it wasn’t AI—just real writing

A lot of authors use the em dash (—) in their novels, and no—it’s not because of AI. Writers have been using it long before AI even existed. It’s simply part of good writing and something you learn when you study grammar, pacing, and storytelling.

The em dash can:

• add a dramatic pause,

• show interrupted dialogue,

• highlight a sudden shift in emotion or thought,

• or emphasize an important part of the sentence.

So when you see an em dash in a story, it’s completely normal. It’s not an “AI thing”—it’s just a writing tool that helps make sentences flow better and feel more natural.

------

Before I even learned how to write properly, I was already working on Chapter 2 of TBIATE without really knowing the right way to craft a story. I didn’t understand the basics yet—how to structure scenes, what details mattered, or even who I could ask for help. I was writing alone, with no one to guide me through off-scenes or suggest what needed improvement. I was just a beginner with zero experience, not even back when I was still a student.

Honestly, I once believed that when writers used an em dash, it came from ChatGPT. That’s why I avoided it in my own writing. I thought using it might make my work look “AI-generated,” so I chose not to use it at all.

But before I finished writing, a childhood friend of mine—who’s a journalism student—offered to read what I had so far. Since he’s really good with things like this, I trusted him completely and let him read my prologue up to Chapter 2. He pointed out the correct use of quotation marks, commas, and helped me improve my sentence flow. He even shared one of his works with me, and that’s when I noticed the em dash in his writing.

I asked him why he used it, and that’s when I finally learned: the em dash is actually a normal and important part of writing—not an “AI thing.” Writers have been using it long before AI ever existed. He even mentioned that each paragraph should only use the em dash two times to keep the structure neat and readable.

I’m truly grateful because, even though I’m a beginner, he never mocked my work or made me feel less capable. Instead, he gave me honest opinions and helpful suggestions with kindness—no harsh criticism, no belittling. And I appreciated every bit of it.

------

111425