  We diagnose and briefly discuss the dearth of the author: a condition that
arises when AI-based creativity support tools for writing allow users to
produce large amounts of text without making a commensurate number of creative
decisions, resulting in output that is sparse in expressive intent. We argue
that the dearth of the author helps to explain a number of recurring
difficulties and anxieties around AI-based writing support tools, but that it
also suggests an ambitious new goal for AI-based CSTs.
