James Walker

I'm 64 and I've been using AI to write my memoirs. Here's how I started.

My grandchildren kept asking me to write down my stories. Growing up in the country, teaching for 35 years, the places I've been. But every time I sat down to write I'd freeze. My daughter set me up with Claude. She showed me one thing: just talk to it like a person. So I did. I typed out a memory — the first day I ever walked into a classroom as a teacher, 1983, country school in rural WA, 28 kids across three year groups. I just typed it like I was telling a story at dinner. Claude helped me shape it. Asked me questions I hadn't thought to answer. What did the room smell like? What was I most afraid of? What happened at recess? Those questions pulled out details I'd forgotten I remembered. I've been doing this for six months. I have 22 chapters. My daughter is helping me format it properly. I want to say to anyone my age who thinks this technology isn't for them — it isn't complicated. You just need to start talking. It listens, it asks good questions, and it helps you say what you mean.