Makahil Maalim | Freelancing & Blogging Tips

As a content creator and blogger, writing is at the heart of everything I do. So when artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools started gaining popularity, I became curious. Could these tools help me work faster, generate better content, or overcome creative blocks? Or were they just overhyped digital gimmicks?

Over the course of a month, I decided to run a full experiment. I tested a variety of AI writing platforms including ChatGPT, Jasper, Copy.ai, and Writesonic. I used each one for different tasks—blog post ideas, outlines, short-form content, long-form drafts, and editing. The results were eye-opening.

In this post, I’ll break down what these tools did well, where they fell short, and how I currently use AI in my writing process.

✅ What AI Writing Tools Did Well

1. Generating Content Ideas

This was the first area where AI really impressed me. I asked ChatGPT to generate blog post topics in the freelancing and blogging niche. Within seconds, I had a list of 20+ relevant, engaging ideas that I could use or modify.

One of the best-performing posts on my blog, What Freelancing Taught Me About Money, actually came from this kind of brainstorming. AI was like having a 24/7 creative assistant ready to pitch new ideas when I felt stuck.

2. Outlining Blog Posts

Another huge time-saver was how quickly AI could structure an outline. If I gave it a topic like “How to Start Freelancing as a Beginner,” it returned a logical, well-formatted breakdown including headings, steps, and sub-points. This helped me jump into writing instead of staring at a blank page.

3. Writing Captions and Meta Descriptions

Short-form content like social media captions, meta descriptions, and tweet threads are often time-consuming—but AI made this quick. I could input a blog title, and Copy.ai or Writesonic would generate 5–10 caption ideas in different tones (professional, casual, funny, etc.).

For someone who runs a blog, freelances, and posts on Pinterest and LinkedIn, this was a major win.

4. Language Cleanup and Grammar

After writing a draft—either manually or with AI help—I always run it through Grammarly. While AI tools are fairly accurate with grammar, Grammarly catches awkward phrasing, passive voice, and tone inconsistencies.

This final layer helps AI-generated paragraphs sound more natural and human—something critical for audience connection and SEO rankings.

5. Speed and Productivity

AI significantly reduced the time I spent writing basic or repetitive content. When I had to prepare multiple posts or client work, I used AI to draft basic text that I could edit later. This allowed me to focus more energy on original ideas, design, and research.

❌ What Didn’t Work With AI Writing Tools

1. Writing Long-Form Articles on Its Own

This is where AI showed its biggest flaw. While it could generate 1,000+ word articles, the writing was usually:

• Generic and emotionless
• Filled with repeated phrases or shallow insights
• Lacking personal examples or practical depth

For example, I compared a 100% AI-written draft on freelancing to my post Top 5 Mistakes I Made as a Beginner Freelancer. The difference was huge. The AI post was accurate—but boring. Mine had stories, humor, and practical advice from my real journey.

2. Unreliable Facts and Data

This is a warning: never fully trust AI-generated statistics or research. I once asked for the average freelance income in Kenya for 2024, and ChatGPT gave me made-up numbers that didn’t appear in any credible source.

If you're writing posts that require accuracy, always verify claims using trustworthy sources. AI is helpful, but it doesn’t always know what it’s talking about.

3. No Human Emotion

One of the most valuable parts of blogging is sharing your own experiences. AI can't replicate your memories, your pain, or your journey.

Take for example my post Why Soft Skills Matter More Than You Think. That article connected with readers because it was real—it came from things I lived through. AI just can’t do that.

4. Overuse of Common Phrases

Many AI tools default to common phrases like "In conclusion," "Let’s dive in," or "This is a game changer." If you don’t manually rewrite those sections, your post will feel repetitive and unnatural. This can cause readers—and even AdSense reviewers—to doubt your site’s quality.

🛠️ Tools I Used (My Honest Thoughts)

• ChatGPT (OpenAI): Best for idea generation, outlines, and writing full drafts. Great support tool but needs editing.
• Jasper: Strong for marketers and businesses. Offers ready-made templates, but it’s pricey for personal bloggers.
• Copy.ai: Perfect for social media, ad copy, and short paragraphs. Limited flexibility for long-form content.
• Writesonic: Versatile tool with a nice interface. Good for blog intros and email copy, but feels robotic for full articles.
• Grammarly: Not an AI writer, but a must-have tool to clean and polish your final work.

💡 My New AI + Human Workflow

After experimenting, here’s the system I now follow for every blog post:

1. Use ChatGPT or Writesonic to generate 10–15 topic ideas.
2. Select one idea and ask AI to outline it with headings and bullet points.
3. Write the core of the article manually, using the outline as a guide.
4. If stuck, ask AI to draft just a paragraph or two (for example, the introduction).
5. Run the entire draft through Grammarly to check for grammar, clarity, and readability.
6. Edit the piece manually for emotional tone, storytelling value, SEO best practices, and final polish.

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This workflow allows me to stay productive, creative, and authentic—without letting quality slip.

🙋‍♀️ Should You Use AI for Writing?

Yes—if you’re a content creator, AI can be a valuable assistant. It helps you write faster, stay consistent, and break through mental blocks. It’s especially useful for beginners, non-native English speakers, and part-time bloggers.

However, don’t expect AI to do everything. If your blog needs to pass Google AdSense review (like mine), your writing must reflect real human insight, effort, and value. AI is a tool—not a replacement.

🧠 Final Thoughts

I don’t believe AI will replace writers—but writers who use AI well might outpace those who don’t.

By combining my creativity with smart tools, I now write more consistently and confidently. But I never post anything without adding my own voice, experience, and emotional truth. That’s what keeps readers coming back—and what platforms like AdSense are looking for.

So yes, try AI. Use it to work faster. But remember: your mind is still the most powerful writing tool you have.

Have you tried AI tools for writing? What worked or didn’t work for you? Share your thoughts below!