Hey! This is Ep#147 of Amplify Ai - Integrating Intelligence, Preserving Identity presented by Ronsley Vaz. What happens when a Shazam co-founder trades algorithms for plot twists? In this episode, Ajay Chowdhury reveals how he accidentally became a bestselling crime writer, his surprisingly simple 5am writing routine, and how he uses AI as a creative enhancer (not a replacement). Plus: the five P's that make readers care about your characters. What You'll Learn: ✅ Why "creator" is the best way to describe what you do (tech, theater, or books) ✅ How debate competitions and theater in school build fearless communication skills ✅ The "holy trinity" of Indian childhood reading that shaped a crime novelist ✅ How to win a writing competition when you've only written 3 chapters (don't try this) ✅ The 5 P's framework: Plot, People, Pace, Place, and Prose ✅ Smart ways to use ChatGPT for research, feedback, and editing without losing your voice ✅ Why your book needs something important to say (wrapped in entertainment) ✅ How to keep authenticity while using AI tools in your creative process 🎯 Key Points: - Creation is about making things that didn't exist - same high whether it's tech or novels - Growing up moving between Bombay and Calcutta, speaking English at home - English teachers really do set you up for life (not just a cliché) - First creative win: Debate competition at 12-13 on "Should boys learn to cook?" - Theater in college: Directing plays unlocked the creator identity - Dad worked in banking, wanted him to do economics not literature - Left India for MBA in US, started business and tech career - Wife spotted a tweet for first-time crime writer competition - Concept: Corrupt cop from Calcutta becomes waiter in East End London restaurant - Entered with 3 chapters and synopsis, won without finishing the book - Had to "hurriedly" finish the rest after winning - Now six books into Kamil Rahman series, completely in love with characters - Angel (sidekick) adds humor and humanity to the stories - The Five P's framework: Plot (paramount), People (characters you care about), Pace (keep them turning pages), Place (bring locations to life), Prose (write well) - Uses AI for: Creative enhancement (Google's "The Invitation" project), research verification (quantum physics fact-checking), feedback (24/7 editor), nuts and bolts (tense changes, etc.) - AI should enhance your soul and voice, never replace it - Authenticity means saying what YOU want in YOUR words - AI is like a spell checker or synonym finder - a tool, not the creator ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Introduction: Shazam founder turned crime novelist [01:00] How to introduce yourself: "Creator" of tech, books, and theater [02:00] First creation memory: Winning a debate at age 12-13 [03:00] Growing up in India: Debate teams and conquering stage fright [04:00] Bombay and Calcutta childhood, great English teachers [05:00] The holy trinity: Enid Blyton, Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse [06:00] Wanting literature but studying economics instead [07:00] The accidental author: A tweet, 3 chapters, and a competition win [08:00] Kamil Rahman: The corrupt cop who becomes a waiter [09:00] Six books later: In love with the characters [10:00] The Five P's: Plot, People, Pace, Place, Prose [11:00] Using AI for creative enhancement and Google's storytelling project [12:00] ChatGPT as research assistant: Quantum physics fact-checking [13:00] AI as 24/7 editor and feedback tool [14:00] Keeping authenticity: Your soul, your words, AI as enhancer [15:00] The romance novel fail: When AI overtly shows up in print #ShazamFounder #CrimeWriter #AIWriting #CreativeProcess #TechEntrepreneur #KamilRahman #WritingTips #FivePsOfWriting #ChatGPTCreativity #IndianAuthor #CareerPivot #CreatorMindset #AuthenticWriting #AITools #WritingProductivity Find out more at: - https://amplifyais.com/academy - https://wearepodcast.com/ - https://amplifyais.com/podcast Much love, Ronsley