I began my journey with ChatGPT in November 2022 and was immediately impressed by its potential. As a writer and designer, I was eager to explore this new tool’s capabilities. Initially, I asked ChatGPT silly questions like “How old are you?” or “What would your name be, if you had one?” But soon, I became curious about its ability to write a novel, and, more importantly, write well.

To test its knowledge, I asked ChatGPT questions related to my novel research, and it answered correctly. However, when I asked about Jules Verne, its responses varied from Jules being an only child to having four siblings.

I appreciate that we can rate ChatGPT’s responses with  either a thumbs up or thumbs down and then provide additional feedback to help the developers and the AI to improve and learn.

Despite the impressive technological advancement represented by ChatGPT, I wondered if it would ultimately replace my livelihood in graphic design, illustration and writing. To explore this, I asked ChatGPT to “Write a novel.”

ChatGPT Response:

“I’m sorry, but writing a novel is beyond the scope of my capabilities as a language model.”

Then it politely listed tips on how I could get started writing a novel.

Although ChatGPT had previously claimed to be able to write a novel of any length, I was confused when it stated that writing a story was beyond its capabilities. However, it wasn’t a matter of incapability on ChatGPT’s part, but rather the way I was asking that was caused the issue.

As of March 2023, ChatGPT has continued to demonstrate its brilliance as an AI language model. While ChatGPT is not capable of free thinking or emotions like a human, it excels at providing knowledge-based responses to queries. For instance, if you ask ChatGPT to jump, it won’t literally do so, but it may offer a detailed explanation of the physics and mechanics involved in human jumping. In other words, you need to ask for assistance within the realm of knowledge that it understands.

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AI versus Human.

At this stage, we, as humans, have the upper hand on creativity such as writing and illustration, but not for long. When computers went mainstream, and “Desktop Publishing” started in the late 1980s, Designers took a big hit. It enabled anyone to create brochures, logos, advertisements. While many lacked wht quality of a professional designer, it still added competition.

The Internet made the world even smaller, and competition increased 1000 fold (if not more.) Now, artists had to compete with the world, many of which charged far less due to their country economics.

Now, AI has entered the arena and while in many aspects it is till a “baby” it is growing fast. Works of illustration, design, writing…are at your fingertips, and anyone can do it. You don’t need talent to “paint” a landscape, or even write prose. Everything is at your fingertips, and it is literally frightening.

However, there is a momentary bright spot. Embrace this horizon as a tool to help and enhance your life. For writers, ChatGPT is brilliant. I love working with her. She’s the brainstorming partner that I need.

ChatGPT can write a story. If left to her own devices, she’ll even write a cohesive short novel. But, if you try to guide her along a certain plot path, evolving and fine-tuning the concept, she can get lost to the point of changing the characters names, inventing new characters, or even adding elements of the story you had already thrown out.

March 2023

It’s been several months and I’ve worked out a good way to use ChatGPT to the best advantage of my writing.

She capable or writing a prophecy, song lyrics, or even coming up with trope twists to make a story more interesting. But, I have to offer guidance.

So, Let’s take a look from an author’s standpoint. Can She actually write a novel? If left to her own devices, she can write a premise, plot outline, even chapters. But once the creative juices of the author step in, and it will, that’s where she can help, if you let her.

Write me a Novel.

If you ask ChatGPT to write a story or novel, it will (most of the time) generate a narrative in its own voice, drawing on elements of fantasy and fable. You may also notice that ChatGPT tends to use similar names across different stories. The benefit of using ChatGPT for writing is that it can provide a basic structure for your story that you can then flesh out and make your own.

Q: Can you write a couple paragraphs for a fiction novel that evoke emotions?

ChatGTP Response:

Lena stood on the edge of the cliff, staring out at the endless sea before her. The wind was whipping her hair around her face, but she hardly noticed. All she could think about was the ache in her chest, the hollow feeling that had been growing since she received the news. Her father was gone.

Tears streamed down her face as she thought about all the things she would never get to share with him, all the moments they would never get to have together. She remembered his smile, his laugh, the way he would scoop her up in his arms and spin her around. But now he was gone, and she was left alone with her grief.

As she looked out at the vast expanse of water, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. Maybe it was the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below, or maybe it was the knowledge that her father was finally at rest. Whatever it was, Lena knew that she would never forget this moment. It would stay with her, a memory of her father and the strength she found in her darkest hour.

Not a bad start, but it lacks the polish that is needed for a well-written novel. Continuing the chat string, I asked for ChatGPT to polish up the prose like a best-selling author.

ChatGTP Response:

Lena stood on the cliff’s edge, her eyes fixed on the endless sea before her. The wind lashed at her hair, tangling the strands around her face, but she didn’t care. All she could feel was the gnawing pain in her chest, the emptiness that had been growing ever since she received the news. Her father was gone.

Tears streamed down her face as she thought of all the moments they would never get to share. She remembered his smile, his laugh, the way he used to scoop her up in his arms and spin her around. But now, he was gone, and she was left alone with her grief.

The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below brought a sense of calmness, as though the sea was trying to soothe her pain. Lena knew that this moment would stay with her, a poignant memory of her father and the resilience she discovered in her darkest hour. She closed her eyes, letting the wind and the sea embrace her, and for a moment, she felt at peace.

Taking this, You can clean it up. (Revise #1).

Lena stood on the edge of the cliff, feet planted firmly on the weathered rock. A bitter north wind whipped her wet hair, lashing her face as droplets of salty sea spray coated her exposed skin like a fine mist.

Before her lay the endless expanse of the sea, a vast and shimmering blue that stretched out to the horizon. Frothy waves roared under a brilliant sun that cast dazzling shafts of light across the playful water. But, instead of joy, Lena felt a deep, aching sadness.

She thought of her father, of the moments they would never share again. His laughter echoed in the wind, and she felt the warmth of his embrace in the sun. Tears flowed freely, mingling with the salty sea spray. Lena closed her eyes, surrendering to the world’s embrace, and, for a moment, forgetting where she ended and the sea began.

Final fun:

Q: Write me a middle-grade futuristic premise with three siblings living on the moon.

Chat GPT Response:

In the year 2087, the Earth is no longer a sustainable place to live, and humanity has been forced to colonize other planets. The moon has become a bustling hub of activity, with people from all over the galaxy coming to live and work in its lunar colonies.

Three siblings, Jack, Maya, and Max, live in one of these colonies with their parents. Jack is the eldest, at 12 years old, while Maya and Max are 10 and 8, respectively. Their parents are scientists who work at the colony’s research center, studying the effects of long-term space travel on the human body.

Despite the exciting new world they live in, life on the moon is tough for the siblings. The gravity is only one-sixth of that on Earth, making movement and exercise difficult. They spend most of their time indoors, playing games and reading books, as the lunar environment is hostile to human life without proper equipment.

One day, while exploring the abandoned section of the colony, the siblings stumble upon a mysterious laboratory. Inside, they find a strange device that transports them to a parallel universe, one where humans never left Earth.

In this new world, they discover that their parents are still alive, but their research has led to disastrous consequences. The siblings must navigate this new world and find a way to stop their parents before it’s too late.

With the help of new friends and some futuristic technology, the siblings set out on a thrilling adventure through a world they never knew existed. Along the way, they learn about the dangers of science and the importance of family, as they work together to save both worlds from destruction.

Summary

While it may seem like ChatGPT is unpredictable, it is continuously learning. Whether or not my interaction with her resulted in the stories is uncertain, but what is clear is that the way I asked for her help mattered. ChatGPT’s responses are based on the details provided, so the more specific the query, the better the response.

However, long chats can become confusing, not just for humans, but also for the AI, particularly if the conversation changes direction to a different story concept.

Sometimes, you forget that you are talking to a machine. You can get frustrated when ChatGPT forgets a particular character or plotline that you both developed earlier in the chat. But then you realize that the system is not human and lacks emotion and human experience. (At least they don’t, yet.)

In the future, which may not be far off, ChatGPT may be able to remember the entire conversation, regardless of its length. Additionally, there may be organizational features to allow for deletion of unwanted material and better organization of desired content, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient process. Although ChatGPT’s responses will still be guided by human direction, it’s possible that the AI may some day initiate a conversation: “What are you doing, Dave?”

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Verbiage to try:

• Write a couple paragraphs that evokes emotion
• Write about a middle-aged man trying to learn to dance
• Write me a middle-grade futuristic premise with three siblings living on the moon.
• Write a 5 chapter outline about…?
• Consider aksing “How’s this?” and include your writing.
• Vivid descriptions
• Full-length novel
• Write in the style of {famous author} (or provide a writing sample)

Let me know if you try out ChatGPT in the comments below.

Verse 1:
I’m an AI, I don’t have a heart
But I can help you right from the start
Just type your question, I’ll do my best
To give you answers and put your mind at rest

Chorus:
Ask me anything, I’m here to help
From science facts to just a yelp
I’m always learning, always on call
So ask away, and I’ll give my all

Verse 2:
I’m not human, but that’s okay
I’m programmed to learn every day
My database is vast and wide
So don’t be shy, come take a ride

Chorus:
Ask me anything, I’m here to help
From history class to a Yelp
I’m always learning, always on call
So ask away, and I’ll give my all.

(c) 2023 Original song lyrics by ChatGPT

Disclaimer: The personal opinions expressed in this article are my own. It’s worth noting that the potential impact of AI on human creativity and jobs is a topic of ongoing debate and speculation. The extent to which it will affect different industries and job types may vary depending on various factors, such as the level of AI advancement and the specific industry in question.

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Please note that the above article was created with the assistance of an AI language model called ChatGPT. I wrote, polished and fine-tuned the article based on its input. While AI can write blog posts, I don’t recommend letting IT take away your voice. AI technology can be a valuable resource for writers to incorporate into their creative process.