The development of large language models (LLMs) capable of following instructions and engaging in conversational interactions sparked increased interest in their utilization across various support tools. We investigate the utility of modern LLMs in assisting professional writers via an empirical user study (n=30). The design of our collaborative writing interface is grounded in the cognitive process model of writing that views writing as a goal-oriented thinking process encompassing non-linear cognitive activities: planning, translating, and reviewing. Participants are asked to submit a post-completion survey to provide feedback on the potential and pitfalls of LLMs as writing collaborators. Upon analyzing the writer-LLM interactions, we find that while writers seek LLM's help across all three types of cognitive activities, they find LLMs more helpful in translation and reviewing. Our findings from analyzing both the interactions and the survey responses highlight future research directions in creative writing assistance using LLMs.

翻译：能够遵循指令并参与对话交互的大语言模型的发展，激发了人们将其应用于各类支持工具的兴趣。我们通过一项实证用户研究（n=30）调查了现代大语言模型在协助专业作家写作方面的效用。我们的协作写作界面设计基于写作的认知过程模型，该模型将写作视为一种目标导向的思维过程，涵盖非线性认知活动：规划、转换和审校。参与者被要求提交一份完成后的调查问卷，以提供关于大语言模型作为写作协作者的潜力和不足的反馈。通过分析作家与语言模型的交互，我们发现，尽管作家在三种认知活动中都寻求语言模型的帮助，但他们在转换和审校方面认为语言模型更有用。我们通过分析交互行为和调查问卷所得出的发现，突显了利用大语言模型进行创意写作辅助的未来研究方向。