Polishing with Purpose

Polishing with Purpose

Using AI Analysis Tools to Refine Biographical Writing: Lessons from Writing Nadene's Journey

When I began to polish Nadene's Journey, I faced a common biographer's challenge: I needed objective feedback before sharing the manuscript with beta readers or editors. I found a great solution in Authors.AI's Marlow tool, developed based on Matthew L. Jockers' groundbreaking research detailed in The Bestseller Code. It analyzed thousands of successful novels to identify patterns in everything from sentence structure to character development. While initially designed for fiction, I discovered how Marlow's AI analysis could enhance the technical aspects of biographical writing while maintaining the heart of personal storytelling.

Stage One: Character Analysis

Just as a portrait photographer might adjust the lighting to highlight specific features, Marlow's personality trait analysis helped refine how each character's essence shone through the narrative. The tool revealed interesting insights about how my writing portrayed the main characters. For instance, early drafts showed Nadene primarily as perceptive and intuitive, while her daughter Dena appeared confident and bright. This analysis helped me realize that Nadene's active, hardworking nature needed stronger emphasis.

By carefully selecting words associated with these desired personality traits, I made subtle adjustments to character descriptions throughout the manuscript. These changes didn't alter the fundamental stories but enhanced how readers would perceive each character's unique qualities.

Stage Two: Balance and Flow

Like a symphony conductor ensuring each instrument contributes appropriately to the overall piece, Marlow helped identify the balance between narrative and dialogue. The initial draft contained only 20% dialogue – significantly lower than what readers typically expect. By thoughtfully incorporating more of Nadene's direct quotes from our interviews, I increased this to 40%, creating a more engaging rhythm between narration and Nadene’s personal voice.

The tool also highlighted patterns in my writing that needed attention. Repetitive phrases like "we had to" appeared ten times in early drafts, while certain adverbs and adjectives showed up with distracting frequency. Words like "new" (145 times), "little" (45 times), and "high" (22 times) exceeded typical usage in successful books. Through careful revision, I reduced these repetitions to more natural levels, allowing Nadene's story to flow more smoothly.

Stage Three: Accessibility and Clarity

The final stage focused on making Nadene's story accessible to a broader audience while maintaining its depth. Marlow's analysis revealed that my average sentence length of 16 words and an 11th-grade reading level might create unnecessary barriers for some readers. Through thoughtful revision, I reduced the average sentence length to 13.66 words and brought the reading level down to 9.25 grade level. This process required careful balance – simplifying sentence structure without losing meaning or emotional impact. Creative AI prompting helped suggest alternative phrasings, but each change required careful consideration to ensure we preserved the authenticity of Nadene's voice.

A Practical Approach to AI Analysis

For biographers considering AI analysis tools, here's how to begin:

• Start with a complete draft before applying AI analysis. This allows you to focus on the story first and technical refinements second.

• Use personality trait feedback to enhance your characters.

• Balance statistical improvements (like reading level) against maintaining authentic voice and story impact.

• Remember that AI analysis provides guidance, not rules – every suggestion should be weighed against your knowledge of your subject and audience.

Most importantly, maintain your role as the final arbiter of changes. AI can identify patterns and suggest improvements, but only you can ensure these changes serve the story and honor your subject. Used thoughtfully, these tools help polish your manuscript while preserving its essential warmth and humanity.