It’s been a couple
months since the last time I played around with ChatGPT – the AI program that
generates writing in response to user-provided prompts – so I decided to give
it another go. In addition to writing, I teach composition and creative writing
classes at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I’m already starting to
get student essays that have been entirely written by ChatGPT. They’re easy to
spot. There’s an empty sameness to the way they’re organized as well as their rhythm
and language choice. Plus, there’s a distinct lack of specific details. I copy
the text of essays I suspect were written using ChatGPT, go to https://www.zerogpt.com/, paste the text
into a window there, and the site swiftly analyzes the essay and determines if
it was AI written. I’m not concerned with catching and punishing plagiarists. I
want students to gain knowledge, experience, and skills, so I make them write
and submit a new, original essay for the assignment (and tell them that if they
use an AI text-generator again, then they’ll get a zero for the assignment).
AI text-generating
programs like ChatGPT are here to stay, and they’re only going to get more
sophisticated as time passes. I believe writers – both students and
professionals – need to find ways to use these programs that will enhance their
process as opposed to completely composing text for them. To this end, I asked
ChatGPT to help me with a few writing tasks. A couple caveats before you read
further: I know the results ChatGPT gave me could be taken from other writers’
work. For example, when I asked ChatGPT to provide titles for a horror story
about a shark, one of the titles was “The Teeth of the Sea.” It could be a coincidence,
but that’s the title of a novel I wrote for Severed Press a few years ago (although
that book was about aquatic dinosaurs munching hapless humans instead of
sharks). And when I posted some of my own text for ChatGPT to provide feedback
on, I knew my text would become part of ChatGPT’s vast storehouse of data that
it draws on. There are still a lot of uncertainties about how AI text
generators provide and use information, so if you’re uncomfortable with any
aspect of using them, tread carefully.
You can check out
ChatGPT here: https://chat.openai.com/chat
First off, I
wondered if ChatGPT could help generate ideas for stories, so I gave it a
simple prompt.
Prompt: List 10
different ideas for a horror story about a man afraid to open a door.
1.
The
man moves into a new house and finds a door that is locked and cannot be
opened. Strange noises come from behind the door at night, and he becomes increasingly
afraid of what might be on the other side.
2.
The
man is trapped in a room with a door that won't budge, and he's not sure if
he's being held captive or if it's all in his mind. As time passes, his sanity
starts to unravel.
3.
The
man is a detective investigating a case, and the only lead is a door that the
victim was last seen entering. As he approaches the door, he feels a sinister
presence and becomes too scared to open it.
4.
The
man is a security guard in a building, and he keeps hearing strange noises
coming from behind a door. When he finally musters up the courage to
investigate, he discovers something that's beyond his wildest nightmares.
5.
The
man is on a spaceship, and one of the airlocks is damaged. He's afraid to open
the door, fearing that something might come in from outer space and kill
everyone on board.
6.
The
man is a prisoner in a dark cell, and there's a door that leads to an unknown
part of the prison. He hears screams and whispers coming from the other side
and wonders what kind of horrors lie beyond.
7.
The
man is in a hotel room, and there's a door that's been boarded up. He starts to
see shadows moving behind the boards and hears whispering voices that drive him
to the brink of madness.
8.
The
man is a scientist working on a top-secret project, and he's been warned never
to open the door to the containment room. However, his curiosity gets the best
of him, and he opens the door, unleashing something that he can't control.
9.
The
man is a survivor of a post-apocalyptic world, and he's barricaded himself
inside a building. One day, he hears a knock at the door, but he's too afraid
to open it, fearing that it might be one of the monsters that now roam the
world.
10. The man is a
caretaker for an old mansion, and there's a door that's been locked for decades.
He starts to hear whispers and laughter coming from behind the door, and he's
too afraid to investigate what might be causing the sounds.
I then wondered if
I could get better ideas if I made my prompt more specific.
Prompt: List 10
highly original and creative ideas for a horror story about a man afraid to
open a door.
1.
The
man discovers that every time he opens the door, he is transported to an
alternate reality where he is the only living person, and must find a way to
escape before he is trapped there forever.
2.
The
door is haunted by the ghosts of people he wronged in his past, and they
torment him every time he tries to open it.
3.
The
door leads to a room that is filled with his deepest fears and nightmares, and
he must face them in order to conquer his fear and move on with his life.
4.
Every
time he opens the door, he sees a different version of himself from a parallel
universe, and the versions become more and more evil and twisted as he
continues to open the door.*
5.
The
man discovers that the door is a portal to an ancient evil, and he is the only
one who can stop it from unleashing its horrors on the world.
6.
Every
time he opens the door, he hears the voice of a little girl begging for help,
but he can never find her, and eventually he realizes that the voice is coming
from the door itself.*
7.
The
door leads to a parallel universe where his loved ones are alive and well, but
he soon realizes that they are not the same people he remembers, and they have
a dark secret they are keeping from him.*
8.
The
man discovers that the door is actually a gateway to hell, and every time he
opens it, he unleashes a new horror upon the world.
9.
The
door leads to a never-ending maze that changes every time he enters it, and he
must find a way to navigate through it and escape before he is trapped inside
forever.
10. The man discovers
that the door is a manifestation of his own guilt and fears, and he must
confront them head-on in order to overcome his fear and move on with his life.
I then rephrased
the prompt so it asked for ideas in the style of horror I often write.
Prompt: List 10
nightmarish and surreal ideas for a horror story about a man afraid to open a
door.
1.
The
man hears strange noises coming from behind the door, but every time he tries
to open it, the handle turns into a writhing mass of tentacles that grab at his
hand and try to pull him inside.
2.
The
door leads to a never-ending staircase that spirals down into a pitch-black
abyss, and the man is afraid that if he steps inside, he'll never be able to
climb back up.*
3.
Whenever
the man opens the door, he sees a different version of himself on the other
side, each one more twisted and grotesque than the last.
4.
The
door leads to a room filled with mirrors that reflect a version of the man that
is slowly becoming more and more distorted and monstrous.
5.
The
man can hear the sounds of a child crying and begging for help behind the door,
but when he opens it, there's nothing there except a cold, empty void.
6.
Every
time the man opens the door, he's transported to a different nightmarish
dimension where he's hunted by grotesque creatures that want to tear him apart.
7.
The
door leads to a room filled with countless versions of the man's dead loved
ones, all of them staring at him with empty eyes and silently begging for him
to join them.
8.
The
man is trapped in a never-ending loop where he keeps opening the door, only to
find himself back in the same place he started from, with no escape.
9.
The
door leads to a labyrinth of endless corridors that twist and turn in
impossible ways, and the man is constantly pursued by a shapeless, malevolent
presence that wants to destroy him.
10. Every time the man
opens the door, he's forced to confront a traumatic event from his past,
reliving it over and over again until he's consumed by guilt and despair.*
Response: Not all of the
ideas ChatGPT provided in response to my promts are gold, of course, but they
might serve as inspiration for someone, and with some tweaks, they might make
for a successful story. I put asterisks after the ideas I like the best, or at
least which provided some concept or image I think I might be able to do something
with. I didn’t like any of the ideas in the first list, and I only liked a few
in lists 2 and 3. Still, it didn’t take long to generate the ideas, and I did
get some I could work with. I was surprised at how often an emotional element
appeared in the ideas. I guess I didn’t expect a computer program to be able to
do that, but since it draws on other people’s work for its ideas, I suppose it’s
no surprise. I do wonder if any of these ideas were taken whole cloth from already
published stories, and if I really wanted to use any of them, I think I’d
change some elements to avoid any possible plagiarism.
I then wondered if
ChatGPT could help an author solve story problems/provide suggestions for
actions characters could take.
Prompt: List 10
different ways a person could escape a blazing inferno inside an office building.
1.
Use
the stairs: The first and most common way to escape a blazing inferno inside an
office building is to use the stairs instead of the elevators. This is because
elevators can malfunction during a fire and trap people inside.
2.
Stay
low: When there is a lot of smoke inside the building, staying low can help
reduce smoke inhalation and increase the chances of escaping the building.
3.
Identify
emergency exits: Every office building is required to have emergency exits
clearly marked. Knowing where they are located can help you escape quickly in
the event of a fire.
4.
Call
for help: As soon as you realize there is a fire in the building, call for help
immediately. This can alert emergency services and help them get to you faster.
5.
Use
fire extinguishers: If the fire is small and you have access to a fire
extinguisher, try to use it to put out the fire or at least keep it under
control until help arrives.
6.
Use
wet cloth or a mask: If you need to move through smoke-filled areas, covering
your mouth and nose with a wet cloth or mask can help reduce smoke inhalation.
7.
Avoid
using fans or opening windows: This can worsen the fire and increase smoke and
fire spread.
8.
Communicate
with others: In a chaotic situation, it is important to communicate with others
and work together to escape the building safely.
9.
Check
doors before opening: Before opening a door, feel it with the back of your
hand. If it feels hot, do not open it as there may be fire on the other side.
10. Stay calm:
Finally, it is important to remain calm during a fire emergency. Panic can make
it difficult to think clearly and make rational decisions.
Response: I could’ve found all
of this information with a Google search, but ChatGPT provided it quickly and
in a single list. I have no way of knowing if the information is accurate,
though, so I’d probably have to do a Google search to double-check it. I do
like that the list provides a number of different things to try. I could use
most of these ideas in a scene with characters who are trapped inside a burning
office building and struggling to escape.
Next, I asked ChatGPT
for ideas for battling a monster in a story.
Prompt: A
character is attacked by a mutated ape-wolf hybrid. List 10 different ways to
defeat the monster.
1.
Use
fire: Ape-wolf hybrids are susceptible to fire. If the character has access to
a flamethrower, a Molotov cocktail, or a lighter and some gasoline, they could
use these to set the monster on fire and defeat it.
2.
Use
a weapon: If the character has access to a weapon, such as a gun or a bow and
arrow, they could use this to shoot the monster from a distance.
3.
Use
explosives: If the character has access to explosives, they could use these to
blow up the monster.
4.
Use
a trap: If the character can lure the monster into a trap, they could
incapacitate it, allowing for a more humane and less dangerous way to defeat
it.
5.
Use
a poison: If the character has access to a poison that affects the monster,
they could use it to weaken it and make it easier to defeat.
6.
Use
a melee weapon: If the character is skilled in close combat, they could use a
melee weapon, such as a sword or a spear, to defeat the monster.
7.
Use
a distraction: If the character can distract the monster with something, they
could create an opening to attack it or escape from it.
8.
Use
a vehicle: If the character has access to a vehicle, they could use it to run
over the monster or trap it.
9.
Use
magic: If the character has access to magic or supernatural abilities, they
could use them to defeat the monster.
10. Use teamwork: If
the character is not strong enough to defeat the monster alone, they could team
up with others to take it down together.
Response: I could’ve come
up with all of these ideas on my own, but ChatGPT provided them all within seconds,
allowing me to make a choice and starting writing faster than I might’ve on my
own. Plus, there’s no guarantee I would think of all these ideas, so the program
might have given me more options to consider.
I wondered if
ChatGPT could help a writer who’s stuck on how to end a story.
Prompt: Create 10
different endings to a story about a killer shark.
1.
The
shark is finally caught by a group of fishermen, but not before it kills one
more victim. The town holds a big celebration to commemorate the end of the
terror, but everyone is left haunted by the memories of the shark's rampage.
2.
The
protagonist finally manages to kill the shark in a dramatic confrontation, but
at a great personal cost. They're left with both physical and emotional scars,
but they're proud to have saved their community from further harm.
3.
The
shark's reign of terror ends when it finally chokes on a piece of metal from a
sunken ship. No one mourns the passing of the vicious predator, but they all
breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the danger is over.
4.
In
a twist ending, it's revealed that the shark was actually a figment of the
protagonist's imagination. They've been struggling with mental health issues
and have been projecting their fears onto the people around them.
5.
The
protagonist tries to take down the shark on their own, but they're ultimately
unsuccessful. They barely escape with their life, and the shark continues to
terrorize the community until a team of experts is brought in to take care of
it.
6.
The
shark is captured and brought to a marine park, where it becomes a beloved
attraction. The protagonist struggles with conflicting feelings of satisfaction
that the shark is no longer a threat and guilt over its captivity.
7.
The
shark is never caught or killed, but it eventually disappears from the area.
Some speculate that it was killed by a bigger predator, while others believe
that it simply moved on to another hunting ground.
8.
The
protagonist and the shark come face-to-face in a final showdown, but instead of
fighting, they have a moment of understanding. The protagonist realizes that
the shark was just acting on instinct, and the shark recognizes the protagonist
as a worthy adversary. The shark swims away, and the protagonist is left with a
newfound respect for the power of nature.*
9.
The
shark is finally caught and killed, but the town realizes that it was just a
symptom of a larger problem. The pollution and overfishing in the area have
disrupted the balance of the ecosystem, leading to more and more dangerous
creatures emerging. The town comes together to address the underlying issues
and restore the natural balance.
10. The shark is
defeated, but the protagonist realizes that they've become addicted to the
adrenaline rush of the chase. They can't go back to their normal life after
experiencing the thrill of the hunt, and they become obsessed with finding new
and dangerous creatures to pursue.
Response: Number 8 is my
favorite. It’s ridiculous and fun.
Students in classes
I teach and writers in workshops I present often ask for advice on coming up
with titles. I decided to see what ChatGPT could do to help. I gave it several different
versions of the same prompt to see if there were any differences in the titles
it generated.
Prompt: List 10
different titles for a horror story about a killer shark.
“Jaws of Death”
“The Great White
Terror”
“Blood in the
Water”
“Shark Attack”
“Ocean's Nightmare”
“The Deep Blue
Killer”
“Teeth of the Sea”
(Here’s the title I used for one of my books that I mentioned earlier.)
“Fear Beneath the
Waves”
“The Shark's
Domain”
“Chumming for
Victims”*
Response: The last one is
my favorite here. Another gloriously ridiculous suggestion!
Prompt: List 10
highly unique and original titles for a horror story about a killer shark.
"Blood Tide:
The Terror of the Deep"
"Jaws of
Death: The Curse of the Great White"
"Sharkbait: A
Tale of Survival and Revenge"
"The Abyssal
Hunter: A Killer from the Depths"
"Deadly
Currents: The Haunting of Amity Island"
"Blackwater
Bay: A Shark's Realm of Fear"
"Feeding
Frenzy: A Descent into Madness"
"Razor's
Edge: The Hunt for the Maneater"
"Shark
Island: A Nightmare Unleashed"
"Dark Waters:
A Tale of Human Prey and Predator"
Response: Why these all
came with subtitles, I have no idea. Some of the subtitles could stand as
titles on their own, I think. None of them really jumped out at me as great
titles, but most of they are serviceable.
Prompt: List 10
hilarious titles for a funny story about a killer shark.
"The Great
White Chomp"*
"Jaws: The
Comedic Cut"
"Sharknado's
Cousin"
"The Shark
Who Loved to Laugh"
"Gone Fishing
(For Shark)"
"Sharkzilla
vs. the Comedians"
"Shark Attack
of the Killer Punchlines"
"Jaw-Dropping
Laughter"*
"The
Hilarious Hunt for the Shark Who Ate All the Jokes"
"Sharknado's
Funniest Friend: The Killer Shark"
Response: “The Great White
Chomp” is my favorite, with “Jaw-Dropping Laughter” being my second. Based on
this last prompt, it seems like ChatGPT has a way to go when it comes to
understanding what’s funny and what isn’t.
Next, I decided to
see if ChatGPT could help improve someone’s writing. The first sample I used is
a small bit of text from a PowerPoint presentation of mine, and the second is
from a flash fiction piece that was published in 1998.
Prompt: Following
is a sample of my writing. How can I improve it? SAMPLE: Bob had his hand on
the knob, was just about to turn it, open the door, and walk outside to check
the mail, when he felt the metal vibrate beneath his flesh. Not much, just a
little. But it made him think that someone on the other side had put their hand
on the outside knob, making it jiggle the tiniest bit. And was the metal
starting to feel colder, as if a silent arctic wind caressed the knob outside?
It was a ridiculous thought, but he removed his hand from the knob all the same
and, without realizing it, took two steps backward.
Here are some
suggestions to improve your writing sample:
Show, don't tell:
Instead of telling the reader that Bob was scared, show us his physical
reactions to the situation.
Use sensory
details: Use more sensory details to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.
Avoid unnecessary
words: Use simpler words and shorter sentences to make your writing more
concise and easier to read.
Here's a revised
version of your writing sample incorporating these suggestions:
Bob's hand
trembled on the doorknob. He hesitated for a moment, listening to the sound of
his own breathing. Suddenly, he felt a faint vibration through the metal, and
his heart skipped a beat. Was someone on the other side of the door? He leaned
his ear against the wood, straining to hear any sound. The metal knob felt cold
under his palm, like a piece of ice. Bob took two steps back, his heart racing
with fear.
In this version,
I've used sensory details to create a more vivid image of the scene. I've also
shown Bob's physical reaction to the situation, instead of telling the reader
that he was scared. Finally, I've simplified the language and made the
sentences shorter to make the writing more concise and readable.
Prompt: Here is
the text of my short story "Daddy." Please analyze it and give me
suggestions for how to improve it.
DADDY
A few days after
entering the hospital, Jill and the baby, whom they’d named Seth after Jill’s
father, came home.
Jill looked
deflated, a hollowed-out shell. The baby – Keith couldn’t bring himself to
think of it as Seth yet, could only think of it as it – looked like a tiny
collection of pink-purple wrinkles.
Jill’s mother had
volunteered to stay over for a couple weeks to help with the baby, and Keith
stayed out of their way while they talked about such arcane matters as
breast-feeding versus bottle-feeding and cloth diapers versus disposable.
He tried to tell
himself that it was over, that the baby was here and Jill had survived the
night months of hosting this . . . thing, and that was all that mattered. But
the first time he saw Jill breast-feeding it, he knew that it wasn’t over, that
it would never be over. The thing would feed off her – and him – its entire
life. If it wasn’t stopped.
That night, after
both Jill and her mother were asleep, Keith stole into the nursery. He kept the
light off, but he could see well enough by the Donald Duck nightlight in the
wall outlet near the crib. The baby was sleeping, full of milk and contented,
in its tiny blue PJ’s, beneath its tiny flannel blanket.
Keith looked down
at the thing he had fathered. The thing that was determined to devour both him
and Jill until there was nothing left.
It’ll be easy, the
voice said. All you have to do is put your hand over its mouth and nose and
hold it there for a few minutes. They’ll put it down to sudden infant death
syndrome. And you and Jill will be free again.
Keith wondered how
many of the babies who died of SIDS each year weren’t really babies at all, but
monsters like Seth. And how many had died at the hands of their fathers.
He reached his
hand toward its face, but before he could touch it, the thing woke up and
started to squall. He had to get it quieted down before Jill and her mother
woke.
He picked up the
baby and rested its head on his shoulder.
“Shut up,” he
whispered, rocking it.
The thing’s
mewling subsided as it snuggled against him. He felt a tingling in his chest
and arm, and he knew the thing was using its powers on him, draining him,
stealing his life. He was about to throw it across the room when he was
suddenly filled with love for the tiny mass of flesh he held. For his son. For
Seth.
He sat down in the
chair in the corner and continued to rock his boy. He knew Seth had used his
powers to make Keith love him, could even now feel Seth taking from him,
drawing life into his tiny body. Keith would grow old and gray while Seth grew
tall and strong. And one day Keith would die and Seth would live on.
As Keith felt the
weariness of new fatherhood overtake him, he found that he didn’t really mind so
much anymore. In fact, he realized with a dull, muted horror that was already
fading, it felt pretty damn good.
And in his daddy’s
arms, little Seth gurgled happily.
The short story
"Daddy" effectively creates a sense of tension and unease through its
depiction of Keith's conflicted feelings towards his newborn son. However,
there are a few areas where the story could be improved:
Develop the
characters: The story could benefit from further developing the characters of
Jill and Keith. We don't get a sense of their personalities, their
relationship, or their history. This would add depth to the story and make the
reader more invested in the characters' fates.
Clarify the
supernatural elements: The story hints at supernatural powers possessed by the baby,
but this aspect is not fully explored or explained. Providing more clarity on
this element would enhance the story's impact and give it more resonance.
Show, don't tell:
The story relies heavily on Keith's inner monologue to convey his feelings
towards the baby. While this can be effective, it would be even more powerful
to show his emotions through his actions and interactions with the other
characters.
Consider the
implications: The story ends on a somewhat ambiguous note, with Keith coming to
accept his son's powers and the drain they place on him. However, the story
does not explore the wider implications of this revelation. Does Keith continue
to resent the baby? Does he become complicit in its draining of his life force?
These are interesting questions that could be further explored.
In summary, the
story could be improved by developing the characters, clarifying the
supernatural elements, showing rather than telling, and exploring the wider
implications of the story's events.
Response: I’m not sure that the feedback on the
doorknob scene helped much, but it was interesting to see that the program
suggested expanding the story. It didn’t know the piece was supposed to short
because it’s flash fiction. And I was surprised that the program recognized the
ambiguity of the ending (not that I would change it because that’s the way I wanted
it). Still, for writers who don’t have any beta readers, ChatGPT could prove an
effective feedback tool. But as I mentioned earlier, I have no idea how the
text I entered might be used later by ChatGPT, so I might be hesitant to share
it with the program.
I then wondered if
ChatGPT could help someone outline a story. I gave the program 10 very random
story events to see what it could do with them.
Prompt: Please
arrange these 10 story events into a coherent outline I can use to write the
story. 1. A young boy dies by drowning in a pond. 2. A possessed car runs over
the boy's dog. 3. The boy's sister realizes she is an android sent from the
future to kill her brother. 4. A hurricane hits the area. 5. A major movie star
wants to make a film out of these events. 6. All the owls in the world
disappear at the same time. 7. It's discovered that the hurricane is in fact
God. 8. Everyone on Earth realizes smoking is bad and quits smoking. 8. A
sentient sudoku game saves the day. 9. A steam locomotive transforms into a
robot and fights the bad buys. 10. It's discovered the boy's adult self came
from the future to kill his younger self.
Sure, here's an
outline based on the ten story events you provided:
I. Introduction
A. Setting the
scene: a small town in the present day
B. Introducing the
main characters: the boy, his sister, and their dog
II. Tragic Events
Unfold
A. The boy dies by
drowning in a pond
B. A possessed car
runs over the boy's dog
C. The community
is left reeling from the tragedies
III. The Unusual
Occurrences Begin
A. The boy's
sister discovers she is an android from the future
B. All the owls in
the world disappear simultaneously
C. A hurricane
hits the area
IV. The
Supernatural Reveals Itself
A. It's discovered
that the hurricane is, in fact, God
B. The community
is forced to grapple with the implications of this revelation
C. A major movie
star expresses interest in making a film about these events
V. The Quest for
Answers Continues
A. Everyone on
Earth realizes smoking is bad and quits smoking
B. A sentient
sudoku game somehow saves the day
C. A steam
locomotive transforms into a robot and fights the bad guys
VI. The Shocking
Twist
A. The boy's adult
self is revealed to have traveled back in time to kill his younger self
B. The sister and
the community must decide how to respond to this revelation
VII. Conclusion
A. The community
begins to heal and rebuild
B. The sister
contemplates her existence as an android
C. The movie
star's film is released, and the events become a part of popular culture.
Response: I was surprised
by how well ChatGPT did with the bizarre elements I gave it. If I’d given it
elements that were actually related, it might well have provided me with an
outline I could use to draft a story, or at least one that would give me a
structure to work with, one that I could rearrange as I saw fit.
Whenever I do a
class or workshop on publishing, we eventually talk about branding statements.
I wondered if ChatGPT could help generate some for me. I have a terrible time
coming up with this kind of thing for myself. I decide to give the program some
review quotes of my work to draw upon. You could ask some friends or readers to
provide descriptions of your work for you and give those to the program to work
with.
Prompt: Create 5
separate branding statements for me as a horror writer, each no longer than 5
words, based on these reviewers' comments on my work. (I then posted several
review quotes taken from a long list of ones I’ve saved over the years.)
Surreal horror
mastermind.
Hardcore, erotic,
surreal horror.
Refreshingly
different horror fiction.
Compelling and
haunting horror.
Unsettling horror
that shocks.
Surreal horror,
hyper-real terror.
Dark, disturbing,
genre-bending terror.*
New evil, classic
horror vibe.
Emotionally
charged horror storytelling.
Unnerving finesse,
surreal dread.
Same prompt, but
based on my entire list of review quotes, and I asked for 20 branding
statements this time.
Surreal horror at
its finest*
Blurring reality
and nightmare*
Horror that
unsettles you
Compelling
characters, dangerous horrors*
Unholy
collaboration of art and perversion* (This one’s hysterical!)
Deeply themed with
a sly smile
A ride into the
darkness
Visually stunning
horror
A new force in
horror
The leading
surrealist horror writer
Fast-paced, highly
entertaining horror*
Grisly
splatterpunk with a twist
Deeply unsettling
horror
Bizarre, weird,
intriguing horror
Rich with
imagination, haunting imagery
Horror that shocks
to the core
Hyper-real horror
with surreal twists
Horror that keeps
you on the edge of your seat
Horror that you
can't put down
Original, deeply
unsettling horror*
A master of
descriptive language
Horror that
explores the human psyche
Horror that sticks
with you
Surreal horror
that lingers
Weird fiction
meets extreme horror* (This one is probably my favorite overall, and one I
might actually use.)
Horror that defies
genre expectations
Horror that
terrifies and thrills
Gory horror with
original storylines
Surreal horror
that is highly entertaining
Horror that blends
humor and scares.
Response: Some of the branding
statement suggestions are awkward and clunky, but some could work well, and
many of them might work with some tinkering. I put asterisks next to my
favorites.
Next, I asked
ChatGPT to help with something that I find nearly impossible to do – come up
with comp titles for my fiction (especially my weird-ass surreal horror
novels).
Prompt: Create a
list of twenty comp titles based on this synopsis of my novel WE WILL RISE:
In Echo Hill,
Ohio, the dead begin to reappear, manifesting in various forms, from classic
ghosts and poltergeists, to physical undead and bizarre apparitions for which
there is no name. These malign spirits attack the living, tormenting and
ultimately killing them in order to add more recruits to their spectral ranks.
A group of
survivors come together after the initial attack, all plagued by different
ghostly apparitions of their own. Can they make it out of Echo Hill alive? And
if so, will they still be sane? Or will they die and join the ranks of the
vengeful dead?
"The Haunting
of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson
"The
Shining" by Stephen King
"Pet
Sematary" by Stephen King
"The
Returned" by Jason Mott
"The Sixth
Sense" (film)
"The
Ring" (film)
"The
Conjuring" (film)
"The Ghost
Bride" by Yangsze Choo
"The
Passage" by Justin Cronin
"The
Strain" by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
"The Walking
Dead" (comic series and TV show)
"World War
Z" by Max Brooks
"The Girl
with All the Gifts" by M.R. Carey
"The Last of
Us" (video game)
"The
Exorcist" by William Peter Blatty
"Rosemary's
Baby" by Ira Levin
"The Silence
of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris
"American
Horror Story" (TV show)
"Stranger
Things" (TV show)
"Dark"
(TV show)
Response: This is the
motherfucking jackpot for me! Not all of these works relate well enough to We
Will Rise, but enough of them do. If I did this again, I’d ask ChatGPT to
only list works that have appeared in the last five years and see what sort of
results I’d get. Out of all the things I tried with ChatGPT this time, I will
definitely use the program to help with come up with comp titles in the future.
I then decided to
see if ChatGPT could help generate some teaching materials.
Prompt: Create a
feedback sheet a reader could use to critique a horror story.
Sure, here is a
feedback sheet a reader could use to critique a horror story:
Title of the
Story:
Author:
Date:
Please rate the
following aspects of the story on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being poor and 5
being excellent:
1.
Plot:
2.
Characters:
3.
Setting:
4.
Dialogue:
5.
Pacing:
6.
Suspense:
7.
Fear
factor:
8.
Ending:
Please provide
additional comments on the following:
1.
What
did you like most about the story?
2.
What
did you like least about the story?
3.
Was
the story believable? Why or why not?
4.
Did
the story scare you? If so, which parts were the scariest?
5.
Were
there any elements of the story that were confusing or unclear?
6.
Did
the story keep your attention throughout? If not, which parts lost your
interest?
7.
Were
there any parts of the story that you found particularly cliché or unoriginal?
8.
Did
the story have a satisfying conclusion? If not, how could it have been
improved?
Thank you for
taking the time to provide feedback. Your input is valuable in helping the
author improve their work.
Response: This is a bit generic
but effective enough. I could have students use ChatGPT to create their own feedback
sheets that they give to readers to critique their work. I then asked the program
to create a more advanced feedback tool.
Prompt: Create an
advanced feedback sheet a reader could use to critique a horror story:
Sure, here's an
advanced feedback sheet that a reader could use to critique a horror story:
- Plot:
Did the story have
a clear and engaging plot?
Were there any
confusing or slow parts in the story?
Did the story flow
well from beginning to end?
Was the climax of
the story satisfying?
- Characters:
Were the
characters well-developed and believable?
Did the
characters' actions and motivations make sense?
Were there any
characters that you found particularly interesting or memorable?
Were there any
characters that you found to be cliché or unoriginal?
- Setting:
Was the setting
described in enough detail to create a vivid image in your mind?
Did the setting
contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the story?
Was there anything
about the setting that you found confusing or inconsistent?
- Horror elements:
Were the horror
elements effective in creating a sense of fear or unease?
Did the story rely
too heavily on jump scares or gore, or was there a good balance of different
types of horror?
Were there any
original or creative elements in the story that stood out to you?
Did the story use
any horror tropes or clichés in a fresh or interesting way?
Writing style:
Was the writing
style engaging and easy to read?
Did the author use
language effectively to create a mood or atmosphere?
Were there any
parts of the story that felt overwritten or repetitive?
Did the author use
any literary devices (metaphors, symbolism, etc.) effectively?
- Overall impression:
Did you enjoy
reading the story?
Would you
recommend this story to others?
Was there anything
that you found particularly noteworthy or memorable about the story?
Is there anything
you would suggest the author do differently in future stories?
Feel free to use
this feedback sheet to critique any horror story you read, and don't be afraid
to provide specific examples to support your feedback.
Response: This one’s better
than the first. I found it interesting that the program created items that
could be used to give feedback on any type of story and then provided a section
specifically focused on examining horror elements.
Could ChatGPT help
someone create a workshop presentation?
Prompt: Create an
outline with a workshop presentation on how to write effectively with an
immersive character point of view.
I. Introduction
A. Definition of
immersive character point of view
B. Importance of
using immersive character point of view in writing
C. Objectives of
the workshop
II. Understanding
Immersive Character Point of View
A. Definition and
Types
1. First-Person
Point of View
2. Third-Person
Point of View
B. Advantages of
Immersive Character Point of View
1. Builds Empathy
2. Provides a
Deeper Understanding of Characters
3. Enhances Reader
Engagement
III. Techniques
for Writing Effectively with an Immersive Character Point of View
A. Building
Believable Characters
1. Understanding
Character Traits
2. Using Dialogue
to Develop Character
B. Creating a
Sense of Place
1. Using Sensory
Detail
2. Describing
Setting through the Character’s Eyes
C. Balancing
Narrative Distance 1. Using Close and Distant Points of View
2. Avoiding
Head-Hopping
IV. Tips for
Practicing Immersive Character Point of View
A. Writing
Exercises
1. First-Person
Point of View Exercise
2. Third-Person
Point of View Exercise
B. Reading
Examples
1. Analyzing
Examples of Effective Character Point of View
2. Identifying
Techniques Used in Literature
V. Conclusion
A. Recap of Key
Points
B. Final Thoughts
on Using Immersive Character Point of View
C. Call-to-Action
for Workshop Attendees to Practice Immersive Character Point of View
Response: Since I’ve taught
for almost 40 years, I’d want to tweak the outline for my own purposes, but
this function could be a boon to writers who’ve had little teaching experience
and would like help creating a workshop presentation. I imagine I could provide
a list of elements for ChatGPT to include in a workshop outline so it’s more closely
tailored to my specific needs.
What about writing
exercises?
Prompt: Create 5
horror-writing exercises that could be used in a creative writing class or workshop.
Start with a
mundane or ordinary scenario, such as waiting for a bus or grocery shopping.
Then, introduce an eerie or unsettling element, such as a strange figure
following the protagonist or a bloody handprint on a grocery item. Encourage
students to build tension and suspense as they reveal the horror lurking within
an everyday experience.
Challenge students
to create a story where the true terror is never explicitly shown or named.
Instead, students must rely on atmosphere, tension, and implication to evoke
fear in the reader. Encourage students to experiment with descriptions of
sensory experiences, such as smells, sounds, and tactile sensations, to create
an unsettling mood.
Have students
create a horror story from the perspective of a seemingly benign object or creature,
such as a doll or a spider. The challenge is to make the reader empathize with
the object or creature while also making them feel terrified of it. This
exercise can be especially useful for practicing the use of point of view to
create tension and suspense.
Encourage students
to play with the idea of the uncanny by creating a horror story where the
protagonist becomes increasingly uncertain of their own reality. For example,
they may start to question if they are dreaming, if they are being gaslit, or
if they are losing their mind. This exercise can be a great opportunity for
students to experiment with unreliable narrators and create a sense of
psychological horror.
Ask students to
write a horror story that is heavily influenced by a specific cultural or
historical context, such as a ghost story from a particular region or a horror
story set during a specific time period. This exercise can encourage students
to research and draw inspiration from different cultures and time periods while
also practicing the art of world-building and creating an immersive setting.
Response: While I could
come up with my own exercises, what I like about some of these is that there’s
a good chance I wouldn’t have thought of them on my own. This function could
help writers with little teaching experience create exercises for classes and
workshops, or at least give them ideas to create their own exercises.
In Conclusion
We can debate whether
programs like ChatGPT – even when used like I have for this blog entry – verge
on plagiarism, or at the very least stifle creativity and growth. But I think
if we can learn how to use AI text generators as aids to creativity instead of
replacements for it, they can be valuable tools.
At least I won’t
have to stress about coming up with goddamned comp titles now!
DEPARTMENT OF SHAMELESS
SELF-PROMOTION
A Hunter Called Night Available for Preorder
Synopsis:
A sinister being called Night and her panther-like
Harriers stalk their quarry, a man known only as Arron. Arron seeks refuge
within an office building, a place Night cannot go, for it’s part of the
civilized world, and she’s a creature of the Wild. To flush Arron out, she
creates Blight, a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and
its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But unknown to Night, while she
waits for the Blight to do its work, a group of survivors from a previous
attempt to capture Arron are coming for her. The hunter is now the hunted.
Order Links
Flame Tree: https://www.flametreepublishing.com/a-hunter-called-night-isbn-9781787586345.html
Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Called-Night-Tim-Waggoner/dp/1787586316/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1668832377&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble Paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-hunter-called-night-tim-waggoner/1142487192?ean=9781787586314
NOOK: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-hunter-called-night-tim-waggoner/1142487192?ean=9781787586352
New Audiobook Released: Love, Death,
and Madness
The Winter Box
Winner of the 2017 Bram Stoker Award for Superior
Achievement in Long Fiction
It’s Todd and Heather’s 21st anniversary. A blizzard
rages outside their home, but it’s far colder inside. Their marriage is falling
apart, the love they once shared gone, in its place only bitter resentment. As
the night wears on, strange things start to happen in their house—bad things.
If they can work together, they might find a way to survive until morning...but
only if they don’t open the Winter Box.
A Kiss of Thrones
Finalist of the 2018 Bram Stoker Award for Superior
Achievement in Long Fiction
Lonny lost his beloved sister Delia thirty years ago.
Since then, he’s sacrificed many lives in order to return her to the world of
the living, but without success.
His next target is Julia, a young women with a
unfulfilled marriage and a passion for ’80s horror films. She will soon
discover that not only is real life more complicated than the movies, it’s far
more terrifying.
The Men Upstairs
Finalist of the 2012 Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novella
He finds her crying in the lobby of a movie theater
and takes her home to his apartment, a strange, beautiful woman with no last
name, a mysterious past, and a powerful sexual allure. He wants her, and she
wants him. There's only one problem: the Men Upstairs. She used to belong to
them—and they'll do anything to get her back.
Narrated by Gary Noon, who’s done a fabulous job bringing
to life a number of my previous audiobooks!
Order Link:
Scheduled Appearances
Authorcon 2. Williamsburg, Virgina: March 31-April 2
Stokercon. Pittsburgh: June 15-18
Where to Find Me Online
Want to follow me on social media? Here’s where you
can find me:
Website: www.timwaggoner.com
Twitter: @timwaggoner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tim.waggoner.9
Instagram: tim.waggoner.scribe
Blog: http://writinginthedarktw.blogspot.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZEz6_ALPrV3tdC0V3peKNw
