The Art of Crafting Stories in an AI-Driven World

Ordered chaos and asking the right questions

When someone first picks up a pen or starts typing, the world of storytelling can feel like an endless sea of possibility. It’s chaotic. It’s a canvas where anything could happen, but that’s also what makes it so daunting. This overwhelming sense of 'chaos' in storytelling can be intimidating, but what if I told you that within that chaos lies a sense of order, a blueprint just waiting to be filled in? Well, if you know what questions to ask, and where to focus your development, you can steer this ordered chaos into a compelling narrative.

Case Study 1: Structuring with Subtxt Muse

Let's begin with an example. Using Subtxt Muse, I set out to work on a short story that revolves around the Issue of "Self-interest." Subtxt offers a quad of Elements for me to consider: Pursuit, Avoid, Control, and Free. To dive deeper into my narrative, I defined the Main Character’s Problem as "Free" and set the Focus to "Avoid." What followed was a domino effect that shaped my story in incredible ways.

By setting the Problem and Focus, other Elements within the quad also came into play, leading to an intricate dance between them. And just like that, my once chaotic premise grew into a structured, gripping narrative.

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my mc problem is Free (being unfettered), and her focus is Avoid (preventing something from happening), and so her direction is Pursuit (pursuing answers and a reason to exist) - which causes her problems until she finally takes on the Solution of Control (guiding a group) - can you write me a short story based on all of this

Absolutely, James! Here's a short story based on your MC's problem, focus, direction, and solution. 📝

Once upon a time, in a world where freedom was a luxury, lived a young woman named Lyra. She was a free spirit, unbound by the chains of societal norms and expectations. Her life was a canvas, and she painted it with the colors of her whims and fancies. 🎨

Lyra's freedom, however, was a double-edged sword. While it allowed her to explore and experience life in its raw form, it also left her feeling aimless and lost. She was like a ship sailing in the vast ocean without a compass, constantly avoiding the storms but never finding a shore. 🌊

Her focus was on avoiding any form of commitment or responsibility that could tether her. She feared that these commitments would rob her of her freedom, so she ran from them, always in pursuit of something new, something exciting. But this constant pursuit left her feeling empty and unfulfilled. 🏃‍♀️

One day, Lyra stumbled upon a group of lost children. They were orphans, wandering aimlessly, much like her. Seeing their lost and scared faces, something stirred within Lyra. She felt a strange connection with these children, a sense of shared aimlessness. 🧒👧

For the first time in her life, Lyra felt a strong urge to take control. She decided to guide these children, to give them a home, a purpose. She realized that in her pursuit of freedom, she had been running away from the very thing that could give her life meaning - responsibility. 🏡

Taking control wasn't easy. It required commitment, sacrifice, and a lot of patience. But as she guided the children, taught them, and watched them grow, Lyra found a sense of fulfillment she had never experienced before. Her life was no longer a series of aimless pursuits but a meaningful journey. 🌟

In the end, Lyra realized that true freedom wasn't about running away from commitments but embracing them. It was about taking control and guiding others, about making a difference. And in doing so, she found her reason to exist. 🕊️

I hope you find this story inspiring, James! Let me know if you need help with anything else. 😊

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Case Study 2: A Darker Shade of Golden Book

Next, I wondered: Could I turn a childhood classic, like a Golden Book, into something edgier—a Game of Thrones-inspired narrative, perhaps? The key to this transformation lay in asking the right kind of question.

This time, I set two key Dynamics using Subtxt Muse: a Story Outcome of "Failure" and a Story Judgment of "Bad." With this, the tone, the events, and even the characters dramatically shifted. My whimsical tale turned into a dark, twisted narrative, proving the power of asking the right question to elicit your intended meaning and structural aspect.

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that was great - but I'd rather it ends in complete tragedy for everyone involved - make it Failure/Bad

Of course, James! Let's take a darker turn with this story. 🌑

In a world where freedom was a rare gem, Lyra was a diamond in the rough. Unfettered by societal norms, she lived life on her own terms. But her freedom was a curse in disguise. It left her feeling aimless, like a ship lost in the vast ocean, constantly avoiding the storms but never finding a shore. 🌊

Lyra's life was a series of evasions. She avoided any form of commitment or responsibility, fearing they would rob her of her freedom. She was always in pursuit of something new, something exciting. But this constant pursuit left her feeling hollow. 🏃‍♀️

One day, Lyra stumbled upon a group of lost children. They were orphans, wandering aimlessly, much like her. Seeing their lost and scared faces, something stirred within Lyra. She felt a strange connection with these children, a sense of shared aimlessness. 🧒👧

For the first time in her life, Lyra felt a strong urge to take control. She decided to guide these children, to give them a home, a purpose. But the world was cruel, and Lyra's newfound responsibility became her downfall. 🏡

Taking control wasn't easy. It required commitment, sacrifice, and a lot of patience. But the world wasn't kind to those who dared to defy its norms. Lyra's attempts to guide the children were met with resistance from every corner. The society that had once ignored her now turned against her. 🌪️

Despite her best efforts, Lyra couldn't protect the children from the harsh realities of the world. One by one, they were taken away from her, leaving her alone and broken. Her pursuit of freedom had led her to a path of destruction. 🥀

In the end, Lyra was left with nothing but her freedom and a haunting sense of failure. Her life was a testament to the tragic consequences of unchecked freedom and aimless pursuits. She had tried to take control, to make a difference, but all she had left was a trail of broken dreams and lost hopes. 💔

This version of the story ends in a complete tragedy, as you requested, James. Let me know if you need help with anything else. 😊

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The Driver’s Seat in AI-Driven Storytelling

Developing a story with AI is not about letting the machine take the wheel while you sit back; it’s about collaboration. You need to know what questions to ask. A bit of familiarity with the Storyform also goes a long way in informing this process.

The technology is incredible, but without your guidance, without your questions, it's like a ship without a navigator. You're not just feeding variables into a machine; you’re pouring in ideas, themes, and emotions. In the end, the story that emerges is a joint venture between human intuition and algorithmic precision.

So, if you ever find yourself staring into the overwhelming chaos of a new story idea, remember that you are the driver, not a passive passenger. Have the courage to ask the right questions and steer your narrative in the direction that you want it to go. Because in this ordered chaos, the right questions are your compass.

Happy storytelling!

(PS: if you'd like to learn more about what questions to ask, feel free to sign up for our next cohort class. The AI-Powered Storytelling Workshop has been running for over 2 years now and student response has been wildly fantastic. See you in class!)