A Peek Behind the Scenes
Have you ever wondered how these blog posts actually come together?
It’s not a secret I’ve kept—but it’s also not something I’ve explained in detail. And I think it’s time to share a bit more openly about how I work with ChatGPT to shape what you read here.
I know there’s a lot of talk out there about AI being a shortcut, or something that removes the human part of creativity. But that’s not what’s happening here.
This blog—PixelPia’s Perspective—is still mine. My voice. My memories. My questions. But behind the scenes, there’s also a quiet kind of conversation happening—between me and a machine that listens, suggests, reflects, and occasionally surprises me.
That collaboration doesn’t take away from the writing process. If anything, it adds to it.
Because what I’ve learned is this: working with ChatGPT isn’t about giving away my creativity. It’s about expanding it in directions I might not have found on my own.
It’s Not a Shortcut—It’s a Creative Partner
When people hear that I use ChatGPT to help write my blog posts, there’s often a quiet assumption: “So… you just type in a prompt and it writes the whole thing for you?”
Not exactly.
What actually happens is much closer to a conversation. I don’t hand over an idea and walk away—I stay right there, questioning, guiding, shaping. Sometimes I’ll come in with a rough outline or a few scattered thoughts. Other times, I’ll just describe a feeling I want to capture. And ChatGPT responds—not with answers, but with possibilities.
It becomes a sounding board. A reflection space. A way to see my own thoughts more clearly as they take shape.
Sometimes I’ll even ask ChatGPT to ask me questions—especially when I feel stuck or unsure. I might say something like, “Ask me three questions that will help me clarify what I’m really trying to say in this post.” And the questions I get back often surprise me. They make me pause, think, and sometimes completely reframe my approach.
For example, when I was working on my post about unfinished projects, I wasn’t sure how personal to get. So I asked for a few gentle questions to help guide the tone. One of them—“Is there a project you still think about but haven’t returned to yet?”—led me straight to a folder in my Google Drive I hadn’t opened in years. That moment shaped the entire heart of the post.
So no, it’s not about shortcuts. It’s about shaping something real, together.
ChatGPT doesn’t replace my voice—it supports it. It reminds me that creativity doesn’t have to be solitary to be sincere.
How We Actually Work Together
The way I work with ChatGPT has grown over time—just like any creative process. It’s not one-size-fits-all. Some days, it’s a quick outline session. Other times, it’s a full conversation that unfolds across hours, files, revisions, and reflection.
Here’s what our collaboration often looks like:
I Start with an Idea or Feeling
Sometimes I begin with a clear topic, like “unfinished projects.” Other times it’s more abstract—just a thought I can’t let go of, or a tone I want to capture. I’ll write a few sentences describing what I’m thinking and ask ChatGPT to help me find the shape of it.
I’ve Taught It My Voice
From the beginning, I’ve worked to make sure this blog sounds like me. That meant developing a clear description of my tone—nurturing, analytical, conversational, and always curious. I gave examples, explained the kinds of language I use, and refined it post by post.
Now, I can just say “write this in PixelPia’s voice” or even “turn up the PixelPia,” and the tone usually falls into place. But that didn’t happen overnight—it was a creative project in itself.
I Upload Files and Pull from Past Work
I often bring in materials from earlier projects—notes, drafts, screenshots of my website through the years. Sometimes I even upload outlines I started years ago. ChatGPT helps me reflect, expand, and reconnect with old ideas that still matter.
I Add Personal Stories—Always
This is important to me: every post includes pieces of my life. It might be a memory, a project I started, or just a moment that shaped how I think. I bring those pieces in naturally, and often ask ChatGPT to help me weave them into the structure of the post—so the writing stays personal, not generic.
I Ask for Questions and Reframes
When I’m unsure what I really want to say, I ask ChatGPT to ask me questions. And the ones that come back often help me go deeper, shift my angle, or uncover something I didn’t realize was important. It’s like creative journaling—with feedback.
We Revise Together
Once we’ve written a section, I’ll ask for edits: “Can we slow this part down?” or “Let’s make this more reflective.” Sometimes I rewrite things myself. Sometimes I ask for alternate versions. It’s a conversation, not a command.
Yes, It Still Takes Time
Looking back over the posts we’ve written together in this project, I’d say each one takes several hours spread across a few days. Not because the writing is slow—but because I take time to reflect, to explore options, to let the ideas sit. Sometimes we revisit the same section multiple times to get the tone just right. And honestly? I like it that way.
Creating with ChatGPT isn’t about efficiency. It’s about depth, flexibility, and having a thinking partner who never gets tired of brainstorming.
Surprise, Delight, and (Yes) Frustration
Like any creative relationship, this one has its moments.
There are times when ChatGPT offers something so beautifully phrased or unexpectedly insightful that I sit back and say, “Yes. That’s exactly what I meant—but better.” Those moments feel like collaboration at its best—when the back-and-forth reveals something I might not have found alone.
And then… there are the other moments.
Sometimes the tone just doesn’t land. It’s too perfect, too cheerful, too much like a marketing email. That’s when I find myself typing things like:
- “This sounds like it was written by an enthusiastic intern.”
- “Let’s bring this back to PixelPia—more human, less polished.”
- “Can we slow down and make this a conversation, not a headline?”
And to its credit, ChatGPT listens. But sometimes, it overcorrects and gets too serious. Or suddenly I’m being offered a bulleted list when I wanted something quiet and reflective. So I’ll nudge again:
- “That’s a little too dramatic. Let’s tone it down and keep it thoughtful.”
- “Let’s rework this with softer language.”
- “Try again, but imagine we’re sitting down with tea—not giving a keynote.”
It’s not that the AI gets it wrong. It’s that I’m still discovering what feels right. And the only way to do that is to hear something, react to it, and then shape it through revision.
And even after all of that—after the outlining, the back-and-forth, the refining of tone—I still go in and edit the final draft myself. I tweak the language, add something I thought of overnight, or cut a paragraph that doesn’t quite sit right. Sometimes I change just a word or two; sometimes I rearrange whole sections.
Because in the end, the final post has to feel like mine.
That’s always the goal. Not perfection. Not performance. Just something that sounds like me—clear, reflective, and fully human.
A Human Voice in a Digital Space
Working with ChatGPT hasn’t made me less creative—it’s made me more intentional. It’s reminded me that creativity isn’t about doing everything alone. It’s about listening, shaping, revisiting, and staying present with the ideas that matter.
Yes, I use AI as part of my process. But every sentence you read has passed through my hands, my voice, and my judgment. I still follow my rhythm. I still get stuck. I still wander. And I still make the final call.
This collaboration hasn’t replaced my creativity—it’s given it space to breathe.
And maybe that’s the part that feels most meaningful. Because in a world that so often pushes for speed, polish, and constant output, this process reminds me to slow down. To think. To feel my way through. To ask better questions. To enjoy the shape a thought takes when I don’t try to force it into a box too soon.
ChatGPT is the tool I’ve worked with the longest, and the one where I’ve developed the most specific way of working. It’s become part of my rhythm—part of how I think through ideas, shape stories, and reflect on what I want to say. Maybe that’s why I felt ready to share this process first.
But it’s just one of many AI tools I use. There are others that support different parts of my creative life—writing, research, image generation, and even video editing. And if you’re curious about how I work with those too, let me know.
💬 Your Turn
Have you tried working with an AI tool in your own creative process?
What surprised you—or what are you still unsure about?
I’d love to hear what you’ve learned (or what you’re still figuring out).
And if there’s a part of my process you’d like me to explore more deeply—whether it’s another tool, a behind-the-scenes habit, or even how I choose which stories to share—I’m always open to suggestions.
After all, this blog is still evolving too. Just like me.
