Let me be clear from the outset: ChatGPT is not penning my latest novel, but it has undoubtedly become an integral part of my creative process. When new software emerges, I’m usually quick to investigate its possibilities in my professional work. ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, is no exception.
The advent of ChatGPT coincided with crafting my sixth novel, “Arikaz,” which is coming out later this year. ChatGPT presented a range of new ways to conduct research and play with ideas without sacrificing my style and writing process.
I advise all writers to view ChatGPT as a valuable assistant and urge them to go through the challenging and rewarding process of writing their book from start to finish. Ultimately, the story and its execution are a product of a writer’s imagination and writing skills.
If the author’s voice is present and the writing process protected, AI-driven software can do wonders as a resource for research, character development, idea generation, world-building, and editing. Below, I outline five ways authors can utilise ChatGPT to enhance their work while maintaining creative control using examples from my upcoming novel.
Researching setting and historical context
Stories must be situated in a setting or historical context for readers to understand specific ideas or plot points. A solid setting also informs about the characters and how they interact. In Arikaz, the characters are from different places and come together in a futuristic setting.
The book is set in 2048 and focuses on Sherif, a 27-year-old Lebanese man born and raised in poverty. He finds himself untethered following the sudden death of his parents and decides to leave Beirut to participate in a research study at Arikaz, a facility dedicated to unlocking memories. There, he meets Dr. Jenny Atkinson, an American scientist born in Chicago in April 2013.
ChatGPT helped me paint a vivid and immersive backdrop for my characters and their stories leading up to the novel’s timeframe. For example, I learned details about Chicago in the mid-2010s with the help of ChatGPTs immediate research results, giving me a vivid idea of where Dr. Atkinson would have grown up and what events might have informed her life. Of course, I still had to run things by Mel, a trusted human being who is helping with the plot’s creative structuring.
World-building
Beyond the setting, Arikaz also needed considerable work in building a realistic world for the story to take place. The novel is set in 2048, in a near-future reality where memory manipulation is possible. While I knew I wanted a futuristic environment for my characters to exist, I wasn’t sure what that could look like or what potential developments might occur between 2023 and 2048.
ChatGPT assisted in crafting a detailed and consistent world by providing information on current scientific advancements, emerging technologies, and speculative scenarios. It also suggested these advancements’ societal and ethical implications, enriching the story with thought-provoking and relatable elements.
Character development
Writers can apply the same kind of assisted research process to character development. Readers demand a deep understanding of the characters’ motivations, experiences, and relationships. These aspects of the characters inform how they behave and what motivates them, and most readers can sense when actions are not aligned with the character’s core values.
After visualising and outlining the characters I wanted in Arikaz, I found ChatGPT to be a valuable asset in defining the intricate characteristics of Sherif and Dr. Jenny Atkinson. ChatGPT helped me brainstorm personality traits, backstories, and potential character arcs.
Additionally, it assisted in exploring potential interactions and conflicts, leading to more engaging and believable dialogues and relationships. It helped discern possible cultural confrontations between a Lebanese and an American individual with very different backstories.
Generating plot points
While I have a clear vision for Arikaz’s narrative, inspiration for specific plot points or subplots can sometimes be elusive and cause severe writer’s block. Sherif’s journey throughout Arikaz is complex and delves deep into his past, uncovering a web of lies and betrayal that has shaped his life.
ChatGPT helped generate ideas related to the story’s themes and settings, which I could incorporate into the narrative. It helped me navigate the roadmap for Sherif and Dr. Atkinson’s journey together, which was plausible and engaging.
Therefore, I maintained creative control while benefiting from the AI’s innovative thinking. It lit a fire under my inspiration, helping relieve writer’s block and move forward with my process while providing unique ideas to play with as I wrote.
Editing and polishing
Finally, ChatGPT can serve as a reliable editor and help to polish your writing. By inputting specific sections of my manuscript, I receive suggestions for improving grammar, style, and clarity. ChatGPT allowed me to refine my writing while preserving the story and style I had worked hard to produce.
Of course, this should always be done with a diligent and thorough human editor, who can evaluate readability and entertainment value, not only the structure and grammar. Combined with the hard work of my editor, ChatGPT has proven to be a powerful creative tool, enriching my writing process and enabling me to focus on crafting a captivating narrative for Arikaz. However, it can’t mimic the creative potential of the human mind. Not yet, at least.
Writers should consider ChatGPT as a valuable new asset that can help them navigate the challenges that accompany writing a book. However, as writers, we must still be careful about using this tool while protecting our creative identity. We must continue to promote and encourage creativity and creative writing by setting an example for future authors. No one wants to read a novel full of parlour tricks and platitudes.
Now more than ever, we need to continue a rich history of human storytelling and the preservation of ideas, fantasies, hopes, and dreams through the perspective of narrative fiction. This is the time for thinking about creative solutions for the future and looking deeply into the networks that exist in the present. More importantly, it would be a sad day when the world’s storytellers, who craft our myths and speculate about our future, are subjected to the widely expanding trend of automation.
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