So when CHATGPT first came out, I hopped on for about thirty seconds, decided it wasn’t for me, and went back to writing. Then the REDDIT groups I belong to exploded with chatter about how CHATGPT was a game changer, how it would completely change the writing landscape. Some freelance writers I follow wrote about how it was a necessary evil in our work; we should just embrace it and learn from it. So, I hopped back on for a little bit longer. But I found that much like social media, CHATGPT was a crutch and a colossal time suck. I could easily waste a whole writing day entering prompts to see what CHATGPT spits out.
Then my brother, who is not a writer, told me about his plan to write books using CHATGPT and how it would be excellent because he would be the first to have AI-written books, and I realized that this was ludicrous. After all, who would want/need to have AI-written content when they could have books written by emotional humans.
Now I know that it is the fear of many people that AI will slowly take over the world until we are living in the Terminator or some other Computers take over the world and humans die scenario, but those are fiction for a reason.
I digress, though; I came here today to give a quick update on the outlining process for my book What We Leave Behind and ask what everyone thinks about using AI in the outlining approach? Can CHATGPT help make outlining not such a daunting task?
So I entered a prompt into CHATGPT: Write a fiction book outline about an Anthropologist, Charlotte Mason who helps on a dig site in Southwest Missouri where they find the body of a female Civil War soldier. Charlotte just found out her husband of five years has been cheating on her with his receptionist and their company MASON and MASON is in the middle of a scandal that might destroy the company when her old flame Michael Renner invites her to come to his dig site. Romance happens with Charlotte discovers that not all men are the same and Michael rescues her from the torment of her former relationship.
CHATGPT’s response: Genre: Historical Romance
Outline:
- Introduction
- Introduce Charlotte Mason, a talented anthropologist known for her work in the field.
- Establish her seemingly perfect life with her husband, Robert Mason, and their successful company, MASON and MASON.
- Reveal that Charlotte has just discovered her husband’s infidelity and the scandal surrounding their company.
- The Call of the Past
- Charlotte’s world crumbles as she confronts Robert about the affair and contemplates her future.
- Receive an unexpected invitation from her old flame, Michael Renner, an archaeologist working on a Civil War dig site in Southwest Missouri.
- Return to the Field
- Charlotte decides to take Michael up on his offer, seeking a change of scenery and the distraction of her work.
- Arrives at the dig site, where she’s greeted by Michael and his team of dedicated archaeologists.
- Michael’s charisma and dedication rekindle old feelings in Charlotte.
- Unearthing the Past
- The team at the dig site uncovers the body of a female Civil War soldier, sparking Charlotte’s interest.
- She joins the team in examining the remains, using her expertise to shed light on the soldier’s identity and story.
- As they work together, Charlotte and Michael share stories of their past and rediscover their connection.
- Romantic Sparks
- Charlotte and Michael’s romance blossoms as they spend more time together.
- They explore the picturesque surroundings of Southwest Missouri, getting to know each other again.
- The chemistry between them grows stronger, and they admit their feelings for one another.
- Facing Demons
- Charlotte reflects on her failed marriage and learns to trust and love again with Michael’s support.
- She confronts her husband, Robert, and takes steps to move on from the scandal surrounding their company.
- The Scandal Unveiled
- The news of Charlotte’s involvement with Michael reaches the media, adding more fuel to the MASON and MASON scandal.
- Robert, desperate to win Charlotte back, attempts to sabotage her newfound happiness.
- Rescuing Love
- In a climactic scene, Robert’s actions endanger Charlotte’s safety, and Michael rushes to her rescue.
- Michael’s heroism solidifies their love, and Charlotte chooses to let go of her past with Robert.
- Redemption and a New Beginning
- The MASON and MASON scandal eventually subsides as the truth behind the company’s issues comes to light.
- Charlotte and Michael build a life together, working in their respective fields and supporting one another.
- They find happiness in the simple moments of life and appreciate the love they’ve found.
- Epilogue
- Charlotte and Michael continue their archaeological work, exploring history and creating a future together.
- Their story serves as a reminder that love can bloom even in the most unexpected places and that sometimes, the past must be unearthed to make way for a brighter future.
Overall, it is not too bad. It’s slightly different from what I had in mind for the story, but I like how CHATGPT breaks it down into bullet points. I think it can help in a pinch if you have writer’s block, but I like using prompts to ignite your imagination and get you back on the writing journey.
So what do you think? Is using AI for idea generation and outlining cheating or an excellent way to curb writer’s block?
