(This is a longer-than-usual post for me, but you will soon see why.)

I am sticking my toes into the choppy waters of AI. I know there is a riptide out there, but I promise not to wade out too far.

I, along with many others, feel it is irresponsible to have AI write a story for you and immoral if you claim it is your own creative work. But what about using AI as a writing assistant?

After listening to a podcast by John Tighe called Create Your AI Writing Bot! I created a style sheet for the book I am working on and brought up CHATGPT for a conversation that went exactly like this:

Me: I would like your critique of sections of a story by using the style sheet that I will provide.

Chat: That sounds great! Send over your style sheet, and I’ll use it to critique your story sections based on your specific guidelines. I’ll focus on areas like tone, characterization, pacing, language, and thematic consistency.

Me: Style Guide for Fantasy Novel

**1. Narrative Tone and Voice

Tone: The tone should be reflective and introspective, with a touch of grandeur appropriate for a fantasy setting. Use a formal and slightly archaic language style to evoke the sense of a grand, historical world.

Voice: The narrative voice should convey a deep connection with the characters’ internal struggles and the epic nature of their world. Maintain a balance between the characters’ personal dilemmas and the overarching plot.

**2. Characterization

Complexity: Characters should have multi-layered personalities, with inner conflicts and detailed backstories. Emphasize their internal thoughts and emotional states, especially in moments of introspection.

Dialogue: Use dialogue to reveal character traits and advance the plot. Characters should have distinct voices reflecting their backgrounds and personalities. Formal speech may be used for characters of higher status or ancient beings, while more casual or poetic language may suit other characters.

Internal Monologue: Characters’ thoughts should be woven into the narrative to provide insight into their motivations and conflicts. These should be reflective and may include philosophical musings or personal revelations.

**3. Setting and World-Building

Descriptive Language: Use rich, descriptive language to create vivid images of the setting. Include details that evoke the fantasy genre, such as magical elements, historical artifacts, and grandiose architecture.

Atmosphere: Convey the atmosphere through sensory details—how the setting feels, smells, and sounds. Use these to enhance the mood and immerse the reader in the world.

History and Lore: Incorporate elements of history and lore into the narrative. References to ancient events, magical artifacts, and historical figures should be integrated seamlessly into the plot.

**4. Plot Structure

Pacing: Balance action with moments of reflection and character development. Allow for slow, introspective scenes interspersed with more dynamic plot developments.

Foreshadowing: Use subtle hints and foreshadowing to build suspense and anticipation. Reveal key plot points gradually, allowing the reader to piece together the story.

Themes: Explore themes of destiny, power, and identity. Characters should grapple with their roles in the grand scheme of things and their personal quests.

**5. Magical Elements

Magic System: Define a clear and consistent magic system. Explain its rules and limitations subtly through the narrative and character interactions.

Magical Artifacts: Introduce magical artifacts with specific properties and significance. Ensure that their role in the plot is clear and impactful.

Magical Effects: Describe magical effects with precision, focusing on their impact on the world and characters. Use evocative language to capture the wonder and danger of magic.

**6. Language and Style

Formal and Poetic: Employ a formal and sometimes poetic language style, particularly in dialogue and narrative exposition. This should enhance the fantastical and epic quality of the story.

Imagery and Symbolism: Use vivid imagery and symbolism to deepen the narrative. Symbols should be consistent with the themes and add layers of meaning.

Dialogue Tags: Use minimal dialogue tags and let the dialogue itself convey the tone and emotion. Tags, when used, should be varied and fitting for the character’s voice.

**7. Additional Instructions

Do not change Flora’s dialog.

Avoid the “to be” verb, such as the word “was.”

In general, up the tension, particularly with Jonathan’s emotional state.

Increase Jonathan’s reactions.

Chat: Got it! Your style guide provides a clear and detailed framework. Send over a section of your story, and I’ll critique it based on these guidelines, offering suggestions for tone, characterization, pacing, language, and tension.

Me: Jonathan churned away on his hurdy-gurdy. The ungainly instrument lay sloping on his lap as these instruments do. The trompette and other drone strings buzzed as he keyed the melody with one hand and rotated the wheel with alternating rhythm with the other. Sounding as if it were a stringed bagpipe, magical notes poured forth.

Flora stood beside him, today smelling like roses, making up lyrics to the music he played as they went along. Jonathan knew they made a visually striking pair; he robed, hooded, seated, hunched over his hurdy-gurdy, while she stood straight and stately. Nonetheless, everyone in the market could see by her red hair, dark skin, and colorful dress that she had all the markings of a Traveller.

The audience came and went, of course, stopping to listen to a tune or two, throwing a coin into the cup tied to a stake in the ground, before going about their business of the day.

Playing music and listening to Flora sing were Jonathan’s delight, not to mention collecting a few coins to keep them alive. But he knew he could not settle down into the reverie of this simple life.

As evening drew near, he packed away his instrument, and he and Flora wandered back to their inn with the smells of the fishmonger, butcher, and spice dealer still hanging in the air as these merchants too packed up their wares.

“I trust you’re aware,” Jonathan spoke as he stopped to inspect some apples still being offered for purchase, “that I need to go about bringing Matilda and Geshmell back into the present.”

“Of course I do

And outside of you,

Who could begin

To do such a thing.”

Jonathan dug into his coin bag for a newly acquired silver to purchase two apples from the vendor lady, who eyed them suspiciously. He handed one of the apples to Flora. “You have more confidence in me than I do,” Jonathan smiled. “Might you, by chance, know any tricks to handle my problem?”

“Oh, I know tricks,

As plentiful as sticks,

But none that will solve

Your present resolve.”

“I thought not.” Jonathan fell silent, except for the crunching of his apple.

Chat: Here’s my critique based on your style guide:

Strengths:

Tone & Voice: The slightly archaic and formal tone fits well. The introspective nature of Jonathan’s thoughts aligns with the reflective style you’re aiming for.

Characterization: Jonathan’s contrast with Flora is strong, both visually and in demeanor. His underlying tension about Matilda and Geshmell adds depth. Flora’s rhyming speech remains distinct, as per your guidelines.

Setting & Atmosphere: The marketplace feels immersive with the descriptions of sights and smells, especially at the end when the lingering scents transition into the evening.

Foreshadowing & Themes: The mention of Matilda and Geshmell hints at the greater quest without being too direct, which keeps the tension simmering.

Areas for Improvement:

Jonathan’s Emotional State:

He acknowledges his greater mission, but his internal struggle could be more visceral. Rather than simply stating, “But he knew he could not settle down into the reverie of this simple life,” consider showing a more immediate emotional reaction—perhaps a fleeting moment of longing before he steels himself.

His hesitation about his abilities (“You have more confidence in me than I do”) could be expanded with physical cues—does he tighten his grip on the apple? Does his stomach twist at the thought?

Pacing & Tension:

The transition from playing music to discussing Matilda and Geshmell feels abrupt. Consider adding a beat where Jonathan watches the crowd disperse or catches an expression on Flora’s face that prompts his shift in thought.

The last exchange with Flora is light but could carry more weight. If Jonathan truly doubts himself, perhaps he lingers on her answer or tries to push for more help, betraying his unease.

Use of Stronger Verbs:

You’ve done well avoiding “to be” verbs, but a few places could still be more dynamic:

“The ungainly instrument lay sloping on his lap” → “The ungainly instrument slumped across his lap.”

“Flora stood beside him, today smelling like roses” → “Flora stood beside him, the scent of roses clinging to her today.”

Would you like a rewritten passage that integrates these suggestions?

That last question is, of course, the one you want to ignore. Frankly, Chat is a pretty lousy writer.

Note: in my first exchange with Chat, I used the word “critique.” If I used the word “analysis’’ instead, Chat might come up with something a bit different. With AI, it is all about how you ask the question. Also, AI will never get bored with you. Ask away.