30 Module Eight: Using AI for Plot and Character Development in Creative Writing
Week 8 Overview
- Using AI to create and refine characters
- Techniques for using AI to structure narratives
- Week Eight Discussion: Response to readings
- Week Eight Assignment: Collaborative plot or character development using AI due Sunday
8.01 Readings: Sheila Heti and Cixin Liu
This week, you have longer reading assignments than most weeks. I have assigned two short stories. The first, “According to Alice” by Sheila Heti, was published in November 2023 in the New Yorker (this may be behind a paywall for some users). The author disclosed that she used ChatGPT to assist in producing the story’s content.
The second, “The Poetry Cloud” by Liu Cixin, translated by Chi-yin Ip and Cheuk Wong, was originally published in 1997. In this short story, the author imagines a world where every possible poem is generated. Princeton University offers an entire course based on this short story. You may know Liu from his epic three-novel sci-fi saga, The Three Body Problem (recently made into a Netflix series, and one of my personal favorite sci-fi trilogies).
The two short stories are attached. They’re a little longer and more dense than our usual readings. You’ll use your responses to these stories for your first discussion this week.
8.02 AI in Creative Fiction – Characters, Plots, and Metaphors
- AI as Character: In “According to Alice,” Heti creates a narrative voiced by an AI entity. How does the AI narrator’s perspective shape the story? What aspects of the AI’s “personality” or consciousness did you find most compelling or unsettling? Consider how the AI’s understanding (or misunderstanding) of human concepts creates both humor and deeper meaning in the text. I would also like to know what you think of the author’s decision to use ChatGPT to “create” her narrator. Does the story work for you?
- AI as Plot Driver: While “The Poetry Cloud” doesn’t explicitly mention AI in modern terms, it presents a powerful metaphor for large language models through its quantum computer that attempts to generate every possible poem. How does this technological ambition drive the plot? What commentary might Liu be making about technology, art, and resource consumption that connects to our current discussions of AI?
- Personal Connections: What other examples of AI in fiction (novels, short stories, films, TV shows, games) have you encountered? Choose one example and briefly explain how it portrays AI differently from or similarly to these readings. How has fictional portrayal of AI evolved over time? (you could reference Isaac Asimov’s “Three Laws,” for example).
- Creative Applications: Based on these readings, share one specific way you might incorporate AI either as a character or plot element in your own creative writing. What challenges or opportunities would this present?
8.03 Writing a Novel with AI Video
In this video, Liza Long shares her process of writing a novel using a custom GPT trained on her voice.
8.04: Week 8 Assignment: Collaborative Creative Writing with AI
Instructions
For this assignment, you will engage in a collaborative creative writing session with an AI language model (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot). You will choose ONE of the following creative tasks:
Option 1: Plot Development
Work with an LLM to develop a plot outline for a short story or novel. Your interaction should involve brainstorming, refining ideas, exploring narrative arcs, and creating a cohesive plot structure.
Option 2: Character Development
Work with an LLM to create detailed character profiles. Your interaction should explore character backgrounds, motivations, flaws, relationships, and development arcs.
Requirements:
- Interactive Collaboration: Your session should demonstrate a genuine back-and-forth collaboration between you and the AI. Ask follow-up questions, request modifications, challenge suggestions, and build upon the AI’s ideas.
- Session Documentation: Copy and paste your entire conversation with the AI, including all of your prompts and the AI’s responses. This should show the evolution of your creative process.
- Reflection (250-350 words): Write a brief reflection addressing:
- Which AI tool you used and why you chose it
- What you found most helpful about the collaboration
- What challenges you encountered
- How the AI influenced your creative direction
- How this exercise connects to our readings on AI in creative writing
- How you might apply this collaborative approach to future creative projects
Submission Guidelines:
- Compile your chat transcript and reflection into a single document (no specific format required)
- Save as a Word (.docx) or PDF file
- Submit through Blackboard by Sunday at 11:59 PM
Evaluation Criteria:
- Quality and depth of collaboration with the AI
- Creativity and originality in the developed content
- Thoughtfulness of reflection
- Connection to course concepts
- Completion of all requirements
Remember to acknowledge the AI tool in your final document following the acknowledgement format we have discussed throughout the class. If you encounter any issues with your chosen AI tool, please reach out to me before the deadline.
