How I Use ChatGPT to Run My Blog (Without Losing My Voice)
A practical, hands-on look at how I use ChatGPT to support my blog—from brainstorming and editing to creating custom visuals—without sacrificing originality.
The Fear Is Real—But It’s Often Misunderstood
If you blog regularly, chances are you’ve seen many examples of AI tools like ChatGPT. Some people swear by them. Others treat them like the enemy of creativity. I understand the hesitation.
Maybe you worry that if you use a tool like ChatGPT, your writing won’t feel like yours anymore. That it will be too generic or lose the spark that makes your voice distinct.
That fear is common. But in my experience, it doesn't have to be true.
I use ChatGPT for almost every blog post I write—not to generate content for me, but to support my process. It helps me think more clearly, organize my thoughts, and even come up with visuals that reflect my ideas.
Let me walk you through how I use it without giving up my voice or originality.
AI Isn’t a Shortcut—It’s a Creative Support System
When people first start using ChatGPT, they often type something like, “Write a blog post about X” and hit enter. What they get back might be grammatically fine, but it usually lacks soul. That’s not a tool problem—it’s a prompting problem.
The best results come when you guide ChatGPT with specifics: Who is the audience? What’s your perspective? What’s the goal of the post?
When I use ChatGPT, I treat it like a sounding board. I tell it what I'm working on, who I'm writing for, and what tone I want to strike. I never expect it to write for me—I want it to help me write better.
My Blog Workflow Using ChatGPT (Without Losing My Voice)
Here’s the step-by-step process I use:
1. Generating Ideas
When I'm stuck, I use a prompt like this:
I want you to act as an article idea generator to help me brainstorm fresh, relevant, and engaging blog post topics. Topic: [insert topic] Audience: [describe audience] Please suggest five distinct article ideas with a compelling title, a short description, and a unique angle.
This usually sparks something I can run with, even if I tweak or combine the ideas.
2. Outlining the Post
Once I pick an idea, I ask ChatGPT to create a rough outline based on:
The purpose of the article
The intended audience
Where I plan to publish it
Any specific ideas I already want to include
I edit the outline to fit my voice and flow.
3. Writing the Draft
I write the article myself using the outline as a guide. This is where my voice, opinions, and perspective come through. I don’t ask ChatGPT to write this part.
4. Getting a Fresh Perspective
Once I have a draft, I paste it into ChatGPT and ask for a review. I might say:
Can you give feedback on clarity, flow, and tone?
It often points out small things I missed. I take what resonates and leave the rest.
5. Brainstorming Visuals
After writing, I ask ChatGPT for image ideas to support the post. I specify how many ideas I want and describe the style I'm looking for (illustration, photography, flat design, etc.).
AI-Generated Visuals: How I Create Custom Illustrations
I’m a visual thinker, so the images that go with my posts matter just as much as the words. When stock photos don’t cut it, I ask ChatGPT to help me brainstorm ideas for custom images.
I usually start a new chat, describe the tone and message of the blog post, and ask for visual concepts that align. After refining the prompt, I generate an image using ChatGPT’s tools. Over time, I’ve developed a signature style using my brand colors and a clean vector aesthetic. I reuse the same prompt structure to keep things consistent.
Use Your Judgment—Not the Internet's Panic
There’s plenty of noise online about AI. Some of it raises fair points. Some of it just stokes fear.
What matters most is how you use the tool. You can choose to let it replace your thinking—or you can use it to deepen your clarity.
For me, it’s never about letting go of my creative control. It’s about having a smarter way to brainstorm, edit, and visualize.
Ready to Try It?
If you’re curious but unsure, start small. Try using ChatGPT to:
Brainstorm blog ideas
Create an outline from your notes
Review your draft for clarity
Generate image concepts
You don’t have to give up your voice. You just have to direct the tool.
If you want help experimenting with ChatGPT or crafting better prompts, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to share what’s worked for me.
