WFNB Survey on Generative A.I. (April, 2025)

The WFNB surveyed its members and newsletter contacts in April 2025 on their attitudes towards the use of large language models in the writing process. We received a response rate of 16%, which is respectable, and the number of open-ended questions allowed people to say whatever was on their minds about this subject. Most of the responses fell into a few major categories which we have delineated here. Individual responses were not studied to correlate those responses with age, gender or any other demographic information.

Of the respondents, 79% were WFNB members, 7% were members of the WFNS, and 16% were not a member of any writing organization. The remainder were members of other provincial and national writing groups.

52% were over age 60, 19% were ages 49-60, 14% were ages 35-48, 11% were ages 19-34 and the remainder were under 18.

88% of respondents were New Brunswickers, with a smaller percentage from the Maritimes or other places.

62% were female, 34% were male, and the remainder diverse.

61% of the respondents stated clearly (and vociferously) that they do not use large language models for any aspect of their writing. The other 39% of respondents said they used large language models to assist with grammar, spelling and editing suggestions, help with generating writing prompts or creative experimentation, enhancing accessibility or other technical uses.

66% of respondents felt that Generative A.I. would have a negative effect on the writing industry, while 6% felt it would be positive, 16% felt it would have mixed results, and 12% were neutral. Most open-ended comments about large language models fell into a few categories: Author skills would replaced with inferior tools, the question of real authorship of written material would be blurred (and consequently the notion of copyright), the loss of writing jobs, the loss of real originality and creativity, the loss of intellectual property, and some environmental concerns.

The benefits most often mentioned by respondents were improved research abilities, writing prompts, idea generation, along with editing help and spelling/grammar prompts.

More Information

Worried your book might have been pirated? Check out this article in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/search-libgen-data-set/682094/

If your book has been pirated, check out The Author's Guild (an American organization) website here for info on what to do next: https://authorsguild.org/news/meta-libgen-ai-training-book-heist-what-authors-need-to-know/

Send a letter to AI companies: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/authors-guild-author-letters-to-ai-companies/

Statement on Generative A.I.

Purpose

The Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) acknowledges the encroachment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in the literary and publishing landscape. This policy aims to support the protection of members’ creative rights and the integrity of the literary arts.

Guiding Principles

The WFNB upholds the preeminence of human creativity and the value of original human expression. Therefore, we condemn the practice of technical companies, who steal the published works of authors for the purpose of training AI systems (known as “data scraping”), with no notification or remuneration to the copyright holders, and no opportunity to refuse. Writers should be compensated for the use of their words.

Members and partners must disclose when AI tools are used in the creation of written works, and we encourage the publishing industry in general to facilitate distinctions between machine-produced and human-produced products.

Uses

Though the use of technical tools in creative writing is growing in popularity (e.g.: help with grammar, spelling, or style suggestions, writing prompts as part of the creative process, or accessibility such as text-to-speech, and translation tools), The WFNB does not condone the use of generative AI, which:

- Plagiarizes or infringes upon the intellectual property of authors,

-Enables content to be submitted under false pretenses of human authorship,

-Undermines the livelihood or voice of human writers, and

-Has the potential to confuse authorship and copyright.

Submissions

The WFNB does not accept AI-generated material in its competitions. Discovery will result in disqualification.

Advocacy & Rights

WFNB supports fair legislation and ethical standards in the development and use of AI, including:

• Protection of writers’ works from unauthorized use in AI training datasets.
• Development of consent-based frameworks for AI training on copyrighted material.
• Advocacy for transparency from AI companies regarding data sources.
  
  

Ongoing Review

Given the rapid evolution of AI technologies, this policy will be reviewed as needed. WFNB welcomes feedback from members to ensure the policy remains fair and relevant.

Contests and Submissions

International Competition

The Next Generation Short Story Awards, currently in its second year, is a not-for-profit international awards program for authors of short stories. The Short Story Awards is now accepting entries, i.e. short stories and poems in English (5000 words or less) for the 2025 awards program in 30+ categories. The entry deadline for the 2025 year is Thursday, February 27, 2025. Winners are given cash prizes, gold medals, complimentary digital promotional stickers, social media coverage, literary exposure with their stories published in an Anthology of Winners, and a complimentary copy of the Anthology of Winners. The Short Story Awards is brought to you by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, an international book awards program for independent and self-published authors.

Scholarly Journal

Acadiensis - Journal of the history of the Atlantic Region: https://www.acadiensis.ca/guidelines

Literary Periodical Submissions 

Camel Literary Journal: Fredericton - submissions of up to 6,000 words accepted in fiction or nonfiction. Annual contest is The Gilmer Prize. More about the litmag: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554668525499

Contact editors here: camel.litmag@gmail.com

The Fiddlehead (Canada's oldest literary magazine, UNB) -  https://thefiddlehead.ca/

The Nashwaak Review (STU) -,https://www.stu.ca/english/the-nashwaak-review/

Nunum - Dedicated to flash fiction - https://www.nunum.ca/ (Grand Barachois)

Miramichi Reader - Another Flash Column - https://miramichireader.ca/

Qwerty Magazine - https://www.qwertyunb.com/

Booksellers and Publishers

Publishers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry

• Bouton d'Or Acadie: https://boutondoracadie.com/
  
• Chapel Street Editions (Woodstock): http://www.chapelstreeteditions.com/index.html
  
• Galleon: https://galleonbooks.ca/stow-your-goods/
  
• Goose Lane, including Icehouse poetry imprint (Fredericton): https://gooselane.com/
  
• Éditions de la Francophonie (French Only): https://editionsfrancophonie.com/#qui
  
• Éditions La Grande Marée (French only): https://grandemaree.refc.ca/qui-sommes-nous/
  
• Les Éditions Perce Neige (French only):  https://editionsperceneige.ca/
  
• Merlin Star Press: https://www.merlinstarpress.com/
  
• Monster House Publishing: https://monsterhousepublishing.com/
  
• Partridge Island Publishing Inc.: https://partridgeislandpublishing.ca/
  
• Sybertooth Inc.: http://www.sybertooth.ca/