The Impact of Al-Powered Tools on Fostering Students' Creative Writing

Abstract

The advent of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT has transformed educational practices, particularly in creative writing instruction. This study investigates the impact of ChatGPT on university students' creative writing performance using a one-group pre-test/post-test experimental design involving 30 participants from Quanzhou Collegeof Technology. Each student completed two creative writing tasks - one without and one with ChatGPT assistance. Human raters and AI-based tools evaluated originality, elaboration, and stylistic voice. Post-intervention surveys captured students' perceptions of ChatGPT's usefulness, engagement, and authenticity. Results from paired-samples t-tests revealed significant improvements in elaboration after the ChatGPT intervention, while gains in originality and stylistic uniqueness were modest. Survey data indicated high learning satisfaction and engagement, though some students expressed concerns about authenticity and overreliance. These findings suggest that ChatGPT can effectively support idea development and narrative expansion while posing challenges to sustaining individual creative voice. The study offers empirical evidence and pedagogical implications for integrating AI responsibly into creative writing instruction to enhance writing outcomes and learner satisfaction.