Instrumental vs Metamorphic Writing

I came across this fantastic distinction by Venkatesh Rao on different forms of writing. Particularly in dividing writing into instrumental and metamorphic.

Instrumental writing is that which is done for some end. To convey information, persuade, cajole, entertain, pillory etc. You have a goal for the writing. Examples include writing emails, reports, how to guides, scientific writing, journalism, news reports, business books, screenplays etc.

Metamorphic writing is that which ‘attempts to change the author in unpredictable ways’. They are about transforming the self. “If you don’t like, or are bored with, who you are right now, whether as a writer, or more generally as a person, you can write yourself into an unpredictable new version.” Examples include : journals, personal blogs, poetry, fiction, memoirs, research writing, spiritual texts etc.

There is an overlap between the two modes, some forms of instrumental writing will have a metamorphic effect and change you as a person, although I suspect the email you are about to write does not fall into that category.

In general, the books about the craft of writing I love (Writing down the bones, The Artists Way) generally promote a metamorphic mode of writing. The act of writing as being a process of self transformation, where you are planting seeds within the garden of your mind that overtime bloom and change how one sees the world.

It’s more akin to meditation- about changing the lens through which one sees. Externalising thought changes the thinker. This is why Natalie Goldberg says that writing for her is a zen practice. It’s a spiritual practice.

I’m curious at where AI fits into this distinction. Clearly it will help with instrumental writing, aiding with research, helping form more persuasive arguments. Rao says that the ‘creator economy’ is 99%+ based on instrumental works. With AI assisted writing, that number is only going to increase.

But can AI assisted writing be metamorphic?

Many people are using it as a personal journal that talks back to you, a digital therapist. It can function as a sparring partner when prompted correctly, a mirror to bounce off ideas. Pre-AI, other humans would have played this role, but AI can do the same without any added moral judgements.

But at the same time, AI will agree to whatever you say. It will hallucinate. It will make logical errors (maybe humans do this all the time too). So it’s sensible to have some cognitive defences or awareness to recognise this.

I suspect that you also need cognitive friction for metamorphic writing to ‘work’. You have to sit and live with the uncomfortable questions. Sit with your confusion and inability to articulate certain thoughts to get to the juicy self transformation. AI has the danger of smoothing that friction, or worse yet, deluding you. Too many people who have been one shot by AI.

For now, I’m using AI in a very limited fashion, never to actually write anything down, but for research if I’m doing any instrumental forms of writing. But I feel that for metamorphic forms of writing, it is not going to ‘work’.