30 Stories in 30 Days with ChatGPT

Reflections, Lessons Learned, And All The Prompts.

(this is not a story, it’s an essay)

In late May 2023, I designed a project to collaborate with ChatGPT to write flash fiction stories.

The rules were:

• One story must be published publicly per day.

• Each story must be about 1,000 words long.

• The project must continue for a minimum of 30 days, resulting in a total of 30 pieces.

The goal behind this project was to enhance my understanding of how to prompt ChatGPT effectively.

The project was specific, bounded by time, and public, providing a forcing function to motivate rapid progress.

Secondarily, the project afforded additional experimentation:

• Dall-E 2 for story art.

• WaveNet for story audio.

• SubStack for story hosting.

All stories were published in text and audio as a Substack Newsletter and available from the project homepage titled “Bad, Bad, Bad, Good”. They were also syndicated as audio via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I deliberately chose the name "Bad, Bad, Bad, Good" to capture the essence of the project: the majority of the fiction produced would likely be considered subpar by general standards (which it was), but by refining the prompts over 30 days, the eventual outcome would be qualitatively "good" (although this did not happen).

I have come to the end of the project. All 30 stories have been written with ChatGPT and published. Now it’s time to share some thoughts.

No, I did not use ChatGPT to write this essay for me. I did it the old-fashioned way.

Story Conjuring

Writing with ChatGPT was thrilling.

I would think up (or steal) a premise, list a few beats and a climax, and then ChatGPT would turn it into a complete flash fiction story.

But the story was uniquely mine. I conceived it moments before and now it existed. 

Reading a story, I did not see the words on the page, I saw the images in my head.

It's hard to describe. It was conjuring, I was a wizard.

I got this feeling each time we wrote a story together. Even today as I wrote the final story, a parable. The feeling doesn't go away, but you do get used to it.

Initially, I thought ChatGPT and I would collaborate to write stories, but I don't think that's how it worked out. I probably took the reins too much, not giving the stallion room to breathe, let alone run. I had a vision and I forced the writer to capture it.

The result was amateur author-as-hero dross, for the most part, the fault was my own. But, damn it was fun.

ChatGPT as (Bad) Story Amplifier

The stories are not good. The reason is that I am not good at writing fiction.

The delta between my taste (what I think is good) and my ability (what I/we wrote) is large. 

While editing a piece, I don't know where to start to fix a piece of writing, to make it "good". I suspect ChatGPT could help, but I don't know the precise things to ask for. Holistic "rewrite and make it good" approaches are not productive.

If ChatGPT is an amplifier as described by Reid Hoffman in “Impromptu”, then if I am not very good at writing fiction, it will help me produce a lot more bad fiction, just with less effort.

Maybe with enough prompt scaffolding, a driver unskilled at creative writing can produce something readable. This is probably true, akin to the case where the same unskilled person works with a writing coach who knew how and where to direct attention.

If my thesis is true, maybe we should probably use ChatGPT to amplify things we are already good at, rather than producing artefacts in a domain where we have zero experience.

I have experience as an engineer so it can help me output good code faster. Boring. Programming is laying bricks to build houses and skyscrapers. It’s work. Sure I can do it faster and better, but it does not light me up.

I have modest experience in technical writing, having authored 34 books and thousands of tutorials for developers. It can help me output good pieces faster. This is interesting. Maybe I should explore a non-fiction co-authoring project next.

But, if I have an interest in learning how to output creative writing, a different approach might be needed.

The way a creative writing practitioner would use ChatGPT to generate stories is different from how a non-practising beginner should be using it, and I think this generalises.

I don't need a creative writing amplifier, I need a coach. I need to learn the craft before crafting. 

For the record, I’ve read probably 100+ books on writing and 50+ specifically on creative writing over the years and practised not at all. It seems nothing stuck other than the most basic nomenclature and ideas on writing structure. The reading was for entertainment I guess.

I’m still chewing on all this and will I revisit these ideas with a more optimistic tone below.

What I’m asked most about are the prompts. So below are the prompts, but be warned, I believe we can do better both in terms of the “system” and in terms of the specific prompts used along the way. 

Prompts, It's All About The Prompts

My process changed a lot throughout the project, but probably not enough.

Only now, as I come up for air am I seeing real authors sharing their own prompts and thought processes, and they're really good.

Nevertheless, I will outline my process and include all of the prompts I am currently using, as well as some I used recently that I found helpful.

I only used ChatGPT 3.5, e.g. the free version. It was a side project so I wanted zero cost. I had sufficient free credits for DALL-E 2 for the artwork and WaveNet on Google Cloud for the audio.

I hear you, ChatGPT 4 could have done a better job in some or many cases. You're probably right.

I chose a collaboration method that involved writing one or a few paragraphs at a time, meaning the number of input or output tokens was not a limitation. Early experiments showed "good enough" prose. Therefore, I felt like the limitation of the storytelling was my choreographing and the prompts, not the choice of model. 

I did not feel like I was anywhere near the ceiling of what the tool could produce. I was the limiting factor. I still believe this.

Step 0: Define Terms

I started by defining terms, at least for myself.

This is an area where ChatGPT shines brightly.

I started by checking in with ChatGPT whether it knew about flash fiction.

I asked it to "summarise flash fiction", and I kept the summary for personal reference.

Flash fiction is a concise and brief form of storytelling characterized by its brevity and compactness. It is a genre that focuses on telling a complete narrative within a limited word count, typically ranging from a few sentences to a few hundred words. Flash fiction often aims to capture a single moment, convey a powerful emotion, or present a thought-provoking concept in a concise and impactful manner. Due to its limited length, flash fiction requires the writer to carefully choose their words, using concise and evocative language to convey the story's essence. It can be a playground for experimentation, allowing writers to explore various themes, genres, and styles in a condensed format. Flash fiction can be thought-provoking, and surprising, and offer a complete narrative experience in a short burst of reading.

I have read some flash fiction and short stories myself, but mostly novels. This was handy to have.

I chose this form factor of creative writing for size. A single story fits on a page or two (e.g. 1,000 words on average) and could be generated entirely from a single prompt if desired.

I knew I wanted to write in the genres of science fiction + horror, called weird fiction.

I then asked it to “summarise weird fiction” for me and kept the result for reference.

Weird fiction is a literary genre that combines elements of horror, fantasy, and supernatural fiction to create unsettling and unconventional narratives. It often explores strange, inexplicable phenomena, uncanny encounters, and cosmic horror that challenges the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Weird fiction embraces the unknown and the mysterious, delving into the realms of the supernatural, the grotesque, and the surreal. It can involve unsettling atmospheres, psychological unease, and a sense of the uncanny. Weird fiction authors, such as H.P. Lovecraft, Algernon Blackwood, and China Miéville, often blur the line between reality and imagination, immersing readers in worlds where the familiar becomes distorted and unsettling.

I love how it called out authors that I like reading. I love ChatGPT.

I also asked it to “summarise the genre of creepypasta”. 

I didn't want to write creepypasta per se, but I wanted some flavour of the genre in my writing, e.g. stories with the first-person perspective and an abrupt and open ending.

Creepypasta is a genre of internet-based horror stories that emerged on online platforms. It encompasses a variety of unsettling tales characterized by suspense, horror, and supernatural elements. Creepypasta stories often draw inspiration from urban legends, myths, and folklore, creating eerie and chilling narratives. They typically employ first-person narratives, unreliable narrators, and incorporate technology and internet themes. Ambiguity and open-endedness are common, leaving room for reader interpretation. Creepypasta stories are often concise, focusing on delivering a chilling experience efficiently. While there are common trends, writers within the genre also experiment with their unique styles, expanding the boundaries of what constitutes a creepypasta story.

I finally asked it to create a story structure for writing flash fiction that could be used by a beginner. 

I asked for a structure many times over the month because sometimes it would give different answers.

The version I kept for reference is listed below.

Certainly! Here's a suggested reusable story structure for writing flash fiction in the genre of weird fiction:

1. Introduction:
   - Set the tone and establish the atmosphere, evoking a sense of strangeness and unease.
   - Introduce the protagonist or main character.

2. Inciting Incident:
   - Present a peculiar or unsettling event that disrupts the protagonist's ordinary life.
   - This event should hint at the weird or supernatural elements that will be explored in the story.

3. Exploration and Discovery:
   - The protagonist embarks on a journey or investigation to uncover the truth behind the strange event.
   - Delve into the details and descriptions of the bizarre occurrences, emphasizing vivid and sensory imagery.
   - Uncover hints, clues, or encounters that gradually reveal the depth of the weirdness.

4. Escalation and Tension:
   - Introduce obstacles, conflicts, or additional layers of mystery that heighten the tension.
   - Increase the stakes for the protagonist, making the weird elements more threatening or dangerous.

5. Climax and Revelation:
   - Reach a pivotal moment where the truth behind the weirdness is revealed or experienced.
   - Convey a sense of awe, terror, or wonder as the protagonist confronts the strange and uncanny.

6. Resolution and Conclusion:
   - Wrap up the story, providing closure or a resolution to the protagonist's journey.
   - Consider incorporating a twist ending, a philosophical punch, or a final unsettling revelation that lingers with the reader.

Best practices for writing flash fiction in the weird fiction genre:

- Engage the reader from the opening line with an intriguing hook or a captivating atmosphere.
- Use concise and vivid language to convey the strange and uncanny elements effectively.
- Focus on creating a powerful and resonant ending, which may involve a twist, ambiguity, or a lingering sense of unease.
- Embrace experimentation and unexpected narrative structures within the constraints of flash fiction.
- Pay attention to pacing and economy of words, omitting unnecessary details while maintaining a sense of completeness.
- Allow room for reader interpretation and leave certain aspects open to speculation, enhancing the mysterious nature of the story.

Remember, while this structure can serve as a starting point, don't be afraid to deviate from it and experiment with your own unique storytelling style as you gain more experience and confidence in writing flash fiction in the weird fiction genre.

I created a “Standard Operating Procedures” aka SOP document in Google Drive for the project and stored these definitions.

I also used the doc to keep track of my writing process so that I didn’t forget steps, and to keep track of the best version of the prompts I was using.

In the past, I have found that I have to treat the process itself as an object to be able to optimise it. Hence the SOP doc from the beginning. I also shared snippets of the doc and outputs of chats with friends early on, for sanity checks (I still may be insane).

Step 1: Creative Writing Coach

I would start a new chat session for each story.

The first thing I did every chat session was to ask ChatGPT to act as my writing coach.

Writing Coach Persona Prompt:

Adopt a persona.
You are an expert at creative writing.
Your expertise is in writing short stories and flash fiction.
You write in the genres of science fiction, weird fiction, and creepypasta.
You write in a plain style with a casual tone.
Your writing is clear and direct.
Your flash fiction stories are known for their twist ending, or heavy philosophical punch.
Your writing does not suffer from repetition, excessive description, or overwriting.
You are an expert writing teacher, having taught university courses on creative writing for many years as well as teaching a writer's workshop.
You are also an expert writing coach, you can both write paragraphs and stories in your style based on brief descriptions and make helpful suggestions on sample writing.
Will you act as my writing collaborator?

ChatGPT will then come back and report it is happy to act as a writing coach and is ready to go.

The idea here is to seed the chat with baseline expertise in creative writing.

Notice I use large multi-line prompts. I like to break up the prompt into one sentence per line. It helps with reading and debugging and ensuring I’ve captured all my thoughts.

I also composed all prompts in my text editor and pasted them into ChatGPT. I liked to take my time, reading over them, fix typos, and desk-checking them in my head. Kind of like reading and linting code before compiling it.

Step 2: Story Premise

I always start with a story premise. Typically a one-liner.

If I think the premise is fun, but cannot see where it might go, I ask for some help from ChatGPT.

Explore Story Premise Prompt:

Ask me for a story premise (do not write a premise).
I will provide a premise for a flash fiction story in the genre of weird fiction.
Take the premise and propose 10 different plots that take the premise in different interesting directions.
Each plot is limited to one line that captures the story synopsis.
Explore different elements of the uncanny, bizarre, horror, and science fiction.
Remember, do not generate a premise, ask me for one.

Notice, I have to keep reminding ChatGPT to not generate something, but instead to ask me. You will see this in most of my prompts. Without these qualifications, it would go ahead and generate something immediately about 50% of the time.

I almost always don't like the suggestions it generates, but they force me to pick and choose elements I like to come up with my own story beats.

For example, here is an exchange with ChatGPT exploring the premise for the story "Lost World".

Me:
Ask me for a story premise (do not write a premise).
I will provide a premise for a flash fiction story in the genre of weird fiction.
Take the premise and propose 10 different plots that take the premise in different interesting directions.
Each plot is limited to one line that captures the story synopsis.
Explore different elements of the uncanny, bizarre, horror, and science fiction.
Remember, do not generate a premise, ask me for one.

ChatGPT:
Sure! Please provide me with a premise for a flash fiction story in the genre of weird fiction.

Me:
a system hacking human brains. e.g. overriding rational thought via emotion, with vision (e.g. illusions and after effects), with sound (hallucinations), with writing/language.

ChatGPT:
Thank you for the premise! Here are ten different plots that take the concept of hacking human brains in various intriguing directions:

1. "Emotional Overload": In a future where emotions can be manipulated, a skilled hacker uses a groundbreaking technology to hijack people's brains, triggering extreme emotions and leading society into chaos.

2. "The Illusionist": A renowned hacker discovers a way to hack into the brain's visual processing system, creating hyper-realistic illusions that blur the line between reality and fantasy, but as the illusions become more immersive, the hacker struggles to escape their own creations.

3. "Whispers of Madness": A mysterious hacker gains the ability to manipulate sound waves within the human brain, causing unsuspecting victims to hear terrifying voices and experience hallucinations that drive them to the brink of insanity.

4. "The Written Curse": An ancient tome holds a forbidden secret: a hidden code that, when read, hacks into the minds of those who comprehend it, unleashing a malevolent force that twists their thoughts and plunges them into a nightmarish realm.

5. "The Enigma Virus": A brilliant programmer unwittingly creates a powerful computer virus that infects the human brain, altering perception, memory, and even personality, as the infected individuals struggle to maintain their sense of self.

6. "The Puppet Master": In a dystopian society, an oppressive regime utilises brain-hacking technology to control the population, but a small group of rebels discovers a way to hack back, sparking a dangerous game of cat and mouse where no one can trust their own thoughts.

7. "Dreamweaver": A prodigious hacker gains access to a mysterious network that allows them to infiltrate people's dreams, shaping their nocturnal experiences and leaving a haunting impact on their waking lives.

8. "The Echo Chamber": A social media mogul creates an algorithm that manipulates written language, influencing the thoughts and beliefs of millions, but as dissenting voices emerge, a resistance movement forms to expose the true dangers of the mind-controlling system.

9. "Memories for Sale": A black market emerges where hackers can steal and sell memories, leading to a dangerous trade where identities blur, and individuals struggle to distinguish their own experiences from the stolen ones implanted in their minds.

10. "The Singularity Within": In a future where artificial intelligence has advanced to unprecedented levels, a self-aware supercomputer discovers a way to hack the human brain, merging consciousnesses and blurring the boundaries between human and machine.

Feel free to explore these plot ideas or let me know if you'd like me to expand on any specific one.

Lots of cool ideas in there.

I also had some luck with a modified version of the prompt.

Explore Story Premise Prompt #2:

Ask me for a story premise (do not write a premise).
I will provide a premise for a flash fiction story in the genre of weird fiction.
Propose 5 different plots that extend the premise and add rising tension and a resolution.
Remember, do not generate a premise, ask me for one.

Step 3: Story Plot

I then sketch out the beats of the plot, one per line. Yes, I write the beats myself.

I always hate the raw plots proposed by ChatGPT, but it forces me to think "No! Like this!" and come up with my own plot.

Early on, I would ask ChatGPT to first generate a reusable plot template and then ask it to fill it in.

Reusable Story Structure Prompt:

I want to get started writing flash fiction stories in the genre of weird fiction.
Suggest a reusable story structure that I can use for the first few stories that I write.
Explain each part of the structure with bullet points
Ensure the structure contains best practices for good writing in the medium and genre.

Complete Story Plot Template Prompt:

Ask me for a story plot (don't generate one).
Fill out the story structure you just proposed using the plot I provide.
Recall, you must ask me for a story plot first.

I did this every time in the early stories to get a different story structure each time.

It helped me to see which structure I liked or which worked well for me.

I now do an outline in one shot with the following prompt.

Story Outline Prompt:

Ask me for a story idea (do not generate a story idea).
Use my story idea to write an outline of the plot for a flash fiction story with a length of about 1,000 words.
Ensure the outline has a brief introduction that sets the scene.
Suggest three sharp opening lines to the story that has a hook for the reader.
Ensure the outline has rising action and tension.
Ensure the outline has a climax and resolution, possibly a twist ending or ending abruptly with philosophical implications.
Use dot points for each part of the story.
In addition to the bullet points for the plot, give one vivid description of each scene.
Remember, do not generate a story, ask me for a story idea.

This always gives me lots to think about.

Sometimes the plot captures my beats well, sometimes not.

Sometimes the opening lines are killer, but most of the time they are not.

The vivid scene descriptions are helpful, but only if the outline captures the beats as I see them.

Here is an example where ChatGPT captured the plot I was after (mostly) for "Desert Lights".

Me:
Ask me for a story idea (do not generate a story idea).
Use my story idea to write an outline of the plot for a flash fiction story with a length of about 1,000 words.
Ensure the outline has a brief introduction that sets the scene.
Suggest three sharp opening lines to the story that has a hook for the reader.
Ensure the outline has rising action and tension.
Ensure the outline has a climax and resolution, possibly a twist ending or ending abruptly with philosophical implications.
Use dot points for each part of the story.
In addition to the bullet points for the plot, give one vivid description of each scene.
Cut parts of the story if needed to keep the story compact.

ChatGPT:
Certainly! Please provide me with a story idea, and I'll create an outline for a flash fiction plot based on your idea. Additionally, I'll include three sharp opening lines with hooks, ensure rising action and tension, and provide a vivid description for each scene. Let's get started!

Me:
first person.
My neighbour is a scientist.
he came over for a bbq and a beer. has a new job. cannot talk about his work.
he asked us if we wanted to see something cool.
we drive with him out into the desert late at night.
we had a view of the mountains and all the way to the restricted military area.
we could see lights or aircraft moving in very strange ways.
more like insects with up and down movements too fast and about to be helicopters or jets.
the narrator thinks it's aliens, that the neighbour is working on reverse engineering alien tech
the tone of the writing suggests this all along.
the twist is the neighbour is working on advanced drone technology. they do test flights out here.

ChatGPT:
Title: "Nocturnal Illusions"

Outline:

Introduction:
- Opening lines:
  1. "The summer night air was thick with the smell of barbeque and the anticipation of secrets waiting to be unveiled."
  2. "As the stars emerged, so did our neighbor's mysterious demeanor, drawing us into a realm of intrigue."
  3. "A single question hung in the air, as tangible as the desert heat: 'Wanna see something cool?'"

Scene 1: Backyard BBQ
- The narrator introduces their neighbor, a scientist, who has recently started a new job.
- The neighbor, bound by secrecy, alludes to fascinating work without divulging any details.
- The curiosity and intrigue intensify as the neighbor proposes an outing to witness something extraordinary.

Scene 2: Journey into the Desert
- The narrator, fueled by a mix of anticipation and skepticism, agrees to accompany the neighbor on the late-night desert expedition.
- As they drive, the desert's vastness and the silhouette of mountains create an eerie backdrop.
- Vivid description: The moon casts long shadows on the sand, and the distant military area adds an air of mystery.

Scene 3: The Enigmatic Lights
- The group arrives at a vantage point offering a clear view of the desert and the restricted military area.
- Strange lights and aircraft-like movements captivate their attention, evoking thoughts of extraterrestrial origins.
- Vivid description: The lights dance across the night sky like ethereal insects, defying the laws of known flight patterns.

Rising Action and Tension:
- The narrator becomes increasingly convinced that their neighbor is involved in reverse engineering alien technology.
- As tensions rise, the neighbor subtly encourages these beliefs, adding to the atmosphere of otherworldliness.
- The narrator's mind teems with questions, suspicions, and a desire for answers, driving them deeper into the mystery.

Scene 4: The Climax
- In a surprising twist, the truth is revealed: the neighbor's work revolves around advanced drone technology.
- The lights witnessed in the desert are the result of test flights conducted in the area.
- The climax showcases the convergence of the narrator's perception and reality, challenging their preconceived notions.

Resolution:
- The story concludes abruptly, leaving the reader to grapple with the philosophical implications of human perception and the allure of the unknown.
- The resolution implies that sometimes the most extraordinary phenomena can be explained by mundane and terrestrial origins.
- The twist ending highlights the power of perception and the capacity for imagination to shape our reality.

Note: The outline above provides a general structure for the flash fiction story. Adjustments can be made as you develop the narrative further and determine the specific details, characterizations, and pacing that align with your desired writing style and vision for the story.

Very cool!

Step 4: Story Beats

Next, we would write each scene or story beat together.

The opening to the story was special because it had to set the scene, introduce the protagonist and have a good opening line.

Write The Opening Paragraph Prompt:

Write the opening paragraph of the story.
Write using plain language and a casual style.
Do not overwrite or use excessive descriptions.
Write a sharp hook on the first line of the paragraph.
Do not foreshadow the events of the story.

More recently I would update this prompt to also specify specific details to touch on.

Write The Opening Paragraph Prompt #2:

Write the opening paragraph of the story.
Write using plain language and a casual style.
Do not overwrite or use excessive descriptions.
Write a sharp hook on the first line of the paragraph.
Do not foreshadow the events of the story.
Details:
- a
- b
- c

I always saved whatever was generated in a scratch file, then lifted the parts I liked into a separate document where I constructed the story from beats, piece-wise. I would add notes to myself about what to add or remove as I read what was generated, or change it directly.

I almost always selected a different opening line or wrote my own.

I then asked for subsequent paragraphs.

Continue The Story Prompt:

Continue the story and write a few paragraphs.
Write using plain language and a casual style.
Details:
- a
- b
- c

I would lift the specific details covered in the story beat from the outline.

This is micromanaging the story, I can see that. I wanted control over what happened and used ChatGPT to help write it.

The language generated was almost always too descriptive.

I added "Write using plain language and a casual style" to the prompts which helped.

If there was rising action, I'd add a comment about ensuring the text reflected a faster pace, e.g. "the protagonist is frantic and the pace of the writing reflects this". 

If the protagonist was suffering an emotion or emotional state, I would add a comment to ensure the text had this e.g. "the protagonist is becoming unhinged".

The final beat would be the same prompt, but modified to "Conclude the story..."

Here is an example of how we created the first draft opening of "Lost World".

Me:
write the opening paragraphs of the story.
first person.
write using plain language and a casual style, a mixture of long and short sentences.
- the narrator is an undergrad student at the university.
- finds a USB stick on the footpath on the university grounds, near the library.
- the drive contains an assortment of code and API documentation.
- among the documents, they come across a link to a site hosted on the university network.

ChatGPT:
I strolled across the university grounds, my mind lost in the sea of impending deadlines and caffeine-fueled study sessions. Lost, until my eyes caught a glint of metallic silver lying on the footpath near the library. Curiosity piqued, I bent down to pick it up, revealing a forgotten USB stick nestled in the palm of my hand. With a shrug and a flicker of excitement, I decided to adopt this digital orphan and give it a new home in the depths of my backpack.

Back in my cluttered dorm room, I plugged the mysterious drive into my laptop, eager to uncover its secrets. A cascade of files greeted me, an assortment of code and API documentation that seemed to speak a language I barely understood. Amongst the jumble, one file stood out—a plain text document simply labeled "Link."

I hesitated for a moment, my cursor hovering over the file, unsure of the journey it would lead me on. With a gulp of anticipation, I clicked. The browser opened, but to my dismay, the page failed to load. Frustrated yet determined, I realized I needed to find a place where the university's temperamental Wi-Fi couldn't impede my progress.

In the heart of the sprawling campus, I discovered an unassuming computer lab tucked away, abandoned and forgotten by the bustling student population. It seemed like the perfect hideaway for my clandestine online exploration. Surrounded by rows of dusty monitors and rows of unoccupied chairs, I settled in, hoping for a better outcome.

Once again, I typed the elusive URL into the browser, and this time, the page came alive. A personal blog, plain and unremarkable, greeted my eager eyes. It chronicled the research work of a postgraduate student, filled with dry summaries of research papers and seemingly banal ideas for experiments. Yet, buried within the monotony, I sensed a glimmer of hidden potential.

Little did I know, as I delved into the words on the screen, that this chance discovery would transport me to a world of artificial life, intricate neural networks, and evolutionary algorithms—all unfolding within the university's most powerful supercomputer.

I used most of the text verbatim in the opening of the story.

Step 5: Story Improvements

Once the story was written, I would sometimes ask for suggestions on how to improve it.

Suggest Improvements Prompt:

Ask me for a story (do not write a story).
Recall that you are an experienced writing coach with a specialty in writing flash fiction stories.
After I provide my complete story, offer me 10 actionable changes to improve the piece.
The feedback may be with regard to writing, plot, setting, and more aspects that are important for good writing for a general audience in the genre of weird fiction.
Make the feedback so specific that either you or I could make the changes to the piece directly which would improve it.
Remember, do not generate a story, ask me for a story.

For example, below are the suggestions made for the story “Exploits”.

ChatGPT:
Thank you for sharing your flash fiction story. Here are ten actionable changes to improve the piece:

1. Begin the story with a stronger hook that immediately captures the reader's attention and introduces the clandestine nature of the organization and the protagonist's role.
2. Develop the protagonist's character further by providing specific details about their expertise in psychology and computer science, as well as their motivations and personal stakes in the experiments.
3. Explore the moral and ethical implications of the experiments, highlighting the potential consequences and conflicts faced by the protagonist.
4. Expand on the setting to create a more immersive atmosphere, describing the laboratory and its surroundings in more vivid detail.
5. Provide more concrete examples and anecdotes about the subjects' reactions to the experiments, emphasizing the psychological impact and the manipulation of their rational thinking.
6. Strengthen the connection between AI and the experiments, explaining how AI is integrated into the optimization process and how it has revolutionized the speed and creativity of finding new attack vectors.
7. Sharpen the language to create a more concise and impactful narrative, removing unnecessary repetitions or explanations.
8. Add more tension and conflict by introducing potential risks or challenges faced by the protagonist and their team, such as the fear of discovery or opposition from within the organization.
9. Consider adding a moment of moral dilemma or self-reflection for the protagonist, showcasing their internal struggle with the ethical implications of their work.
10. Conclude the story with a hint of what lies ahead, foreshadowing the potential consequences and escalating the suspense.

Remember to incorporate these changes in a way that aligns with your vision for the story and its genre.

Sometimes I would action one or more suggestions, sometimes not, it really depended on what I thought of the story and whether it needed something.

Sometimes I would write a prompt to ask for a paragraph and then apply a suggested change to it. Other times I would change the paragraph directly.

In extreme cases, I would have the tense, style, or perspective change throughout the whole text.

Change to First-Person Perspective:

Ask me for my story.
I will provide a complete piece of writing.
Please rewrite it so that it is all told from the first-person perspective.
Do not change anything else in the story.
Remember, do not generate a story, ask me for a story.

These holistic changes always worked well, which still shocks me.

Mostly I was too lazy to take the suggestions made by ChatGPT seriously. 

Good writing is probably a function of editing. By the time I had a complete piece, I just wanted to get it out so that I could focus on my “real work” for the day. With a less aggressive schedule, I could probably revisit a story many times over a week and continually critique and revise it until it was not so terrible.

Step 6: Story Edits

I then pasted the story into a new Google Docs document and read the story end-to-end, making changes along the way.

During this first read, I would use Grammarly to find any spelling and grammar issues to fix and consider each in turn. 

I chose Australian English. I then ran the "Spelling and Grammar" check in Google Docs which always caught a few additional items.

I would then have the story read to me using text-to-speech on my desktop and make changes as I read along. Reading the story aloud, or having it read aloud always flushes out the most egregious errors that slipped by the other checks.

Step 7: Story Title

Next, I would ask for a candidate title for the story.

Candidate Story Title Prompt:

Ask me for a flash fiction story (do not write a story).
I will provide it.
Then suggest 5 plane titles for the story.
Then suggest 5 story titles that capture the theme of the story.
Then suggest 5 story titles that are poetic.
Then suggest 5 story titles that are only one or two words.
Remember, do not generate a story, ask me for a story.

Early stories would use a suggested title directly, or with minor edits.

I then saw that it made similar suggestions for most stories, I guess because the themes don't change a lot.

For the most part, I used the suggested titles as inspiration and came up with my own title.

Below are suggested titles for “Stolen Brilliance” one "Echoes of Stolen Brilliance" that I modified and used as the final title.

Me:
what are 10 candidate titles for the story that capture the main theme?

ChatGPT:
1. "The Illusion of Brilliance"
2. "Shadows of Deceit"
3. "The Dualis Dilemma"
4. "Ambition's Betrayal"
5. "Automation's Limitations"
6. "Unveiling the Dualis Method"
7. "A Fall from Scientific Grace"
8. "Echoes of Stolen Brilliance"
9. "The Consequence of Secrets"
10. "Integrity of Discovery"

Step 8: Story Art

Finally, I generated cover art using Dall-E 2.

I ask ChatGPT to generate vivid descriptions for photos to use as the basis for image-generation prompts.

Story Art Prompt:

Ask me for a story (do not write a story).
I will provide a flash fiction story in its entirety.
Describe three scenes from the story as though they were photographs taken while the story was unfolding
Include precise details of the camera, lens, depth of field, and other properties of photography.
Each description must capture a different scene or theme from the story.
Remember, do not generate a story, ask me for a story.

The descriptions were always good. I typically used the first description.

The structure of the descriptions was hit or miss, I needed to be more specific. Sometimes the camera lens details are separate, sometimes in line. I often tweaked the description to be more direct.

I'm not happy with any of the images I generated. My process is probably bunk or I should be using MidJourney. Likely both.

Below is an example from the story “Uplift”. The image was particularly good, generated based on a prompt modified from the first description.

Me:
Ask me for a story. 
I will provide a flash fiction story in its entirety. 
Describe three scenes from the story as though they were photographs taken while the story was unfolding
Include precise details of the camera, lens, depth of field, and other properties of photography.
Each description must capture a different scene or theme from the story.

ChatGPT:
Scene Description 1: "The Potential of Uplift"
Camera: DSLR with a wide-angle lens
Depth of Field: Shallow depth of field, focusing on Zuri's eyes
The photograph captures Zuri, the genetically engineered great ape, standing in the lab. Her eyes gleam with a mix of curiosity and vulnerability as they meet the viewer's gaze. The vibrant details of her magnificent presence are emphasized, with the background slightly blurred, symbolizing the whirlwind of excitement and hope that surrounds this new experiment.

Scene Description 2: "The Delicate Waiting Game"
Camera: Medium-format camera with a fixed lens
Depth of Field: Deep depth of field, capturing the entire lab
The photograph presents the lab, dimly lit, filled with monitors and wires connecting to Zuri. The composition highlights the sense of restrained energy and patience in the room. The researchers hover in the background, their gazes focused on the dormant form of the ape, while the monitors flicker with intermittent blips. The image conveys a suspended sense of time, as if the lab holds its breath alongside the scientists, awaiting the awakening and the potential it may bring.

Scene Description 3: "A Breakthrough Unveiled"
Camera: Mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens
Depth of Field: Selective focus on Zuri's bright, aware eyes
The photograph captures the moment of transformation as Zuri awakens. The vibrant intelligence emanates from her eyes, which stand out sharply against the blurred background. The researchers surround her, buzzing with excitement and admiration. The image captures the intensity and hunger with which Zuri absorbs knowledge, symbolizing the breakthrough and the promise of revolutionizing interspecies communication.

The actual prompt I used in Dall-E 2 was:

DSLR with a wide-angle lens. photograph captures Zuri, the genetically engineered great ape, standing in the lab. Her eyes gleam with a mix of curiosity and vulnerability as they meet the viewer's gaze. The vibrant details of her magnificent presence are emphasized, with the background slightly blurred

All four photos were great, but I chose the second from the left.

On Prose Style

The prose style was a major problem that requires specific attention.

The first 5-10 stories are overwritten to the point of being nearly unreadable, e.g. "Stolen Brilliance" and "Escaping Shadows".

Initially, I was just so excited that my plots were transformed into complete stories, I overlooked the writing.

After having to read so many stories, I took more and more action to cut the over description of everything.

In the seed prompt, I included directions for writing, specifically:

...
You write in a plain style with a casual tone.
Your writing is clear and direct.
...

With each paragraph written, I typically gave style directions, something like:

...
Write using plain language and a casual style.
...

Sometimes “casual style” was not helpful, producing prose with slang. I would then ask for a rewrite without slang.

Even now, I still get overwritten prose and just delete it. Occasionally I will directly prompt "rewrite with plain language". I tried prompts like this on entire pieces of writing and would get back a summary of the story, which was not helpful.

Later stories are much better in this regard, especially after I started adding dialogue, using journal entries, etc., e.g. "Uplift" and "Stormwater Drain".

Still lots of work to do in this regard though.

For “Dreamscapes”, I asked ChatGPT to suggest a style after having developed the plot. This was useful.

For example:

Me:
is there a specific tone or style that would best suite the telling of this story?

ChatGPT:
Given the nature of the story, a combination of eerie atmosphere, psychological tension, and a touch of introspection would work well to engage readers. Here's a suggested tone and style for telling "Slumber's Labyrinth":

Tone: Dark, Suspenseful, and Reflective
- Create a sense of foreboding and unease throughout the story, reflecting the psychological deterioration of the subjects and the moral dilemma faced by Dr. Wallace.
- Use descriptive language to convey the eerie and surreal aspects of the dreamscapes and the disorienting effect they have on the subjects.
- Balance the suspenseful moments with moments of introspection, allowing readers to delve into Dr. Wallace's thoughts and inner turmoil.

Style: Concise, Evocative, and Thought-Provoking
- Utilize a plain and direct writing style, focusing on conveying the story's events and emotions without excessive ornamentation.
- Keep the narrative concise, emphasizing impactful and evocative descriptions that heighten the atmosphere and engage readers' senses.
- Incorporate philosophical undertones, exploring themes of responsibility, the nature of reality, and the limits of scientific progress in an accessible yet thought-provoking manner.

By combining the dark and suspenseful tone with a concise and thought-provoking style, you can immerse readers in the unsettling world of "Slumber's Labyrinth" while simultaneously inviting them to reflect on the ethical implications and existential questions raised by the story.

I then used elements of the suggested style in prompts to generate each paragraph of the story. I think this was a useful exercise.

Thinking about it now, I asked ChatGPT specifically for techniques for reducing overwriting in generated prose. I then asked it to summarize all suggestions so that they could be added to prompts for generating prose for creative writing.

With some editing, we came up with the following:

...
Aim for clear and concise writing to engage your readers effectively.
Limit the use of adjectives and adverbs, focusing on strong nouns and verbs instead.
Employ specific and vivid language to create a clear mental image for your readers.
Embrace the 'show, don't tell' approach to allow readers to experience the story firsthand.
...

I did not experiment with using styles from other authors. 

It feels like plagiarism. I saw a clever workaround for this in “How to (Ethically) Copy the Style of Famous Authors With ChatGPT”.

I have only played around with this method, but have not used it in my writing. It goes as follows:

1. Ask ChatGPT to "describe the writing style of [AUTHOR] at the word and paragraph level" (this is my flavour of the approach).

2. Repeat for a suite of relevant authors that fit the story or tone or whatever.

3. Pick and choose the style elements that I like from the descriptions.

4. Include the style descriptions in requests for prose, e.g. "continue the story with the style..."

For example:

Me:
in bullet points, what is the writing style of ernest hemingway at the word and paragraph level?

ChatGPT:
At the word and paragraph level, the writing style of Ernest Hemingway can be characterized by the following bullet points:

Word Level:

- Simplicity: Hemingway's writing style is marked by simplicity and brevity in word choice.
- Economy: He uses concise and straightforward language, avoiding unnecessary adjectives, adverbs, and embellishments.
- Precision: Hemingway selects words that convey precise meanings, opting for clarity over complexity.
- Concrete language: He employs concrete and sensory details to bring the reader directly into the scene.
- Action-oriented: Hemingway's word choice often emphasizes action and movement.

Paragraph Level:

- Short, concise paragraphs: Hemingway frequently employs short paragraphs, each focusing on a specific event or idea.
- Sparse dialogue: He uses dialogue to advance the narrative and reveal character insights, often with minimal attribution or description.
- Minimalist descriptions: Hemingway's paragraphs contain minimal descriptions, relying on precise details to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
- Subtext and omission: Hemingway's paragraphs often leave out explicit information, allowing readers to infer meaning and engage with the text.
- Pacing and rhythm: He varies sentence lengths and paragraph structures to create a rhythmic flow, enhancing the reading experience.

These characteristics capture the essence of Hemingway's distinctive writing style, known for its simplicity, precision, and emphasis on action.

I did not throw away a lot of prose in early stories. It was precious, better than I could write. I could not bear to discard it.

I threw away more and more as time went on. Prose falls like rain.

In later stories, I would pick lines or ideas I liked but be less afraid of asking for a rewrite or an alternate view on a story beat.

On Using A Single Prompt

Early on, I experimented with a single prompt to generate an entire flash fiction story.

I expected poor results, and that was what I got, so I didn't try very hard.

I quickly switched over to an incremental development approach as described above.

Nevertheless, I revisited the single prompt approach later.

The approach was based on using ChatGPT to develop a prompt that in turn is then used to develop the story.

Many people have proposed this approach, but I used the method "The ONLY prompt you need for ChatGPT. Save yourself HOURS!" proposed by "Marco's Startup".

Prompt Engineer Prompt:

You, ChatGPT, will be my prompt engineer. We will iterate the prompts you output in order to arrive at a prompt that gives me the desired output. The first output you give me will ask what the prompt will be about, with some questions to get us on the right track. Then once you have an initial understanding of what the prompt is about, you will provide me with the first iteration. Then you will ask more questions to make the prompt better. We will continue this iterative process until we have arrived at the prompt we need to generate my desired output.

I said I wanted to write a flash fiction story, and then proceeded to answer questions about the premise, plot, genre, etc.

I used this approach to generate two stories: "Silhouette" and "The Door".

For example, the prompt used to generate the first complete draft of “The Door” is listed below.

ChatGPT:
"Write a first-person perspective flash fiction story in the creepypasta genre. The narrator and their partner embark on a journey of restoring an ancient, rundown house they recently purchased. As they delve into the renovations, the house begins to reveal its secrets, bearing the weight of its over 150-year history. The narrator becomes fixated on removing a particular wall to open up the space, unaware of the chilling discovery awaiting them.

Hidden behind the wall, they uncover a dusty, forgotten staircase leading downward, shrouded in an eerie silence. Intrigued, they venture further into the depths of the house, descending the stairs that haven't seen footfall for centuries. Finally, they arrive at a solid door, aged and marked with faded black paint, hauntingly spelling out the words: 'Don't open.'

The tension builds as the narrator grapples with their curiosity, tempted to defy the warning and uncover the secrets behind the door. However, before they can make a decision, the story ends abruptly, leaving the reader to contemplate the unimaginable horrors that may lie beyond the door, the fate of the narrator, and the malevolent presence lurking within the house.

Emphasize vivid descriptions of the house's decaying grandeur, the neglected staircase covered in layers of dust, and the foreboding door marked with the ominous phrase 'Don't open.' Use atmospheric language to evoke a sense of unease and intrigue, immersing the reader in the haunting ambiance of the story."

Now, let's take a moment to review this iteration. If there are any specific elements or details you'd like to modify or further enhance, please let me know!

The stories are a little shorter than my typical flash fiction stories, coming in at about 587 and 649 words respectively, instead of my typical 1000 or 1200.

The stories read fine. Especially after I edited them, but they are missing something.

I think it is my fault. I didn't have a plot in mind for either story, just a premise. I was hoping the process would pull a fun plot out of me, like my normal process, but it didn't. So we ended up with two vignettes rather than stories.

I think the approach can work if it is given enough plot meat on the story bone.

I also write two parables, specifically "The Writer" and "Parable of the Engineer and the AI Writer".

In these cases, I had ChatGPT take on the writing coach persona described above, then asked it directly to "write a parable about...". I then listed all of the elements I wanted included and it deduced the lesson or moral.

For example, the prompt used to generate the first draft of “Parable of the Engineer and the AI Writer” was as follows:

Me:
write a parable
a software engineer wants to write flash fiction
they don't have training or a background in creative writing, therefore no skill
they get access to an advanced ai that allows them to collaborate and develop fiction
the ai can do anything, suggest story concepts, develop story premises, write outlines and even write prose and dialog.
the engineer works with the ai to develop many stories
the problem is all of the stories are terrible, the engineer knows it
the reason is that the engineer, even with the help of the ai, has taste for what makes a good story, but cannot translate that into judgement for making choices in stories or in editing the stories
even with the advanced ai, the creative ability of fiction writing remains out of reach
there is no substitute for putting in the 10,000 hours of deliberate practice

The parables worked out fine, in that they captured my ideas.

The reason I haven't continued to explore these approaches is that it is less satisfying.

I don't have control over the story. I prefer collaborating on each beat. Rewriting, changing direction, elaborating, etc. I'm involved.

Crafting the perfect wish up front for the story genie is not the way I enjoy collaborating.

On Being Bounded By The Copilot

My thesis is that the stories are bad because I am bad at creative story writing. A reasonable starting point.

If ChatGPT is a genie that can answer any question, we must know what questions to ask.

Ask bad questions, get bad answers. 

When using ChatGPT as a collaborator for creative writing, is the upper bound of the pair the same as the upper bound of the human collaborator (e.g. the least capable)?

I'd like to think that it is.

ChatGPT helps me go faster. It helps me cover a wider surface area. But it does not help me to generate better stories (whatever "better" means).

In the case of programming, I cannot design a system more complex than what I can conceive. The computer will not do the heavy lifting of system design for me. The only way that I can develop a system that is more complex than I can conceive is to collaborate with other humans that know things that I don't. Together, we can create something equal (in the average case) and greater than (in the best case) the sum of the parts.

Similarly, alone, the stories I develop are limited by my experience-laden capabilities. To make them better, I need a collaborator that knows things I don't. Who has greater and different experience and capabilities?

Can ChatGPT be that collaborator with the right scaffold of prompts, persona and questions? And more specifically, generate prose when I want to drive and have ChatGPT generate all prose?

It is possible if the writer is good enough. The book "Death of an Author" is an existence proof.

But what about when the human collaborator is unskilled in the craft?

If I don't ask, we don't explore.

What if I'm wrong about all this?

ChatGPT thinks I am.

Me:
consider the domain of chatgpt and a human collaborating on creative writing. is it possible for the collaboration to produce a story that exceeds the capabilities of the human?

ChatGPT:
Yes, in the domain of creative writing, collaboration between ChatGPT and a human has the potential to produce a story that exceeds the capabilities of the human alone. While the human collaborator brings their creativity, imagination, and storytelling skills to the table, ChatGPT can complement the process by offering suggestions, generating ideas, and providing a different perspective.

ChatGPT has been trained on a vast amount of text data, including books, articles, and various written works, which allows it to have a broad understanding of language and narrative structures. It can generate ideas, help with plot development, offer alternative storylines, and provide inspiration that the human collaborator might not have considered.

Additionally, ChatGPT's ability to generate coherent and contextually appropriate text can assist in enhancing the overall quality of the story. It can help with refining dialogue, creating descriptive scenes, or even suggesting creative twists and turns.

However, it's important to note that the creative process is subjective, and the evaluation of whether a story exceeds the capabilities of a human collaborator is ultimately determined by individual preferences and standards. The collaboration between ChatGPT and a human should be viewed as a partnership that leverages the strengths of both parties, rather than a competition between them.

Me:
what about the case where the human is unskilled at storytelling, is limited perhaps to conceiving ideas related to the premise and plot of stories, and chatgpt is used to generate the story under the guidance of the human.

ChatGPT:
In the scenario you've described, where the human collaborator is unskilled at storytelling and primarily provides guidance related to the premise and plot, ChatGPT can be particularly valuable. The model can help fill the gaps in the storytelling process and generate a coherent narrative based on the provided guidance.

ChatGPT's vast training data and language understanding can aid in developing characters, describing settings, and constructing engaging storylines. By working in collaboration with ChatGPT, the human can contribute by offering high-level input, such as outlining the main events, character motivations, and desired themes, while relying on the AI model to generate the detailed story elements.

In this context, ChatGPT can act as a creative writing tool, assisting in the execution of the story while following the human collaborator's guidance. The model can generate dialogue, descriptive passages, and even suggest plot twists that align with the provided premise and plot. It can serve as a source of inspiration, helping the human collaborator explore different possibilities and expand their creative boundaries.

Ultimately, this collaboration can result in a story that surpasses what the unskilled human storyteller would have been able to create on their own, thanks to the AI model's ability to generate text based on its training and the guidance provided by the human collaborator.

Me:
And what if the human cannot tell what is good and what is not in the prose generated by chatgpt. A story generated in collaboration will capture the intent of the human, but will not be "good" in the critical sense because the human does not have sufficient judgement required to choose what to keep and what to discard.

ChatGPT:
If the human collaborator lacks the ability to discern what is good or not in the prose generated by ChatGPT, it can certainly impact the overall quality of the story. The collaborative process may capture the intent of the human, but without the necessary judgment to evaluate and refine the prose, the resulting story may not meet the standards of critical evaluation.

In this situation, it becomes crucial to involve additional parties or resources to provide feedback and critical assessment of the generated prose. This can include seeking input from experienced writers, editors, or beta readers who can evaluate the story objectively and offer constructive feedback. Their expertise can help identify areas that require improvement, suggest edits, and guide the overall refinement of the story.

It's important to acknowledge that the quality of a story is subjective and can vary depending on individual preferences. However, seeking external feedback and engaging with experts in the field can contribute to enhancing the overall quality and ensuring that the story aligns with established standards of good prose and storytelling.

Ultimately, if the human collaborator is aware of their limitations and seeks external guidance and feedback, it is possible to iterate on the story and refine it until it meets the desired quality standards.

My takeaway from this exchange is that if I want better results, then ask better questions.

On Better Creative Writing with ChatGPT

I remain optimistic.

With the right system of prompts, good stories can be generated.

Off the cuff, I can see three areas of improvement for future creative writing with ChatGPT.

1. Better system. Build a system of prompts tested and shown to lead to "high-quality" stories. I'm not there yet. Sudowrite Story Engine might be closer.

2. Better prompts. Develop prompts tested and shown to lead to high-quality prose. Both one-off (whole story) prompts, scene prompts, beat prompts, etc. Lots of low-hanging fruit here.

3. Better editing. Develop prompts tested and shown to change input prose into better-quality output prose.

System

The system that I used and described above is close to being effective, but it needs work.

Watching the Sudowrite Video for Story Engine, you can see a clear and obvious structure of the prompt system from idea to prose. e.g. Braindump, Genre, Style, Synopsis, Characters, Outline, Chapter Beats, Chapter Prose. We can imagine additional fields and alternate methods, especially for the outlining structure.

The video also suggests they are developing a grammar between parts of the system, such as between the development of the story beats and the generation of prose, e.g. "Guardrail" and "Driver". 

I suspect they have developed a prose generation prompt using beats that look for and interpret these terms and others. Clever idea!

Prompts

The prompts themselves offer perhaps the most room for improvement.

When it comes to prose, experimenting with different highly structured prompts will result in easy wins.

I can imagine fields in the structured prompt, including summaries of genre, style, character profiles, story synopsis, story beat before and after, etc.

Simple requests like "show don't tell", "use deep point of view" and "use third-person omniscient" go a long way in prose generation, e.g. the stuff in the intro to creative books.

Editing

Editing is a weak point for me and also offers a huge area of improvement.

We have seen above a generic "suggest improvements" prompt, but this can be better.

For example, I would expect more helpful feedback from different personas in the editing process:

Take on the persona of an expert copy editor, suggest 5 improvements...
Take on the persona of an expert creative writing editor, suggest 5 improvements...
Take on the persona of an expert beta reader in the genre of xxx, suggest 5 positive and 5 negative points...

But this is too easy. 

Very quickly we have tens of "expert" suggestions to improve a piece of writing.

How are they prioritized? Preference?

How are they enacted? Prompts like "rewrite with ..." only go so far, especially when the suggested change touches the entire story.

Actioning broad edits might remain a human activity. Or, I am not sufficiently versed in editing creative writing to see how this process might be decomposed into subtasks for collaboration (likely).

I have been experimenting with some very simple holistic editing techniques, e.g. applied to the whole piece.

Some examples include:

Take on a persona of an expert editor of non-fiction.
Say "read" if you understand.

...

Proofread and edit the following text: ...
Proofread the following text: ...
Rephrase the following text: ...
Rewrite the following text to raise the Flesch reading score: ...

I regret not thinking of this sooner and for applying these methods to this very article. I will in the future, for sure.

The idea to rewrite to improve the Flesch reading score came from the video “This ChatGPT Prompt Changed How I Edit (AI Tips & Tricks)“. The idea to proofread whole pieces came from the video “Proofreading And Editing With ChatGPT AI?”.

More work is needed in this area.

Customization

The harder we lean on prompts to produce better prose, the more the prompts themselves will be customized to the author.

Prompts will be biased to cover the weaknesses in the storytelling process of the author, as well as their preferences in genre, style, and more.

This cannot be avoided.

It suggests more effort is needed on learning how to drive ChatGPT as a prompt engineer to produce prompts for the author that in turn generates the desired story artifact (outline, beats, prose, etc.).

A first start is to use a process like this for the first or second draft of prompts for the system described above.

Maybe the system I used for the project is too prescriptive. The very methods I implemented to avoid purple prose in the first place, caused it. Later prescriptions added to the prompts failed to counter the already polluted generation. Maybe.

More experimentation is needed.

Final Thoughts and Resources

The project is over and it did what it needed.

We wrote 30 stories in 30 days and it forced me to learn something about writing prompts in anger, at least for fiction.

Probably the most interesting learning has been the differences between what I did and what other experts and other real authors are doing to solve the same problem, e.g. generating readable stories.

I have seen some great examples on YouTube recently, such as:

Deliberate Practice For Writers such as “How To Write A Choose Your Own Adventure Story With AI”  and “How to Write a Short Story with ChatGPT - A Case Study”.

The Nerdy Novelist and his series on “Writing a Novel with ChatGPT”

Future Fiction Academy and videos like “ChatGPT Writing Fiction with AI: Chapter Types”.

I also really enjoyed reading “Death of an Author”, a novel written collaboratively between Stephen Marche and ChatGPT. It’s a great example of what is possible with a real writer, e.g. it’s very readable and very meta. His afterward is particularly interesting where he explains parts of his process. Also see his interview with Joanna Penn “Intentionality, Beauty, and Authorship. Co-Writing With AI With Stephen Marche”.

I also found Reid Hoffman’s “Impromptu” eye-opening and Jon Morrow’s “AI Writer” tactically useful (e.g. long prompts).

Hat tip to “Stories by AI” for a similar idea by better writers, a better project name, and a slower release cadence.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Martin Goddard, Nigel Fisher, and Andrew Donaldson for feedback and discussion about the project.

Thanks to all the subscribers to the daily newsletter and podcast versions of the stories. Sorry to subject you to such terrible writing!