Updated March 27, 2026
First things first, the basics of using AI: This is an excellent and easy-to-understand overview of how to prompt AI effectively. It applies to all models and tools.
Which AI models/tools are most appropriate for XYZ task?
The pace of change is fast, but here’s a decent and simple overview from February 2026.
- ChatGPT: the Swiss Army knife of AI tools. The deep research mode is powerful.
- Perplexity is excellent at research and delivering answers with sources. (You can specify which sources you want to prioritize or use.) Here’s a primer.
- Claude is often considered the best all-purpose model for quality writing.
- Sudowrite is the tool most often used by creative writers.
- See Sudowrite’s Muse for fiction writing in particular.
- Future Fiction Academy offers a custom AI tool for writers paired with education on how to use it. It’s popular with self-publishing novelists.
- Google NotebookLM is impressive, easy, and a good place to start if you are new to using AI. https://notebooklm.google/
- ElevenLabs is the leader in AI audio tools.
The better option if you have the time and skill: The people who are using AI to its best effect—to help them more quickly write using their own voice and words—will build custom GPTs then use AI tools to speed up the writing process in creative ways that are personal to them. Read Alexandra Samuel on her process (she links to a resource on how she builds custom GPTs).
Using AI for fact-checking and research
For AI news & analysis
- AI Sidequest by Mignon Fogarty (also known as The Grammar Girl): AI news slanted toward those in the writing and publishing community
- Pixels and Prose by Julie Trelstad: a publishing professional shows how she integrates AI into her workflow and helps clients with it
- Simon Willison’s newsletter: This may be too technical for writers, but he does accessible posts once in a while that cut through the noise and offer clarity on AI developments. Balanced.