are so helpful. I don’t want AI to replace my creativity, I want it to support and sharpen it.”​

How It Works: Kate’s AI-Enhanced Workflow

1. AI Worldbuilding & Lore Creation
   AI helps flesh out settings, history, and environmental details, keeping narratives immersive and coherent.

2. Character Depth Prompts
   Dialogue-based AI sessions generate internal motivations, conflicts, and backstories.

3. Scene Structuring & Pacing
   Tools analyze momentum and provide suggestions to tighten transitions or raise stakes.

4. Editorial & Stylistic Enhancements
   AI feedback supports clarity, tone consistency, and clean copy—especially during revisions.

The Breakthrough: Staying in Flow

For Kate, the biggest win has been flow. With AI as a co-pilot:

• She’s writing faster—with richer content and less second-guessing.

• Her characters feel more vivid, thanks to AI-aided discovery and iteration.

• Time once lost to research is now reinvested into the craft of storytelling.

“I enjoy using AI as a brainstorming partner,” she said. “It keeps the wheels turning and helps me stay excited—even through the tough parts.”​

What’s Next? Building Worlds Beyond the Page

Kate is now exploring new terrain:

• AI-generated side stories, character POVs, and lore expansions

• Interactive storytelling tools for reader-guided plot development

• AI voice synthesis for immersive audiobook narration

She’s also deeply engaged in conversations around AI ethics and trust:

“I’m less worried about AI’s creative risks—we’ll figure those out. I’m more concerned about misinformation and manipulation. The creative side is where I see the most positive potential.”​

A Final Word: Technology That Elevates Creativity

At The Upgrade AI, we believe that technology should empower human expression—not erase it. Kate’s work is a powerful example of what happens when creativity meets thoughtful automation.

Here's what Kate had to say about the course:

"This course was great! I learned a LOT! It was well organized - I like how each week covered a different aspect of AI tools or issues. Good class size. Liked having two instructors, especially since Kris and Peter have different styles and areas of mastery - this was a great choice."

Want to build your own creative AI toolkit?
Join our next AI Upgrade for Creative Professionals cohort and start writing at the speed of imagination.

Because sometimes, a little spark is all your story needs.