Hello out there,

Welcome to the world of ChatGPT, a tool that’s revolutionizing storytelling. In this guide, we’ll dive into my journey of creating a captivating short story with the latest iteration, ChatGPT 4, and see how you can do the same!

With each new version, ChatGPT becomes better at helping us craft more unique and compelling stories. The leap from ChatGPT 3.5 to 4 is a game changer, offering a wider range of creative possibilities. The AI now has a more nuanced understanding of context, which means it can weave more intricate plots and flesh out characters with richer personalities.

ChatGPT 4 is a paid service, but fret not if your budget is tight. The free version, ChatGPT 3.5, still provides a fantastic platform to let your stories come to life. Both versions have their unique strengths and limitations. For instance, with the paid ChatGPT 4, you’ll encounter a limit of 25 interactions every 3 hours. This could be a boon, forcing you to pause, reflect, and refine your narrative.

Both ChatGPT 4 and 3.5 have strong limitations on how much you can paste into it and how many words it will output. You can currently send it around 2500 or so words in one pasted message. ChatGPT 4 and 3.5 will only output around 550 words at a time which is pretty important but we’ll talk about the importance of these later on.

Understanding these limitations early on is crucial to making the most out of your storytelling journey. Now, let’s dive into how you can harness the power of ChatGPT to create your unique narratives!

Your ChatGPT Storytelling Toolkit: What You’ll Need

Now that you’re excited to embark on your storytelling journey with ChatGPT, let’s talk about the tools you’ll need to have at your disposal.

First and foremost, you will need access to ChatGPT. If you haven’t already, sign up for it (It’s free!).

Having a word processor is crucial. You’ll be drafting, editing, and finalizing your story in it. If you’re comfortable with cloud-based services, Google Docs or Microsoft Word are fantastic choices. They offer a range of features that can aid your writing process, such as real-time editing, collaboration, and a variety of formatting options.

However, if you prefer something not cloud-based or are looking for other free alternatives, here are a few options:

• LibreOffice Writer: This is a robust word processor that supports all popular file formats and even allows documents to be exported to PDF without additional software. It also offers document template galleries and support for plugins, making it a great Microsoft Word alternative​​.
  
• WPS Office Free Writer: This word processor offers an interface nearly identical to Microsoft Word, excellent file format support, and free cloud storage. While it does contain some ads, its features and user-friendly interface make it a worthwhile consideration​.
  
• FocusWriter: If you’re looking for a distraction-free environment for your first drafts, FocusWriter might be the tool for you. It blocks out distractions and has timers and alarms that can help you manage your writing time. However, it might not be the best choice for editing​​.

To keep your storytelling organized, create separate documents for different elements of your story:

• Plot Document: This is where you’ll outline the main events and developments in your story. This document is your roadmap and will guide you as your story progresses.
  
• Character Document: Keep a list of all your characters here. This document should contain the names of your characters, their roles in the story, their relationships with other characters, and any other information you think is important to their development or your plot.
  
• Outline Document: This document should contain a detailed breakdown of your story, scene by scene. It’s your blueprint for your story.
  
• Manuscript Document: This is where the actual writing happens. This is your story in its most comprehensive form.

Having these documents at your disposal will make the process of creating your story with ChatGPT much easier and more organized. Now, let’s dive into how you can use ChatGPT to flesh out your story ideas and bring your characters to life!

Your Unique Idea and ChatGPT

Every story starts with an idea. For me, it was a series of tales about a blacksmith, inspired by the Japanese series, Midnight Diner. But a story can originate from anywhere. Maybe it’s a mysterious relic discovered in an attic, a secretive neighbor with an unknown past, or a journey into a world where dreams are tangible.

Unsure about your story’s details? That’s where ChatGPT shines! Feed it your initial concept and let it generate intriguing plot possibilities. For example, if your idea is about a relic in the attic, you could ask ChatGPT questions like:

• What is the history of the relic?
• How does the protagonist find it?
• What happens when the relic is discovered?

Or if you’re brainstorming a story about a secretive neighbor, consider asking:

• Why is the neighbor so secretive?
• How does the protagonist discover the neighbor’s secret?
• What conflicts arise from this secret?

These questions are only examples but by asking similar questions it can help you build a rich and detailed story. Remember that nothing is set in stone here. You can modify and ask questions till your heart is content.

Now, it’s your turn to brainstorm your unique story idea and see how ChatGPT can assist in fleshing it out!

Pro Tip: If you’re paying to use ChatGPT 4 feel free to make a separate chat with ChatGPT 3.5 to flesh out your stories so you can save those precious interactions with ChatGPT 4.

Expanding on your idea with a Plot

Next, let’s talk about creating a plot. Even if you’re familiar with the writing process, it’s beneficial to ensure the plot of your AI-generated story is well-structured and cohesive.

A quick note here. You can let ChatGPT take care of the plot for you. However, I suggest that you read the plot a couple of times and decide for yourself if it’s interesting enough to go forward.

Creating a plot is a crucial step in storytelling. You might find inspiration from acclaimed author Brandon Sanderson, who often bases his plots on how the story will end. This approach ensures that all elements of the story are working towards a meaningful conclusion. But it’s not the only way to build a plot.

You could envision the main storyline from beginning to end, then fill in the details. Or, you could develop the story organically, letting the plot evolve as it goes along. Another approach is to start with a specific moment—perhaps a climactic event—and have the AI write around it. There are also different plot outlines that are not just structured as beginning, middle, and end. These can also be successful. Whatever method inspires creativity and makes you feel passionate is the one you should pursue. The important thing is to have a goal and work towards it​​.

When plotting, consider the themes, tempos, and genres of your story. Themes are the underlying messages or major ideas of your story, which can influence plot development. Tempo refers to the pacing of your story—whether it moves quickly, slowly, or a mix of both at different times. The genre of your story also impacts plot, as different genres have different conventions and expectations.

Once you have the plot structure down, you can guide the AI to focus on the cohesiveness of the writing. For example, you can instruct it to avoid run-on sentences, overused words, and excessive adverbs. You can also prompt it to create linking relationships between characters and ensure that your story is relatable, even if it involves extraordinary elements. Adding emphasis through the use of descriptive words and a strong ending can also enrich your narrative​.

ChatGPT will also suggest an epilogue which is fine and can wrap up your stories or lead them into another story if you want to make a series.

Editors note: Remember to add your Plot to the corresponding document after you have it completed.

Stylistic Narrative Essentials

Let’s also discuss narration style. The way the story is told—whether in first person or third person—can greatly affect how your story is perceived. In first-person narration, the story is told from the perspective of one character, typically the protagonist. This style allows for a deep dive into the character’s thoughts and feelings.

On the other hand, third-person narration offers a broader perspective. A third-person limited point of view sticks closely to one character, while a third-person omniscient point of view allows the narrator to know and reveal the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters. This can allow for a richer exploration of relationships and events in the story. However, it’s important not to overwhelm the reader with too many perspectives.

Choosing the right point of view depends on the needs of your story and what you feel most comfortable instructing the AI to use. Whether you choose first person or third person, your goal should be to create a compelling, immersive experience for your reader.

Editors note: It may be beneficial to add a this list to the top of your plot page so it’s easy to come back to.

Building Your Characters

Character creation forms a key part of any narrative, and ChatGPT is here to lend a hand with that. Let’s exemplify this with two brief character profiles from my short story: The Broken Necklace.

Snik is a middle-aged goblin blacksmith, recognized by his weathered blue face and deep-set eyes. He’s meticulous, passionate about his craft, and garners respect from the community despite his novice status. Snik’s past is shrouded in mystery, leading to intriguing rumors about his history.

Rix, on the other hand, is a young and agile goblin adventurer. His vibrant eyes hint at his energetic and curious nature. He’s believed to have stumbled into the MMORPG world by accident and, while new to the game, he compensates for his lack of experience with an unquenchable thirst for adventure.

Interestingly, Snik and Rix share a bond. Rix is a repeat customer of Snik’s with a mysterious past of his own. The short story uses a necklace and the narrative surrounding it as a medium to tell the tale of Rix to the reader.

These snapshots of character profiles serve as a guide for what you might envision for your own characters. Remember, ChatGPT can create characters for your story, and you should provide suggestions to help flesh out their personalities, appearances, backgrounds, and relationships.

And always keep in mind: these are your characters in your story. Feel free to modify any aspect of the characters ChatGPT suggests or even create your own from scratch. The power to shape the narrative is in your hands!

Editors note: Just like the Plot add the characters you create to your characters document!

Crafting Your Story Outline with ChatGPT

A well-structured story keeps readers hooked, and a commonly used method is the three-act structure: Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. However, there are numerous other structures you could explore, such as the Hero’s Journey, the Five-Act Structure, or the Circular Narrative. If you’re curious about these, ChatGPT can explain them in detail.

Once you’ve selected your preferred structure, it’s time to get ChatGPT involved. This AI can take your plot and break it down into acts. If you feel your acts are too vague or lacking substance, ChatGPT can further dissect them, providing a more detailed framework for your story.

As the Narrative Designer, you have the freedom to tweak this outline. You can add, remove, or modify elements to make your narrative more coherent and captivating. This outline will serve as a guide for ChatGPT, helping it understand the flow of your story.

An important point to note is that ChatGPT can only output approximately 550 words at a time. This limitation necessitates careful planning of your story sections. If a section lacks sufficient detail, ChatGPT might leap ahead to the next section or attempt to wrap up the story prematurely.

Finding the right balance requires experimentation. You’ll need to gauge how much content is adequate for each section to keep ChatGPT on track without stifling its creativity. It may seem challenging initially, but with practice, you’ll discover the sweet spot that produces a compelling narrative.

Remember, this is a learning journey both for you and ChatGPT. The more you interact, the better the results.

Editors note: Add the Outline to your Outline document so you don’t have to hunt through the large amounts of text you and ChatGPT will eventually create together.

A New Role: From Creator to Editor

Writing is only half the story; the real magic happens during editing. As a narrative designer working with ChatGPT, you’re not just a creator—you’re also an editor. Your role is to guide ChatGPT, refining the raw material it provides into a polished story. You are the proofreader, the one who finds parts of the story that don’t mesh well together and smooths out the rough edges.

Editing in Action with ChatGPT

Here’s an example of how editing with ChatGPT might look. Imagine you have a draft composed of three paragraphs. You read through it and find that the middle paragraph doesn’t quite fit—it veers off course, introducing elements that distract from the main narrative.

In such a case, you can direct ChatGPT to delete that middle paragraph and replace it with something more fitting. Paste the two remaining paragraphs into the chat, then instruct ChatGPT to write a new middle paragraph that bridges the two. Remember to remind ChatGPT not to rewrite the whole set of paragraphs again, but to focus only on the gap you’ve identified.

The Art of Story Progression

As you edit, keep an eye on the progression of the story. Each 550-word section should flow naturally into the next, creating a coherent and engaging narrative when put together. If the transition between sections is jarring or unclear, you can use the “between paragraph” method to smooth it out. This involves going back and editing the ending of one section or the beginning of the next to ensure they connect seamlessly.

The Importance of a Captivating First Paragraph

The first paragraph of your story is particularly important. It’s the hook that draws readers in, the promise of an intriguing journey that compels them to keep reading. When writing your first paragraph, aim to set the tone, introduce the narrative, and pique the readers’ interest.

Writing a captivating first sentence can be challenging, but it’s well worth the effort. It should invite the reader to begin the story, raising compelling questions in readers’ minds or creating a sense of intrigue that makes them want to read on​. Short opening sentences can be very effective because they’re easy to read and they help to immediately engage the reader’s curiosity​​.

Avoid using cliches or stating the obvious in your first sentence, as these can deter readers. Instead, try to introduce something surprising or intriguing that will make readers want to know more​​. One strategy for writing engaging opening sentences is to start with a question. This can immediately draw readers in by making them feel directly addressed and involved in the narrative​​.

Remember, there is no one magic opening line that works for every story or every reader. Instead, focus on understanding your reader and crafting a sentence that will draw them in, engaging their curiosity and keeping them reading until the last word​.

The Journey So Far And The Road Ahead

Congratulations! You’ve embarked on an incredible journey, delving into the world where human creativity intertwines with AI’s capabilities. You didn’t just read a guide; you’ve taken the first steps toward a new horizon of storytelling.

Crafting a story with ChatGPT is not just a process; it’s a unique adventure. Each of us navigates this path differently, and the beauty lies in our distinctive experiences. You’ve got a powerful tool in your hands, a tool that can transform your ideas into captivating tales.

But remember, this is just the beginning. The real magic unfolds as you experiment, learn, and grow. It’s like taming a wild stallion; it takes patience and understanding. And the reward? A loyal companion that adds wings to your creative prowess.

This journey requires practice, lots of it. Don’t worry about getting it perfect the first time. Even the best authors had to start somewhere. Each time you engage with ChatGPT, your ability to craft narratives will evolve. So, keep experimenting, keep refining, and soon you’ll be weaving some truly amazing stories!

Remember, you’re not alone. I’m here to support you! Have questions? Stuck somewhere? Or just want to share your first ChatGPT-crafted tale? Feel free to leave a comment. Your questions fuel our learning, and your stories inspire us all.

I hope you enjoyed this guide it took me a lot of hours to learn these lessons and I hope they can help you with your ChatGPT Narrative Design journey.

Have a wonderful week.
Katherine