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