LitHub’s “Am I The Literary Asshole?” tackles AI drama and writer woes
LitHub’s popular advice column “Am I The Literary Asshole?” by Kristen Arnett is back with fresh takes on writer problems and AI frustrations. The weekly column dishes answers to odd and tense questions from writers stuck in the creative trenches.
The latest installment starts hot with a writer worried about being ghosted by a fellow writer friend they bonded with over years of literary chats and feedback. The friend stopped replying months ago but kept posting on social media. Kristen doesn’t label the friend an asshole—there could be unseen reasons—but tells the asker it’s okay to feel hurt and recommends moving on. 
Next up, burnout hits writers at the dreaded 30,000-word mark. The column says it’s normal and suggests switching up writing habits like using outlines if you usually don’t, or staying quiet about projects to dodge external pressure. Kristen stresses that not every project will become a hit but they all build your "writing muscles."
The most fired-up topic? Pushy “asshole” parents obsessed with AI tools like ChatGPT invading writers’ creative processes. Kristen admits it’s a plague and suggests calmly pushing back with the classic:
The beauty and joy of my art is in the making of it, not the end result
,
while also encouraging writers to actively argue when people downplay AI’s harms.
Kristen signs off with a margarita in hand and a promise to keep tackling the literary messiness on the column’s email and anonymous question form.
Original column and submissions: LitHub
