Artificial Intelligence Study Submission of Comments

The US Copyright Office has opened a Request for Comments period around the use of AI in copyrighted materials.

https://www.copyright.gov/policy/artificial-intelligence/comment-submission/

I have submitted the following comment in support of allowing AI tool usage in copyrighted materials, with some stipulations. I believe the author should keep all inputs (prompts) and generated prose to serve as evidence in case a query to the originality of the idea is questioned. I believe the more a human guides the generated prose, the more the idea is original and in line with the concept of copyrighted material. I do not believe others can produce a similar generated prose without similar inputs/prompts, and that is where the originality of the idea comes into play.

Please consider and comment. The more of a dialogue we have, the better the solution.

Submission:

AI writing tools used in story production output can be copyrighted if the writer can prove that a human guided the tools to create the story. Each person’s input into the AI tool to produce prose for the story provides a unique combination of variables that changes the story output. Writers should be prepared to provide the inputs used to create the story and the original tool output. This evidence will show what the AI tools provided and how the published output differs.

The uniqueness of the input should ensure the uniqueness of the generated prose, similar to using development and line editors to modify your drafted story for a publisher. Others have input to your story that is deemed copyrightable by the author only, in current standards.

In the AI writing tool Sudowrite, the creator provides inputs down to the beats of a chapter. The more the creator provides (to a point), the closer the generated prose will be to what the creator desires. Requiring fewer rewrites of the resulting prose. The links below are to my blog, where I described how I used Sudowrite in creating the first chapters of a story. Please forgive me, but I could not figure out how to export the blog posts into a clean copy for attachment upload.
https://jegrimm.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/using-an-ai-writing-tool/
https://jegrimm.wordpress.com/2023/07/31/using-ai-writing-tools-part-2/
https://jegrimm.wordpress.com/2023/08/16/using-ai-writing-tools-part-3/

I list my inputs and some resulting generated outputs to create the prose for the chapters mentioned in the posts. I still have to edit the output to get it to where I want the story to go, but there are some decent passages created by the AI tool.

How does this benefit a creator such as myself? It allows the creator to follow “What if” scenarios in the story that might have taken much longer to write out. If the creator wants to consider different ways to have two characters meet, they can guide the AI tool to produce draft prose for different scenarios and then select the one they are happy with or share with others for their input. If a human were to do this alone, especially if they planned on seeking advice, they would have to write up each scenario’s prose or summary.

In the end, I believe allowing the use of AI tools in copyrighted material can improve the quality of stories by allowing the creator to develop alternative storylines and choose the most appropriate to their envisioned storyline.

Thank you.

Using AI Writing Tools Part 3

Welcome to the next installment of my learning experience in using Story Engine in Sudowrite (AI writing tool) on one of my current works, “The Last Artist,” Chapter 5.

This post discusses some of the items I have learned in forming BEATS (highlights for AI to use to generate the chapter) for the PROSE of a chapter. And regrettably, it will be another long post since I will provide some examples.

In Story Engine, the AI uses numerous inputs to help generate the prose. You can create one of three ways, manually, from other AI tools (looking at YouTube videos), or have Story Engine generate from previous fields input. We will discuss using Story Engine generation and manual creation. The fields we will discuss in this post are CHARACTERS, OUTLINE, and BEATS. Also, as a disclaimer, I am showing the PROSE output as the AI generated it. I plan on revising the output to my tastes, so it will probably not be the same for the finished product.

For the CHARACTERS field, I will be brief. From what I have heard on YouTube videos and read in the HELP file, Story Engine will use this field for generating the PROSE. You are only limited to 700 words, and a lot of people are suggesting a lot of character data/traits should be included in this field to give the AI more information to work with in its output. This limits how many characters you can describe. What I decided to do, going forward is to remove all characters not mentioned in the current chapter. I also will modify the existing characters to how I want them to feel specifically in this chapter and add new characters that are only mentioned in this chapter.

This does require me to keep an external file of characters so I can cut and paste as needed. I guess I could copy from previous chapters, but that might have its own problems keeping characters updated.

For the OUTLINE, I also took this approach of keeping data only for the chapter I am currently working on. I still keep the chapter headers and a “see notes” text for the other chapters to make sure there is no issue with read logic. The OUTLINE field has a 2000-word allotment, and this will allow for a larger description of the events that happened in that chapter. So it will look like this:

Act 1 – The Call to Adventure:

Chapter 1: Our Life – see notes

Chapter 2: A Chance to Escape – see notes.

Chapter 3: Time to Leave – see notes.

Act 2 – The Journey:

Chapter 4: Finding a Respite – see notes.

Chapter 5: The Enemy Searches –
Jelto and Jemu are working with Enri in the blacksmith shop. Jelto is teaching Jemu how to make skillets for the village while Enri looks on. Tobar enters the shop from one of his trips down to the valley for news. He tells them of how the fighting is going and that the Count’s men are razing the villages in the valley. When finished at the end of the day, Jelto, Jemu, and Enri start to leave the………………………

Initially, the AI-generated OUTLINE entries were pretty vague and unsatisfactory. I still like to generate them to see what the AI is thinking from the previous inputs, but I am not happy with them. To refresh from the first post, the AI generated the following for Chapter 5:

Gathering Allies – Tobar regularly leaves the village to gather information on what is happening in the valley below. Meanwhile, Jelto’s family befriends Kali and Sukar, two young siblings who have lost their parents in a village attack.

In the original outline generated, there were 24 chapters, with the AI going completely off on its own around chapter 18. I have gone through a few manual revisions of the chapters since then, using the following write-ups.

Here is the first OUTLINE revision that I created.

Chapter 5: The Enemy Searches – (Original manual write-up)
Jelto and Jemu are working with Enri in the blacksmith shop. Jelto is teaching Jemu how to make skillets for the village while Enri looks on. Tobar enters the shop from one of his trips down to the valley for news. He tells them of how the fighting is going and that the Count’s men are razing the villages in the valley. When going back at the end of the day, they see more refugees coming into the village and heading to the headman’s home. They go to hear the discussion. The refugees tell their stories as the crowd grows. A recent refugee, Kali, comes up to stand near Jemu and Jelto. Kali’s family came into the village two days prior, and she and Jemu have started talking. The villagers want to stop accepting refugees because they can not feed them and are afraid of the Count’s men coming.

From this revision of the chapter, the AI generated these resulting BEATS:

1. Jelto and Jemu work on making skillets in the blacksmith shop while Enri observes them from a distance.
2. Tobar enters the shop and informs Jelto, Jemu, and Enri about the ongoing fighting and destruction of villages by the Count’s men.
3. Jelto and Jemu follow the crowd of refugees to the headman’s home to hear the discussion.
4. Kali, a recent refugee, stands near Jemu and Jelto.
5. Tobar shares specific information about the enemy lord, Count Tarvo, who is known to be cruel and ruthless.
6. Refugees from other villages attacked by the Count’s men arrive in the village.
7. The villagers express concern about the Count’s men coming and their inability to feed the refugees.
8. The villagers discuss their decision to stop accepting refugees.
9. Tension and fear grow among the villagers.
10. The atmosphere becomes urgent and dangerous.
11. The characters react to the situation with heightened emotions.
12. The scene ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting to know more about what will happen next.

As you can imagine, these BEATS are not really descriptive, and some of them don’t really fit in with the story the way I want to tell it. So I became more descriptive in my OUTLINE. The below OUTLINE entry is the last one I made (made 4 revisions).

Chapter 5 revise again after seeing the beats come back from the first two versions:
Chapter 5: The Enemy Searches –
Jelto and Jemu are working with Enri in the blacksmith shop. Jelto is teaching Jemu how to make skillets for the village while Enri looks on. Tobar enters the shop from one of his trips down to the valley for news. He tells them of how the fighting is going and that the Count’s men are razing the villages in the valley. When finished at the end of the day, Jelto, Jemu, and Enri start to leave the workshop for Enri’s home. They see more refugees coming into the village and being led to the headman’s home. They follow the refugees to hear the discussion. A recent refugee, Kali, comes up to stand near Jemu and Jelto. Kali’s family came into the village two days prior, and she and Jemu started talking. Shina and Sume join the crowd at the headman’s home. Shina sees Kali talking to Jemu and points them out to Sume, Jemu’s mother. The refugees tell their stories as the crowd grows. During the discussions, the villagers want to stop accepting refugees because they can not feed them and are afraid of the Count’s men coming. Tobar speaks to the headman and crowd, agreeing with the refugees and telling them what he has seen in his travels around the valley. The headman agrees to let the refugees stay but only for a few days to gather their strength and plan a way forward. A few villagers take the refugees to their homes, and Jelto’s family and Enri go to Enri’s home. Shina teases Jemu about Kali’s interest in him. Sume warns him about getting involved because they are all refugees. Jelto is surprised, Enri and Tobar laugh and encourage Jemu to talk more with Kali. Jemu gets embarrassed by all of the attention but smiles when he thinks of Kali.

The AI generated the following BEATS.

1. Jelto and Jemu work on making skillets in the blacksmith shop while Enri observes them, showing their daily routine in the village. (Driver: Establishing the family’s current situation in the village)
2. Tobar enters the shop and informs them about the Count’s men razing the villages, creating tension and fear in the village. (Driver: Introducing the growing threat of the Count’s men)
3. Jelto, Jemu, and Enri leave the workshop, observing the village and its people. (Driver: Showing the family’s connection to the village)
4. They follow the refugees to the headman’s home, where the villagers are discussing whether to accept more refugees. (Driver: Introducing the refugees’ situation)
5. Kali approaches Jemu and Jelto, striking up a conversation with them. (Driver: Introducing Kali, a new character who may play a role in Jemu’s story)
6. Shina and Sume join the crowd, and Sume warns Jemu about getting involved with Kali because they are all refugees. (Driver: Showing the family’s reactions to Jemu’s interactions with Kali)
7. The refugees share their stories, revealing their backgrounds and journeys. (Driver: Developing the refugees’ characters)
8. Tobar speaks to the headman and the crowd, advocating for the refugees. (Driver: Developing Tobar’s character and motivations)
9. The headman agrees to let the refugees stay for a few days, showing the village’s willingness to help. (Driver: Developing the villagers’ characters and motivations)
10. Some villagers offer to take the refugees to their homes, showing the village’s hospitality. (Driver: Developing the villagers’ characters and motivations)
11. Jelto, Enri, and Tobar head to Enri’s home, showing their family bond and connection to each other. (Driver: Developing the family’s characters and relationships)
12. Jemu reflects on his emotions about Kali, hinting at potential conflicts and developments in his story. (Driver: Setting up potential conflicts and developments in Jemu’s story)

Again, that is not really what I was thinking for this chapter. It seems that the AI will not provide the BEATS the way I would like, but they are good to see how things will go. I think from now on, I will work on the OUTLINE to give a pretty descriptive summary and then let the AI generate the BEATS once to see how it looks. From that, I will modify them further. Below is the manual rewrite of the BEATS which also includes some setting and character information. The BEATS field is limited to 2000 words, the below is 1462 words.

Setting: The village consists of six log cabins and eight huts. There are some chicken pens around the village, too, and the road comes up into the center of the village with the log cabins around the center. The village is in a clearing in the forest on a slightly sloped mountainside. There are pastures with sheep and some small fields south of the village past the treeline of the forest. The road to the valley leads down through the pastures. There are a few foot trails that lead further into the forest and over or around the mountains.

Villagers: The villagers are independent and hardy folk. They speak directly and are honest. They also see the suffering going on and sympathize with the refugees but realize they might not have enough food for the winter if all the refugees eat it. They are also worried about the Count’s men coming up and razing their village.

Refugees: These poor people have come from many villages in the valley and are victims of the Count’s men. The enemy has raped and pillaged many of these people, and most of the men or old people have been killed. They look beat, scared and hungry, or hurt.

Tobar’s Rumors: During Tobar’s reconnaissance of the valley, he found out that the Count’s forces had totally defeated the Duke’s forces (the defenders). Almost no survivors of the defenders remain. The Count’s forces have destroyed most villages and even sacked the town. It looks like the Count is trying to empty the valley, probably for his own people.

Setting: Enri’s blacksmith workshop. One of the huts with a small assortment of tools and a small anvil in the middle. The forge is a carved-out stone rock that was passed down many generations. Most of the items made in the village blacksmith shop are hoes, axeheads, pots, pans, and horseshoes.

1. Jelto is teaching Jemu how to make skillets for the village while Enri looks on. Jemu wants to learn magic but can not openly say that since Enri is around. Jelto is patiently trying to instill blacksmith knowledge. Enri observes them, showing their daily routine in the village. [Dialogue between Jemu and Jelto, having Jelto try to patiently instruct Jemu on how to hammer out the iron into a bowl shape first before flattening the bottom and straightening the sides. Have Enri tease Jemu and Jelto.]

2. As Jemu is hammering a skillet with Jelto watching, Tobar enters the shop. He starts to talk about how the Count’s men razing the villages. Very few people in the valley are alive. He puts a saddlebag on a workbench and tells Enri he found a few more blacksmith items in the razed villages. Enri thanks him and checks the bag with Jelto. Tobar goes to Jemu and asks how he is doing. Jemu is frustrated with the work and states, “We would starve if we needed my skillet.” Tobar claps Jemu on the shoulder and tells him that is why practice makes perfect. Jemu frowns, which causes Tobar to laugh hard.

3. Jelto and Jemu are cleaning up the tools of the forge area as Enri and Tobar chat. A crowd walks by on the way into the village. They lead a group of refugees to the headman. Tobar tells them that there are a lot of groups of refugees wandering around the forests, trying to hide from the enemy. Enri mentions how the village can not handle too many more refugees. They are eating into the stores for winter.

4. They finish cleaning up, and Jelto suggests they go listen to the discussion. In front of the council, the refugees stand. Food is brought to them as most of the village and already-arrived refugees gather. The crowd talks amongst each other while the new refugees are given a little food and drink. One of the herders tells the headman and the crowd that they came onto the range, and he was elected to bring them back here.

5. The crowd hushes as the leader of the refugees tells the tale of their village. Their village was on the other side of the valley and quite prosperous by making wine. There are only eleven refugees [two men, four women, and five children under the age of nine], but the village used to be sixty-two. The crowd is silent to listen to the tale. Kali touches Jemu’s bicep and whispers that her village was near this group’s village. Jemu is surprised that she came up next to him. They had started talking in the last two days.

6. The refugee leader continues his story. The enemy attacked at night and slaughtered most of the village, setting fire to many of the homes. Many people were killed in the burning of the houses. [describe the fear in the refugees, including some in the crowd that were also refugees like Kali and Jemu] Kali grabs Jemu’s bicep harder and pulls in closer. Jemu looks at her face and realizes she is reliving the attack on her village with the rehashing of the refugee’s story. Sume and Shina join the crowd from the opposite side of the crowd. Shina can see Jelto and Jemu and sees that Kali is holding onto Jemu. Shina tells her mother, Sume, to look at Jemu, and Sume notices Kali holding onto Jemu.

7. The villagers start to discuss what to do with this latest refugee group [describe a number of villagers showing empathy to the refugees but stating that the village does not have food for all of these refugees and that everyone will starve if not careful.]

8. Tobar moves to the center of the crowd and speaks to everyone. He tells of his trips around the valley to gather news, and he confirms the refugee’s points. [describe Tobar’s rumors mentioned above] He tells all that he believes the Count’s forces are trying to empty the valley of people. [describe people asking why and what about the village]

9. The refugees beg to stay, at least for a short time, so they can figure out what to do. The headman agrees to let them stay for a few days. The villagers agree to show them the path through the mountains to the other side. They ask for all refugees to go together. Some villagers volunteer to take the refugees into their homes for the next few days. Other refugees start to talk and cry about having to leave too. The headman tells them he is sorry, but the village can not handle the numbers through the winter, and there is still worry about the enemy attacking the village.

10. Tobar comes back to where Jelto and Jemu are standing. Jelto and Tobar share a look. Sume and Shina come to stand near them. Kali stays with Jemu while her family comes up to them also. Enri looks embarrassed and turns to go back home. [describe all the new and old refugees looking worried and most of the villagers looking embarrassed that they will kick out the refugees]. Kali’s parents tell Kali to come with them, but she doesn’t look like she wants to leave Jemu’s side. She regretfully does. Shina and Sume share a look. The family turns to follow Enri.

11. At Enri’s hut, they settle into their nightly routine. Sume and Shina start to make the meal, Jemu gathers firewood from outside the hut while Jelto, Tobar, and Enri discuss the day’s events outside. [describe them rehashing the discussion about refugees and how they all have to leave. Enri tries to encourage them, saying they will be allowed to stay]. Jelto and Tobar ask Enri about the path through the mountains and where that leads [describe Enri telling them that he does not know too much about the lands west of the mountains because they belong to another kingdom, but the path is difficult]

12. That night, while everyone is sleeping, Jemu is awake and staring out the window at the full moon. [describe the scene of the moon through the hut’s window and trees surrounding the village]. Shina is awake and sneaks close to her brother, Jemu. He notices her and puts his arm around her. She asks if he is afraid of the enemy and what will happen to the family. Jemu tells her yes, but he believes their father, Jelto, and Uncle Tobar will protect the family. [describe as close brother and sister talk]. She is satisfied with his answer, and she teases him about Kali not leaving his side. [describe Jemu as kind of shocked that Kali likes him. He denies it. He thought she was just reliving the refugee’s tale in her mind. Shina is insistent that Kali likes him.]

From these BEATS, the following PROSE was created under MOST ACCURATE generation type:

1 – 2

The sun cast its warm glow across the village, illuminating Enri’s blacksmith workshop and casting a golden sheen on the assortment of tools that cluttered the space. Smoke billowed from the forge in the corner, where Jelto Kastar was instructing his eager young son, Jemu, on the finer points of blacksmithing.

“Remember, Jemu,” Jelto said patiently, his strong hands guiding his son’s as they held the hammer over an iron sheet. “First, we must shape it into a bowl before flattening the bottom and straightening the sides.”

Jemu nodded, sweat dripping down his brow as he focused intently on the task at hand. He longed to learn magic like his father, but with old Enri nearby, he dared not speak of such things openly.

Enri leaned against a nearby wooden post, observing the pair with an amused glint in his eyes. “You’ll need a stronger grip if you want to make skillets that will last, Jemu,” he teased, chuckling heartily.

As Jemu hammered away at the iron, the door to the workshop creaked open and Tobar Kastar strode in. His chiseled face wore a somber expression as he spoke of the Count’s men razing villages throughout the valley, leaving few alive in their wake.

“Enri,” Tobar said, placing a worn saddlebag on a workbench, “I found some more blacksmith items in the razed villages. Thought they might be of use here.”

“Thank you, Tobar,” Enri replied gratefully, rifling through the bag alongside Jelto, who inspected the items with a practiced eye.

Tobar approached Jemu, clapping him on the shoulder as he asked how the boy was doing. Frustration painted Jemu’s face as he looked down at his misshapen skillet. “We would starve if we needed my skillet,” he admitted, discouraged.

“Ah, that’s why practice makes perfect,” Tobar said, his booming laugh filling the workshop. Jemu couldn’t help but frown, feeling the weight of his inexperience.

As they continued their work amidst the ringing of hammers and the billowing smoke of the forge, the villagers carried on with their daily routines, each one acutely aware of the shadow that loomed over their peaceful lives.

3 – 4

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the village as Jelto and Jemu cleaned up the scattered tools of the forge. Enri and Tobar stood nearby, their hushed conversation punctuated by worried glances towards the road that led into the valley. A murmur of voices reached their ears as a crowd filed past the workshop, leading a ragged group of refugees towards the headman’s cabin.

“More refugees,” Tobar muttered, his eyes narrowing. “I’ve seen groups like them hiding in the forest, trying to escape the enemy.”

Enri sighed, rubbing his brow wearily. “This village can’t handle many more. Our stores are already stretched thin with the ones we have.”

Jelto straightened after stowing the last of the tongs on a wooden shelf, his expression somber. “We should go listen to what they have to say.” He glanced at Jemu, who nodded in agreement, his curiosity piqued.

The small gathering of villagers and refugees stood before the council, a mix of apprehension and determination etched on their faces. The village headman motioned for one of the herders to step forward, a young man with dirt-streaked cheeks and a haunted look in his eye.

“Tell us your story,” the headman urged gently.

The herder swallowed hard, his voice shaking as he began, “We found them on our range, starving and scared. They elected me to bring them back here, to seek refuge.”

The villagers murmured amongst themselves, casting sympathetic glances at the newcomers, who clutched small bundles of belongings close to their chests. Food and drink were brought forth, and the refugees eagerly accepted the offerings with quiet gratitude.

As the village listened to the herder’s tale, Jemu couldn’t help but feel a surge of empathy for these strangers, their lives torn apart by forces beyond their control. He glanced over at his father, Jelto, who stood with a furrowed brow and clenched fists as the story unfolded.

In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, Tobar’s steady presence reassured Jemu. The boy knew that his uncle would do everything in his power to protect their family and the village from the looming threat of the Count’s men. But as more refugees arrived day by day, Jemu couldn’t shake the gnawing fear that even Tobar’s strength might not be enough.

“Father,” Jemu whispered, tugging at Jelto’s sleeve, “what will happen to all these people?”

Jelto looked down at his son, pain etched in the lines around his eyes. “I don’t know, Jemu. But we must do what we can to help them.”

As the village headman considered the herder’s plea, Jelto and Jemu stood together, united by their shared determination and love for their home. For now, they would listen and support their fellow villagers, knowing that their own fate was intertwined with that of the desperate refugees who sought solace within their humble walls.

5 – 6

The fading sunlight cast elongated shadows across the village as a somber hush fell over the gathered crowd. The leader of the refugees, a gaunt man with haunted eyes, stood before them recounting the horrors that had befallen his once-prosperous village. His voice broke through the silence like a blade, commanding attention and stirring empathy in the hearts of the villagers.

“Before the Count’s men came, our village on the other side of the valley was renowned for its fine wines,” he began, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. “There were sixty-two of us then, but now… Only eleven remain.”

As he spoke, Jemu felt a gentle touch on his bicep. He turned to find Kali beside him, her wild hair framing a face etched with pain and determination. She whispered, “My village was near theirs. We knew each other well.”

Jemu looked at her with surprise, realizing that they had grown closer over the past few days. Their shared experiences as refugees had bonded them, even amidst the turmoil swirling around them.

The refugee leader continued his harrowing tale, recounting how the enemy had attacked under cover of darkness, setting fire to homes and slaughtering the unsuspecting villagers. As he described the inferno that had consumed so many lives, the fear in the eyes of the refugees was palpable, a chilling reminder of the fragile thread that held them all together.

Kali tightened her grip on Jemu’s arm, drawing him closer as she relived the nightmare of her own village’s destruction. Her eyes shone with unshed tears, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

From across the crowd, Shina and Sume joined the gathering, their faces etched with concern. Shina’s eyes darted toward Jelto and Jemu, and she caught sight of Kali clinging to her brother. She nudged her mother, who followed her gaze and took in the sight of their children supporting one another through the shared pain.

As the refugee leader concluded his story, he implored the village headman for sanctuary, even if only temporary. The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, torn between empathy for the refugees and the harsh reality that their own resources were stretched thin.

In the midst of this turmoil, Jemu’s thoughts turned inward, weighing the consequences of helping the refugees against the potential threat posed by the Count’s forces. He longed to learn more about his magical abilities, but with Kali at his side and the village’s precarious situation, such dreams seemed increasingly distant.

“Jemu,” Kali whispered, her voice barely audible, “what will become of us?”

He met her gaze, finding solace in the depths of her eyes. “I don’t know, Kali. But we must stand together, now more than ever.”

7 – 8

The village square buzzed with voices as the townsfolk started to discuss what to do with the latest group of refugees. Many faces showed empathy for their plight but were also lined with worry about the consequences of taking them in.

“Can we really afford to give them food and shelter?” asked an old woman, her voice trembling. “We’re already struggling to feed ourselves and prepare for the winter months.”

“True,” agreed a burly farmer, scratching his beard thoughtfully. “If we take in more people, we’ll all starve come winter.”

Jemu’s thoughts raced as he listened to their concerns, wondering if there was any way they could help without endangering their own lives.

Tobar stepped forward, moving to the center of the crowd. He held himself tall and strong, radiating an air of authority. His eyes met those of the villagers as he began to speak.

“Listen, my friends. I have traveled around the valley, gathering news of the Count’s forces. The tales you’ve heard from these refugees are true. The enemy has laid waste to many villages and even sacked the town.”

Anxious murmurs rippled through the crowd as Tobar continued. “It seems that the Count is trying to empty the valley, likely for his own people. It’s only a matter of time before our village gets discovered too.”

“Why would the Count do such a thing?” demanded a villager, his face reddening with anger. “What right does he have to destroy our lives?”

“Power,” Jemu thought bitterly, his fists clenching at his sides. “The insatiable hunger for power.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough resources to support everyone,” Tobar said, his tone heavy with regret. “But we cannot turn a blind eye to their suffering either.”

He paused, searching the faces of the villagers for understanding. “We must find a balance between helping these people and ensuring our own survival. Let’s come together to discuss possible solutions and make the best decision for all.”

The villagers nodded, their expressions solemn but determined. As they began to brainstorm ideas and weigh their options, Jemu felt a glimmer of hope flicker within him. Despite the overwhelming challenges ahead, he knew that together they would find a way to protect both their village and the refugees who had nowhere else to turn.

9 – 10

The refugees’ faces were etched with desperation as they pleaded for sanctuary, even just for a short time. “Please,” one of the men implored, his voice cracking under the strain, “We have nowhere else to go.”

The headman looked around at the villagers, who exchanged glances filled with concern and uncertainty. Finally, he sighed and nodded. “Very well. You may stay in our village for a few days. We will show you the path through the mountains to the other side. All refugees can travel together.”

“Thank you,” whispered a woman, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her child closer.

Some of the villagers stepped forward, offering to take the refugees into their homes for the next few days. As the newcomers were led away, Jemu noticed the quiet sobs and murmured conversations among the older refugees – those who had already been in the village for a while.

The headman addressed them solemnly. “I am truly sorry, but we cannot support everyone here for the entirety of winter. The enemy is still out there, and we must be mindful of our own survival.”

Across the clearing, Tobar rejoined Jelto and Jemu, sharing a grim look with his brother. Sume and Shina approached as well, worry evident on their faces. Kali remained close to Jemu, though her family called to her from afar. With a hesitant glance back at Jemu, she reluctantly left his side to join her parents.

As Enri turned to leave, his eyes filled with embarrassment, Jemu observed the worried expressions of both new and old refugees, as well as the villagers’ discomfort at having to turn people away. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for all involved, knowing that no one wanted to make these heart-wrenching decisions.

Shina and Sume exchanged a knowing glance before following Enri, with Jelto and Tobar following close behind. Jemu stayed rooted in place for a moment, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him as he watched Kali walk away. The world was changing, and it seemed that no one would be left untouched by the chaos.

“Jemu,” his father called softly,

“Come, let’s go home.” With a heavy heart, Jemu followed his family back to their temporary home, wondering what the future held for them all and if they would ever find a safe haven from the darkness that threatened to engulf them.

11 – 12

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the village, the Kastar family settled into their nightly routine at Enri’s hut. Sume and Shina began to prepare the evening meal, their movements harmonious from years of shared kitchen duties. Jemu stepped outside the hut, gathering firewood from the nearby pile as the cool mountain air nipped at his skin.

Outside the hut, Jelto, Tobar, and Enri stood in a tight circle, their voices low but urgent as they discussed the plight of the refugees. The concern in their eyes was evident as they rehashed the day’s events and the difficult decisions that had been made. Enri, trying to offer a glimmer of hope, suggested that perhaps the refugees would be allowed to stay in the village after all.

“Is there anything we can do to help them?” Jelto asked, his voice strained with worry. Tobar nodded his agreement, looking to Enri for guidance.

Enri hesitated before speaking. “I’m not sure, but we have to try.” He then addressed Jelto and Tobar’s question about the path through the mountains. “I don’t know much about the lands west of the mountains, as they belong to another kingdom, but the journey itself is treacherous. The path is narrow and winding, with steep cliffs on either side. It won’t be easy, but it may be their only chance.”

That night, Jemu lay awake in the dimly lit hut, staring out the window at the full moon as its pale light filtered through the trees surrounding the village. The moon seemed to cast an eerie glow over the forest, making the shadows dance and twist like restless spirits.

As Jemu continued to gaze at the moonlit scene, he felt a slight movement beside him. Looking down, he saw Shina stealthily creeping closer to him. She looked up at her brother, her eyes wide and filled with questions.

“Jemu,” she whispered, “are you scared of the enemy? What will happen to our family?”

Jemu instinctively put his arm around Shina, drawing her close as he thought about his response. “Yes, I’m afraid,” he admitted softly, “but I believe Papa and Uncle Tobar will protect us.”

Shina seemed satisfied with his answer and leaned into Jemu’s embrace. Their conversation shifted to lighter topics, but it wasn’t long before Shina began teasing her older brother about Kali.

“Did you notice that she didn’t want to leave your side today?” Shina asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Jemu’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly denied Shina’s insinuation. “No, I think she was just upset by the refugee’s story,” he said defensively.

But Shina remained adamant. “I’m telling you, Jemu, Kali likes you.”

As Jemu lay there, mulling over Shina’s words, the moon continued its slow journey across the sky, bathing the village in its ghostly light. And for a brief moment, despite the uncertainty looming over them all, the siblings found solace in each other’s presence, comforted by the bond they shared.

Not bad. It will need some work between beat groupings. Story Engine processes two beats at a time, and it seems to try to write an ending for each set. I will see if I can remove those without having to add a lot of extra wording after each set of beats.

As it is, I will have a lot of rework, but I think it gives a good foundation to work with. I do like how some of the wording and actions were written, so I will expand on those. I will work in Sudowrite’s main system, expanding on details or rewriting passages. Most likely I will print out the chapters and hit a coffee shop to review – a good excuse to get out of the house.

Thank you for following along. I believe Sudowrite is good as an assistant writer but not sure if I would like what it writes without a lot of direction.

Using an AI Writing tool

Hello everyone,

I am currently in the process of negotiating a severance package from Bank of America. A long story for another blog entry or over beers 🙂

While I am in this process, I have found myself with more time than I have had in the last year and a half at the bank. I am taking this opportunity to relax and catch up on writing. While I am working on my Atlantis story (mostly editing the first book now), I have started playing with Sudowrite (Sudowrite.com) to see if that can help in writing other books.

This application has a tool called Story Engine that helps create your story. This blog post will describe the process in Story Engine for another book I am working on. This will be a rather long post because I will include the inputs I have used to show the good and bad of the AI tool.

So the tool asks you to give a BRAINDUMP of the background data for the story. You have 2000 words to provide this input. Additional fields that you need to fill in prior to the AI tool going to work are the GENRE (max 40 words) and STYLE (max 40 words).

BRAINDUMP: Premise: Those with magic are forced to create magical works for the masters but in doing so, each work ages the artist. After creating a few works of art, the artist will die. This is a multi-book series about a family trying to escape those that would force them to create works of art. The world of Kotor is based on the European middle ages with ancient Imperial China and limited magic use. Magic: Artists or craftsmen have the ability to make magical masterpiece works of art, but it takes part of their soul to do so. Most artists have only between 5-10 masterpieces; after the last one, they die the next day. So most artists are reluctant to make more than 2-3 masterpieces because they also age when they do. They use the power of the song when they create a masterpiece. They will sing while working on it, whether it is a magical jewel or one of extreme beauty, or a sword of great power. Many artists are experts in their field and can create non-magical masterpieces too. These artists normally have a birthmark on their back or chest. When working on a masterpiece, the mark glows while the artist sings. History: Originally, the artists were valued, but eventually, kings and other nobles became envious of those that were gifted such masterpieces, and they started to covet more works from the artists. Soon many artists died because they were forced to give their all. Artists that remain go underground, hiding amongst the normal artisans of their trade. Only the artist families know they had the gift, and the world was diminished because of the loss of the gift. Many greedy nobles sought artists to try and find them and bend their power to the noble’s will. Characters: Jelto is the father of the family. He is kept under guard because the Duke wants more magical weapons. Jelto’s son, Jemu, is a thirteen-year-old boy growing into his manhood and really wants to learn how to work magic. His sister, Shina, is nine and is starting to think about it, but she is not as anxious as he is. The kids do not understand the danger they are in. The Duke wants Jelto to teach them, but Jelto knows what is in store for them once he trains them. Also that once his children are trained and in possession of the Duke, he will probably force Jelto to make what could be his last great work. He knows that with his family also captured by the Duke, his wife, not an artist, is expendable. Jelto’s wife, Sume, is not an artist and is worried about Jemu’s desire to be an artist. She understands the kid’s predicament. Since she is not magical like her husband and children, she knows she is the most vulnerable. Jemu really loves his mother but not so much his father. Jelto was never close to his children. The magic kept his attention more than would be normal. Luckily Sume is a good wife and puts up with his attitude and standoffishness. Jelto’s brother, Tobar, is a merchant guard swordsman. Tobar also lives near the family and is not magical. He wants to help the family escape from their captivity. Story: Duke Mulko is the lord that is Jelto’s captor. Jelto has already created one great work for the Duke. A sword that cleaves through anything called Nakanish (Soul Cleaver). This sword is also sentient and knows its creator. The Duke lets Jelto’s family live in a cottage near the castle. It has a high wall and a blacksmith shop in the compound. Guards patrol the perimeter and gate. The Duke keeps asking Jelto to make new magical items for him. Jelto delays by creating drawings that never match the Duke’s expectations or the powers imbued in the tool are not what he wants. Jelto tells the Duke that the image has to come to him to be able to make it, and it comes when it does. The Duke does not push too hard because he is preoccupied with a war with the neighboring lord. One day, word comes that the Duke is defeated in a big battle a few valleys over. An officer of the Duke barges into Jelto’s house and demands that Jelto create a weapon to defeat the enemy, or he will kill this family. The officer is all worked up because the enemy is coming to the castle to take over the Duke’s lands. The officer threatens to kill Sume if Jelto does not create a new magical weapon. Before the officer could do anything, the enemy arrives at the compound and fights the guards. Tobar seeks in over the wall and helps Jelto kill the officer and escape. Tobar gets the family over the wall at the back of the compound while a battle between the Duke’s men and the enemy rages to the front. It is raining, which helps cover their tracks. The family escapes with barely anything but makes it to the woods behind the compound. Days later and high up in the mountains, they come upon a small farming village. There are other refugees there. The enemy lord has burned most towns and villages of the valleys. The mountain folks were normally looked down upon by those that lived in the valley. Now they are the protectors of those same people. Jelto and Jemu offer to repair the villager’s tools for food and a roof. Jemu wants to learn how to use his magic, but Jelto does not want to do it in the village. Jemu is impatient but listen’s to Jelto after Sume and Shina beg him to listen. Days go by, and Tobar regularly leaves the village to find out what is going on. The enemy is looking for the Duke’s people and Jelto to capture him. The Count’s forces find and attack the village. Tobar comes back to the village during the attack and finds the Count with only two guards. A soldier brings Jelto’s family to the Count, and Tobar attacks to save them. Tobar fights the guards while the Count attacks Jelto. Jelto calls on Nakanish, the magical sword that the Count is using to help him. Nakanish causes the Count to freeze while Tobar comes up behind the Count and kills him. Jelto takes the sword. Jelto’s family and Tobar escape and cross the mountains with a few other survivors. One of them is Kali, a fifteen-year-old girl, and her younger brother, Sukar, six years old. Their parents were killed in the village attack. Jelto’s family takes Kali and Sukar in but keeps their magical secret from them. The family comes to a new town, Myamat, on the river Shula. This is the Kingdom of Milos. The family finds work at a local blacksmith. Jelto and Jemu help create armor for the King’s soldiers. The blacksmith, Heron, recognizes their skills and shows the King the better armor. Heron is old and wants to retire soon but has no one to take over. He asks the king to let Jelto take over. Jelto starts to show Jemu how to use his magic, but in secret. Jemu starts to have feelings for Kali. The King’s daughter, Lena, also meets Jemu when she wants to have Jelto create armor for her. She starts to like Jemu, also. Kali and Lena via for Jemu’s attention, and Shina thinks it’s funny. Jelto, Tobar, and Sume are worried that their secret will be discovered. Tobar suggests they move on to another town. Jemu wants to learn more about his magic but also likes the attention. Jemu secretly creates both Kali and Lena magical necklaces to protect them. Kali tells Shina, who tells her parents. The family is horrified, and Jemu realizes he has aged the next day. Lena tells her father, and the King takes the family. Jemu realizes his mistake as the King tells Jemu to create a magical weapon for him to use to protect the realm. Jemu’s family is worried that he will cause his death. After arguing, Jelto creates the weapon for the King. He lives but is older. The king does not keep the weapon secret, and an enemy of the king sends an assassin to kill Jelto’s family. The assassin succeeds in killing Jelto but is killed before he could harm the rest of the family. Lena, feeling it is her fault, helps Jemu and his family escape the castle and town before the rest of them are hurt. The book ends with Tobar leading the family down the river. Sume is heartbroken, and Jemu is now learning the cost of his power.

GENRE: High Fantasy

STYLE: Mixed Medieval and Imperial China flavors. Third-person limited point of view. Realistic dialogue. Show and tell, multi-book story. Use a deep point of view in a concise and descriptive language style. Dramatic prose.

From these three inputs, it created a SYNOPSIS (800 words). For brevity’s sake, I will show the modified version. The AI created a synopsis that was decent but was not what I envisioned. So I edited the synopsis to be more in-line with what I wanted.

At least for me, I imagine my role as the director and editor of the story with Sudowrite playing the role of writer. Now let me say I have not completed the prose of even the first chapter yet, so I am not sure how much of the writing part I will end up doing as well. Something tells me I will be modifying a lot.

SYNOPSIS: In the world of Kotor, those born with magic have a unique gift but also a fatal curse. Artists and craftsmen can create magical works of art that take part of their soul to make. Once an artist creates between 5-10 masterpieces, they die the next day. The power of the song is used when creating these masterpieces, and most artists have a birthmark on their body that glows while they sing during their work.

Jelto is the father of a family who are all artists. Jemu, his thirteen-year-old son, is eager to learn how to use his magic, while his nine-year-old daughter Shina is not as anxious. Jelto’s wife Sume is not magical, and his brother Tobar is a swordsman who wants to help the family escape from their captivity by Duke Mulko. Jelto has already created one magical masterpiece for the Duke, a sword called Nakanish (Soul Cleaver), that is sentient and knows its creator. The Duke keeps Jelto under guard and demands more magical works from him. Jelto delays by creating drawings that never match the Duke’s expectations or the powers imbued in the tool are not what he wants. Jelto knows that once he trains his children to use their magic, they will also be captured by the Duke.

When the Duke is defeated in a big battle, an officer barges into Jelto’s house and demands that Jelto create a weapon to defeat the enemy, or he will kill his family. The officer threatens to kill Sume if Jelto does not create a new magical weapon. Before the officer could do anything, the enemy arrives at the compound and fights the guards. Tobar helps Jelto kill the officer and escape with his family over the wall at the back of the compound while a battle rages in front. They escape with barely anything but make it to the woods behind the compound.

Days later and high up in the mountains, they come upon a small farming village. The enemy lord has burned most towns and villages of the valleys. Jelto and Jemu offer to repair the villager’s tools for food and a roof. Tobar regularly leaves the village to find out what is going on. The Count’s forces find and attack the village. Tobar comes back to the village during the attack and finds the Count with only two guards. A soldier brings Jelto’s family to the Count, and Tobar attacks to save them. Tobar fights the guards while the Count attacks Jelto. Jelto calls on Nakanish, which causes the Count to freeze while Tobar comes up behind him and kills him.

The family escapes and crosses the mountains with a few other survivors, including Kali, a fifteen-year-old girl, and her younger brother Sukar, six years old. Their parents were killed in the village attack. The family comes to a new town, Myamat, on the river Shula, where they find work at a local blacksmith. Jelto starts to show Jemu how to use his magic in secret while creating armor for the King’s soldiers. The blacksmith recognizes their skills and asks the King to let Jelto take over his position.

Jemu secretly creates magical necklaces for both Kali and Lena, the King’s daughter, to protect them. Lena tells her father, and he demands that Jemu create a magical weapon for him to use to protect the realm. Jelto creates the weapon for the King, but he ages significantly as a result. The enemy of the King sends an assassin to kill Jelto’s family, and while he succeeds in killing Jelto, he is killed before he can harm the rest of the family.

Lena helps Jemu and his family escape the castle and town before the rest of them are hurt. The book ends with Tobar leading the family down the river, with Sume heartbroken and Jemu learning the cost of his power. They are still trying to escape those that would force them to create works of art and use their magic for someone else’s gain.

From the previous inputs, Story Engine now generates the characters of the story. This can be done by the AI, or you can input this. In fact, all of these fields can be created by you without AI input. Each AI-generated field counts against your word count (Yes, Sudowrite charges by the word count of generated text). Watching some of the YouTube videos about Sudowrite and Story Engine specifically, they suggest creating these fields yourself and then ask Story Engine to create the prose.

So the CHARACTERS field has 700 words. Characters that you mention in the other fields will be added along with any others that it thinks.

CHARACTERS: Jelto Kastar: A middle-aged, talented artist with a strong sense of responsibility towards his family. With a warm smile and kind eyes, he is the pillar of support for his loved ones. Jelto’s birthmark, a sign of his magical abilities, is hidden beneath his sleeves. He is cautious about using his magical powers and is determined to protect his children from a similar fate.

Sume Kastar: Jelto’s loving wife and mother to Jemu and Shina. She is a non-magical woman with a nurturing personality. Sume has deep brown eyes filled with warmth and wisdom, and her long hair is always tied back in a simple braid. She is fiercely protective of her family and struggles with the knowledge that her children have inherited their father’s magical curse.

Jemu Kastar: A curious and eager thirteen-year-old boy who longs to learn about his magical abilities. He is in a hurry to grow up. He has his father’s warm eyes and a mischievous grin that reveals his adventurous nature. Jemu loves to listen to his Uncle Tobar’s stories of his adventures as a merchant guard. Jemu has a strong bond with his sister Shina, and they share a secret language only they understand.

Shina Kastar: A nine-year-old girl who is cautious about her magical inheritance. She has her mother’s nurturing personality and her father’s artistic talent. With wide, innocent eyes, Shina is often found doodling in the dirt or helping her mother with chores. She has a strong connection with her brother, Jemu, and they often communicate in their secret language.

Tobar Kastar: Jelto’s brother, a merchant guard and skilled swordsman with a fierce loyalty to his family. Tall and lean with a chiseled face, Tobar’s eyes are always scanning the horizon for potential threats. He loves to tell Jemu and Shina stories of his travels. His strong protective instincts drive him to help his brother’s family escape from captivity.

Duke Mulko: A stern and demanding ruler who keeps Jelto under his control. He has a cold gaze and a cruel smile that sends shivers down the spine of those around him. Duke Mulko is obsessed with obtaining powerful magical artifacts and is relentless in his pursuit of power. He knows he can push Jelto only so much to create a new magical item. Thus he is always looking for new pressure points against Jelto.

Kali: A fifteen-year-old survivor, losing her parents in the attacks on the village, with a fierce determination to protect her younger brother, Sukar. She has wild, unkempt hair and a fire in her eyes that reveals her resilience in the face of adversity. Kali becomes close with Jemu and Shina, forming a bond that transcends friendship.

Sukar: A timid, six-year-old boy who lost his parents in the attack on the village. With wide eyes that have seen too much for his young age, Sukar clings to his sister Kali for comfort and protection. He often looks to Jemu and Shina as role models and dreams of becoming a great hero like Tobar.

Lena Eldenstar: The King’s daughter, a young woman with a compassionate heart and a strong sense of justice. She has long, flowing hair and eyes that sparkle with intelligence and curiosity. Lena is drawn to Jemu’s kindness and bravery and becomes an unexpected ally in their journey.

King Leo Eldenstar: A powerful ruler with a commanding presence. He has a regal bearing and is always impeccably dressed, with a neatly trimmed beard that adds to his air of authority. The King is deeply concerned for the safety of his realm and is willing to make difficult decisions for the greater good.

Master Ruden: The Blacksmith. A hardworking, older man who recognizes Jelto’s incredible talent.

This is also the modified version of CHARACTERS.

Next is the OUTLINE (1700 words) field, based on all the fields before. The AI generated 24 chapters and around chapter 14 started going way off the path of what I was looking for. In fact, some of the chapters were out of order from what I wanted. So if you use these tools, please make sure you check them. I had to rewrite this field a lot to make it fall more in line with the story I wanted to tell.

OUTLINE:

Chapter 1: Our Life – In the world of Kotor, Jelto Kastar, a talented blacksmith and artist with the ability to make magical items, lives with his family in captivity under Duke Mulko. Jelto’s children, Jemu and Shina, share his artistic talents and magical powers, but not his wife, Sume. Jelto has already created one magical masterpiece for the Duke, a sword called Nakanish (Soul Cleaver), and is under constant pressure to produce more magical works or train his children to create magical works. Jelto is worried he can not hold off the Duke much longer.

Chapter 2: A Chance to Escape – Duke Mulko is defeated in a big battle. An officer barges into Jelto’s house and demands that Jelto create a weapon to defeat the nearing enemy. The officer threatens to kill Sume if Jelto does not create a new magical weapon.

Chapter 3: Time to Leave – Before the officer can harm Sume, the enemy forces arrive at the compound and engage in a battle with the guards. Tobar, Jelto’s brother, helps Jelto kill the officer and escape with his family over the wall at the back of the compound.

Chapter 4: Finding a Respite – Tobar, Jelto, Sume, Jemu, and Shina make it to the woods behind the compound. They come across another village at the base of the mountains being attacked by the Count’s men. Eventually, they find refuge in a small farming village high up in the mountains that has been mostly spared from the enemy lord’s attacks. Jelto and Jemu offer to repair the villager’s tools in exchange for food and shelter.

Chapter 5: The Enemy Searches – Tobar regularly leaves the village to gather information on what is happening in the valley below. The family learns that the enemy lord is Count Tarvo, a cruel and ruthless man. Refugees from other villages attacked by the Count’s men find the village. The villagers want to stop accepting refugees because they can not feed them and are afraid of the Count’s men coming.

Chapter 6: The Enemy Comes – The Count’s forces find and attack the village where Jelto’s family is hiding. During the attack on the village, Tobar returns and confronts Count Tarvo with only two guards. A soldier brings Jelto’s family to the Count, and Tobar fights the guards while the Count attacks Jelto. Jelto calls on Nakanish, which causes the Count to freeze, allowing Tobar to come up behind him and kill him.

Chapter 7: Escape – The family escapes with a few other survivors and crosses the mountains to find a new town, Myamat, on the river Shula. Jelto’s family takes in Kali and Sukar, two young siblings who have lost their parents in a village attack. They find work at a local blacksmith, Master Ruden. However, their past is not far behind them, and they must remain vigilant.

Chapter 8: Training – Jelto and Jemu prove their expertise in creating armor for Master Ruden. During their work, Jelto begins to secretly teach Jemu how to use his magic while creating armor for the King’s soldiers. Jemu is eager to learn and quickly grasps the basics of his powers.

Chapter 9: The Princess – Jemu becomes closer to Kali and starts to have feelings for her. Master Ruden introduces the King’s daughter, Lena to Jelto and Jemu. Lena wants to have a custom-fitted set of armor made for her. Jemu is assigned to work with Lena to design her armor and they begin to like each other. A budding love triangle between Kali, Lena and Jemu begins. Shina sees this and enjoys teasing Jemu about it.

Chapter 10: Gifts of Love – Jemu secretly creates magical necklaces for both Kali and Lena. They come to learn that the necklaces are magical that can help hide them. Excitedly, Lena tells her father, King Leo Eldenstar, and once he and his advisors realize what has happened, he demands that Jemu create a magical weapon for him to protect the realm.

Chapter 11: Life Source Used – Jelto’s family is concerned that Jemu is recognized as an Artist. The family debates giving the king Nakanish, but the sword cryptically tells them that it is for another. To save his son from further using his life source, Jelto creates the weapon for King Leo but ages significantly as a result. This causes great concern for his family.

Chapter 12: The Artist Revealed – The King is proud to have a magical weapon and announces his acquisition to his court. An enemy in court finds out that Jelto and Jemu are Artists and demands a magical weapon himself. His requests are rejected and the enemy sends an assassin to kill Jelto’s family. The assassin succeeds in killing Jelto but is killed before he can harm the rest of the family.

Chapter 13: Insult to Injury – King Leo worried about the attack on Jelto, brings the Jelto family to the castle under house arrest. Tobar disappears before the King’s men come to take the family. Lena, feeling grief at what happened to Jemu’s father, tries to apologize to Jemu and family but Jemu does not talk to her. Shina is angry at Jemu, blaming him but Sume and Kali calm her down.

Chapter 14: Running Again – Tobar finds Lena and Shina in the market and plans an escape for the family. Lena helps the escape to make amends. Tobar gets them on a boat to take them downriver. On the boat ride, Tobar teachs Jemu how to use a sword to Sume’s dismay. Jemu is stressed over the responsibilities and Kali tries to make him feel better.

Chapter 15: Bandits – Days into the trip, the boat stops along the shore for the night because of light rapids ahead. Bandits attack the boat and Tobar and Jemu help fight off the bandits. Jemu uses Nakanish and the sword recognizes Jemu as the one it was waiting for. The boat crew demand that the family leaves because they are afraid of the sword.

Chapter 16: Epilogue – The family takes a few horses of the bandits and walk further south. The family needs to decide what to do next. With Jemu being recognized as the owner of Nakanish, and Tobar’s teaching him how to use the weapon, should Jemu continue to develop his magical abilities, honoring his father’s legacy while forging his own path? Jemu and Kali become closer and he shares his doubts to protect his family and fears that he will never be able to live a normal life because of his magical powers. Shina worries about her abilities and is afraid to use them.

Almost at the end of this blog, I promise. Today, I started working on the BEATS (2000 words) of the first chapter. This is another AI-generated output, but I am not sure I like the way it is taking the first chapter. A beat is approximately 200 words, and in this case, the AI generated twelve beats for chapter one.

I will show the BEATS and then the PROSE based on the BEATS to show you what it looks like. I will not use the BEATS or PROSE because it needs some work but I thought this might be good for you to see to get an idea of what it can do.

BEATS: 1. Introduce Jelto Kastar as a blacksmith and artist who possesses the rare ability to create magical items, and establish his unique style and approach to his craft. (Driver: Jelto’s desire to protect his family, Guardrail: Stay focused on Jelto’s internal conflict)

2. Describe the world of Kotor in detail, including its political and social structures, and establish the context for Jelto’s captivity under Duke Mulko’s rule. (Guardrail: Do not reveal any major plot points or spoilers beyond what is mentioned in the scene summary)

3. Introduce Jelto’s family members, including his wife Sume and his children Jemu and Shina, and establish their respective talents and magical powers, as well as their relationships with each other and with Jelto. (Driver: Jelto’s fear for his family’s safety, Character motivations: Sume’s desire to keep her family safe and protect Jemu from danger, Jemu’s desire to learn how to use his magical powers and become an artist like his father, Shina’s lack of interest in using her magical powers)

4. Describe the specific pressures that Jelto is under, including the Duke’s demands for more magical works and the threat of harm to his family if he fails to comply. (Driver: Jelto’s fear for his family’s safety and his determination to protect them, Duke Mulko’s relentless pursuit of power and magical artifacts)

5. Introduce the magical sword Nakanish, also known as the Soul Cleaver, which Jelto has already created for the Duke, and describe its unique properties and significance. (Guardrail: Stay focused on Jelto’s internal conflict)

6. Establish the Duke’s motivations for wanting more magical works from Jelto, including his desire for power and control over others. (Driver: Duke Mulko’s relentless pursuit of power and magical artifacts)

7. Describe Jelto’s growing sense of desperation and fear as he struggles to meet the Duke’s demands while also protecting his family. (Driver: Jelto’s fear for his family’s safety and his determination to protect them)

8. Establish the specific risks and dangers that Jelto and his family face, including physical harm, imprisonment, and separation. (Driver: Jelto’s fear for his family’s safety)

9. Show Jelto’s internal conflict as he grapples with his loyalty to the Duke versus his love for his family and his own moral code. (Driver: Jelto’s fear for his family’s safety and his determination to protect them, Guardrail: Stay focused on Jelto’s internal conflict)

10. Introduce specific allies and enemies that could help or hinder Jelto’s efforts to protect his family and resist the Duke’s demands, including other captives, fellow blacksmiths, and magical creatures. (Guardrail: Do not reveal any major plot points or spoilers beyond what is mentioned in the scene summary)

11. Build tension and suspense through specific plot developments, such as failed attempts to escape, unexpected betrayals, and new demands from the Duke. (Guardrail: Do not reveal any major plot points or spoilers beyond what is mentioned in the scene summary)

12. End the scene on a specific cliffhanger or turning point that leaves the reader eager to find out what happens next, such as a sudden attack, a new ally appearing, or a major decision that Jelto must make. (Guardrail: Do not reveal any major plot points or spoilers beyond what is mentioned in the scene summary)

As you can see, some of these BEATS are leaving things wide open for the AI to create what it will, which is not good if you have a specific idea for the story. I think I will modify many of these BEATS to be more specific on the actions I want to use and the last one will be an actual event and not a roll of the dice for the AI to “go forth and create.”

And here is the PROSE that the AI created based on the BEATS and the other fields.

CHAPTER 1

1 – 2

The hammer clanged against the anvil, sparks flying through the dimly lit workshop. Jelto Kastar wiped sweat from his brow as he studied the metal before him. His hands, calloused from years of labor, moved with precision and grace over the glowing forge. He was a blacksmith by trade, but there was more to his craft than met the eye – he possessed the rare ability to imbue his creations with magic.

Jelto’s style was unlike any other; each piece bore the intricate touch of an artist, blending functionality and beauty in a way that both inspired awe and served purpose. Yet beneath the elegance of his work lay secrets, hidden enchantments that could only be unlocked by those who understood their true power. The desire to protect his family weighed heavily on Jelto’s mind as he forged each new creation, knowing that each piece he made for Duke Mulko put them in even greater danger.

The world of Kotor was one of contrasts: the lush, verdant landscape belied the harsh realities of life under a strict political system. At its heart stood the towering citadel, home to the elite nobles who governed with an iron fist. Society was divided into castes, each bound by rigid rules and customs. Magic, while acknowledged, was strictly controlled, its practitioners often seen with fear and suspicion.

It was within this stifling atmosphere that Jelto found himself held captive by Duke Mulko, a ruler whose thirst for power and control knew no bounds. Though given a degree of freedom within the confines of his workshop, Jelto was ultimately at the mercy of the Duke’s whims, forced to create magical weapons and artifacts for his captor’s growing collection.

“Kastar!” barked a gruff voice, interrupting Jelto’s concentration. A burly guard stood at the entrance to the workshop, a sneer playing across his face. “The Duke wishes to see your progress.”

“Of course,” Jelto replied, trying to keep the tremor from his voice as he laid down his tools and stepped away from the forge. Inside, his heart raced with anxiety; each meeting with the Duke brought a new wave of fear for his family’s safety.

As they walked through the citadel’s grand halls, Jelto’s thoughts turned to his wife, Sume, and their children, Jemu and Shina. He knew the dangers that came with their magical abilities – the same curse that had ensnared him in this life of servitude. It was this knowledge that drove him to work tirelessly to ensure their protection, even as he felt the weight of his own captivity grow ever heavier.

“Your craftsmanship is unparalleled, Kastar,” Duke Mulko said coldly as he examined the latest piece Jelto had forged for him. “But I expect more from you. More power. More control.” The Duke’s eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through Jelto like an icy arrow. “Do not disappoint me.”

Jelto bowed his head, feeling the familiar knot of dread tighten in his chest. As he returned to his workshop, his thoughts were filled with worry for his family, and the constant struggle to balance his loyalty to the Duke with his deep love for those he held most dear.

Yet within the shadows of Kotor, whispers of rebellion stirred, and the winds of change began to blow. For Jelto and his kin, hope flickered like the embers of a dying fire, waiting to be rekindled.

3 – 4

In the dimly lit corner of their modest home, Jelto’s wife, Sume, prepared a simple meal for their family. The scent of simmering stew filled the air while the crackling fire cast flickering shadows on the earthen walls. Jemu, their thirteen-year-old son sat by the table, his eyes filled with determination as he studied an old tome, eager to unlock the secrets of his magical abilities. His sister, Shina, just nine years old, quietly sketched in the dirt with a stick, her artistic talent mirroring that of her father.

“Jemu, remember your father’s words,” Sume warned gently, looking over at her son. “We must be cautious with our powers.”

“I know, Mother,” Jemu replied impatiently, his voice laced with frustration. “But I want to help Father. Maybe if I learn enough, I can become like him – strong enough to protect us all.”

Shina looked up from her sketch, hesitating before speaking. “I don’t want to use my magic, Jemu. It’s scary.” Her wide, innocent eyes reflected her unease.

“Enough, children,” Sume interrupted, placing a comforting hand on Shina’s shoulder. “Your father is doing everything he can to keep us safe. We must trust and support him.”

Meanwhile, in his workshop, Jelto hammered away at a new piece, sweat pouring down his brow. Duke Mulko’s demands weighed heavily on his shoulders, each blow of his hammer echoing the threat of harm to his family. He knew the Duke’s hunger for power would only grow, and it terrified him to think of what would happen if he failed to comply.

“Jelto,” a voice called out from behind him. Startled, he turned to see Sume standing there, concern etched into her features. “You need rest, my love. Let me help you.”

“Thank you, Sume,” he whispered, his voice strained with exhaustion. “But I must work harder. The Duke is relentless; I cannot let him harm our family.”

“Jelto, I fear for Jemu,” Sume admitted, her eyes filling with tears. “He’s determined to learn about his powers and become like you. What if the Duke discovers his abilities?”

“Then we must be ever vigilant, my love,” Jelto replied, embracing his wife tightly. “Our children are our greatest treasures, and I will do everything in my power to protect them.”

As they held each other, their hearts aching, Jelto’s thoughts were consumed by the delicate balance between loyalty to the Duke and love for his family. He knew that sooner or later, something would have to give.

5 – 6

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting its golden glow over Jelto’s forge. He glanced at a newly crafted weapon that lay on his workbench, shimmering with magical energy. It was Nakanish, the Soul Cleaver, a sword he had forged for Duke Mulko.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jelto murmured to himself, running a finger along the blade’s intricate engravings. The sword seemed to hum with power, its edge sharp enough to cut through the very essence of a person. Its hilt was adorned with gems that reflected the sunlight like a kaleidoscope of colors. He knew what the sword was capable of, and it weighed heavily on his conscience.

“Father, why did you make this sword?” Jemu asked, his curiosity getting the better of him as he peered over his father’s shoulder. “It looks… dangerous.”

“Because the Duke demanded it,” Jelto replied, struggling to keep the bitterness from his voice. “He seeks more than just power over his people; he wants control over their very souls.”

“Is that why he keeps asking you to create magical items?” Jemu questioned, furrowing his brow. “Isn’t one enough?”

“Never enough for a man like the Duke,” Jelto sighed, his eyes clouding with worry. “His appetite for power is insatiable, and he’ll stop at nothing to achieve it.”

“Even if it means harming our family?” Jemu’s voice trembled, betraying his fear.

“Especially if it means harming our family,” Jelto corrected gently, placing a reassuring hand on his son’s shoulder. “But I will do everything within my power to protect you all. You must trust me.”

“Of course, Father,” Jemu said, though his eyes lingered on the Soul Cleaver, clearly troubled by its existence.

“Come on, Jemu,” Shina called from the doorway, rolling her eyes at her brother’s fascination with their father’s work. “Leave Father alone. Let’s go practice our magic.”

“Alright,” Jemu agreed reluctantly, casting one last glance at the sword before following his sister outside.

Jelto watched them go, his heart heavy with the knowledge of what he had created and the terrible purpose it could serve. He knew that the Duke would not be satisfied with just one magical item, and it was only a matter of time before he demanded another.

As he steeled himself for the challenges ahead, Jelto vowed to do whatever it took to shield his family from the darkness that threatened to consume them all. For now, he would continue to forge weapons under the watchful eye of Duke Mulko, but deep within his soul, he longed for the day when they would break free from the chains that bound them to a cruel master.

7 – 8

A cold wind whispered through the workshop as Jelto labored over his anvil, each strike of his hammer sending sparks flying into the air. Sweat poured down his forehead, mixing with the soot and grime that clung to his skin. The forge roared with hunger beside him, casting a sinister orange glow across the room.

“Father,” called Jemu from the doorway, his voice tight with concern. “You’ve been working nonstop for days. When will you rest?”

Jelto lifted his gaze from his work, meeting his son’s worried eyes. “When the Duke’s demands have been met, Jemu,” he replied, his voice strained with exhaustion. “I must ensure our safety.”

“Is it another… magical item?” Jemu asked hesitantly, remembering the Soul Cleaver’s heart-wrenching aura.

“Indeed,” Jelto admitted, his throat tightening with regret. “But I’m doing my best to minimize its dark power.”

“Be careful, Father,” Jemu warned, his eyes glistening with fear. “The more you create, the more the Duke will want.”

As Jemu retreated, Jelto’s mind raced with thoughts of his family’s future. His hands trembled as he grasped the tongs, fearful of the consequences if he failed to deliver what the Duke demanded. He envisioned Sume, her gentle smile fading as she was torn from her children, or worse yet, locked away within the castle’s dungeon. Jemu and Shina, imprisoned or forced into servitude, their innate magical abilities exploited by the ruthless Duke Mulko.

“Jelto!” A cruel voice echoed through the workshop, causing him to flinch. It was Duke Mulko himself, his cold gaze boring into Jelto like a dagger.

“Your Grace,” Jelto stammered, wiping the sweat from his brow and bowing his head.

“Your progress is… disappointing,” the Duke sneered, gesturing to the unfinished piece on the anvil. “I expect more from you, especially considering your… unique talents.”

“Please, Your Grace, I beg for more time,” Jelto pleaded, his heart pounding in his chest. “My family… they need me too.”

“Your family?” The Duke’s lips twisted into a malicious grin as he stepped closer to Jelto. “They are safe… for now. But remember, Kastar – their well-being is contingent upon your cooperation.”

The Duke’s threat hung heavy in the air as he turned and stalked away, leaving Jelto trembling with fear and rage. He knew that with every magical item he created, he was feeding the Duke’s insatiable hunger for power and control. Yet his love for his family compelled him to continue, lest they suffer the dire consequences of defiance.

As Jelto returned to his work, his desperation and fear mounting with each strike of his hammer, he prayed for a way to protect his family from the darkness that threatened to swallow them whole. But for now, he must forge on – bound by the chains of loyalty, duty, and fear that held him captive under the tyrannical rule of Duke Mulko.

9 – 10

Jelto stood before the glowing forge, his hands trembling as they grasped the tongs. The heat of the fire reflected in his eyes, mirroring the internal conflict that churned within him. His brow furrowed with worry as he weighed the consequences of his actions.

“Father?” Jemu’s voice broke through Jelto’s thoughts, drawing his attention to his son standing in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Jemu,” Jelto lied, forcing a smile. “Just tired from working.”

“Let me help you,” Jemu offered, stepping inside and reaching for the hammer. “I can learn more about your craft.”

“Thank you, but not today,” Jelto replied, his heart aching at the thought of his son being ensnared by the Duke’s desires. “You should focus on your own talents. Perhaps… painting or sculpting.”

“But Father, I want to be like you,” Jemu insisted, his eyes wide with admiration.

“Being like me,” Jelto murmured, looking down at his calloused hands, “is not always a blessing, my boy.”

“Jelto,” Sume called out from outside, “we have visitors.”

“Visitors?” Jelto’s heart skipped a beat, fearing the worst. He quickly covered the unfinished magical artifact and joined his wife outside, where three figures awaited them.

“Ah, Master Kastar,” one of them greeted, a fellow blacksmith named Orin who had been captured alongside Jelto. “We’ve come to discuss something of great importance.”

“Go on,” Jelto said warily, glancing between the other two – a legendary swordmaster, Lan Zhi, and Myra, a mysterious woman rumored to possess the ability to communicate with magical creatures.

“Word has spread about your creations for the Duke,” Lan Zhi said, his voice low and guarded. “We share your fears about the Duke’s intentions, and we’ve come to formulate a plan.”

“Plan?” Jelto echoed, his pulse quickening.

“An alliance,” Myra clarified, her eyes shimmering with determination. “To resist the Duke’s demands and protect our loved ones from his tyranny.”

As Jelto listened, hope flickered within him like the flames of his forge. He knew that joining forces with these potential allies could be the key to safeguarding his family – but it would also mean betraying the Duke, putting them all at even greater risk.

“Your cause is noble,” Jelto said, his voice heavy with the weight of his decision. “But I cannot join you. The Duke’s wrath would be swift and merciless. It would endanger my family.”

“Jelto, we understand your fear,” Orin replied sympathetically. “But if we don’t stand together against the Duke, who will?”

“Please,” Sume whispered, her hand gripping Jelto’s arm. “Consider their offer… for our children’s sake.”

Jelto looked into his wife’s pleading eyes, then at the faces of his newfound allies, and realized that the choice was not as simple as loyalty or love. It was a question of the lesser evil, and ultimately, what he could live with.

“Very well,” Jelto agreed, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart. “I will join you.”

“Thank you, Jelto,” Myra smiled gently. “Together, we’ll find a way to break free from the Duke’s grasp – and save our families.”

As they began to discuss their plans in hushed voices, Jelto felt the cold shackles of fear loosen ever so slightly. He knew the road ahead would be treacherous and filled with uncertainty, but for the first time in a long while, he dared to hope that there might be a way out of the darkness that had engulfed them all.

11 – 12

In the dimly lit chamber, Jelto and his newfound allies huddled around an intricately carved wooden table. The room was heavy with anticipation as they sketched out their daring escape plan on a parchment, each stroke of ink a symbol of hope and rebellion.

“Alright,” Orin murmured, studying the map intently. “There’s a hidden tunnel here that leads to the outskirts of the city – we can use this as our escape route.”

“Are you certain it’s safe?” Sume asked, her voice tinged with worry.

“Safe enough,” Myra replied, her eyes narrowing as she traced the tunnel’s path with her fingertip. “We’ve smuggled supplies through it before – we just need to be careful and move quickly.”

As they continued discussing the details, Jelto’s mind raced with thoughts and concerns about the risks they were taking. He knew that if their plan failed, or if Duke Mulko discovered their intentions, the consequences would be dire for his family and all those involved.

“Jelto,” Sume whispered, breaking into his troubled thoughts. “No matter what happens, we’ll face it together. We cannot let fear dictate our lives any longer.”

He squeezed her hand tightly, seeking comfort in her unwavering strength. With a deep breath, he refocused his attention on the task at hand, steeling himself for the challenges ahead.

“Very well,” Jelto said, his voice firm with resolve. “We leave tomorrow night.”

The following day, tension hung like a thick fog over the Kastar household. As Jelto worked in his forge, crafting yet another magical artifact demanded by the Duke, he felt the weight of the impending escape attempt pressing down on him. Despite the heat from the forge, an icy chill ran down his spine as the reality of their situation sunk in.

“Father,” Jemu whispered, watching his father work with wide eyes. “Will everything be alright?”

“Of course, my son,” Jelto replied, forcing a smile and ruffling Jemu’s hair. “Just remember what we’ve talked about, and stay close to your mother and sister tonight.” As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across Kotor, Jelto and his allies gathered in the secret chamber, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. They exchanged solemn nods, acknowledging the risks they were taking and the uncertain future that awaited them.

“Let’s go,” Orin whispered, leading the way into the hidden tunnel.

As they traversed the dark and narrow passageway, Jelto clutched his family close, praying that they would reach safety before Duke Mulko discovered their absence. The sound of their hurried footsteps echoed through the tunnel, mingling with the distant rumble of thunder outside.

Suddenly, a harrowing scream pierced the air, freezing the group in their tracks. The sound was followed by a cacophony of shouts and the clang of metal on metal – the unmistakable signs of conflict.

“Betrayal!” Myra gasped, her face drained of color as the truth dawned upon them all. Someone had alerted the Duke’s guards to their escape plan.

“Run!” Orin shouted, pushing the group forward as the sounds of pursuit grew louder.

Jelto’s heart hammered in his chest as they sprinted through the tunnel, knowing that every second could mean the difference between freedom and capture – or worse. As they neared the exit, he spotted a faint glimmer of moonlight up ahead, offering a sliver of hope amidst the chaos.

“Quickly, this way!” Jelto urged, guiding his family toward the light.

But as they stumbled out of the tunnel’s mouth, they found themselves surrounded by armed guards, their swords drawn and pointing menacingly at the group. The fear in Sume’s eyes mirrored Jelto’s own as they realized the gravity of their situation.

“Jelto Kastar,” a cold voice rang out from behind the wall of guards. Duke Mulko stepped forward, his cruel smile sending shivers down their spines. “Did you truly think you could escape me?”

As Jelto stared into the face of his captor, his heart raced with terror and desperation. He knew that this moment would be a turning point for them all, one that would determine not only their fate but also the legacy he would leave behind as a father, husband, and artist.

What do you think? Not as I have envisioned, but there are some interesting parts that I might try to use. I think I will need to rework the BEATS to see if I get the story more in line with what I wanted.

As stated in the BRAINDUMP, the premise is that an artist can only create a few magical works of art (or weapons). The AI did not seem to understand that point, so I will need to figure out how to better explain that to make sure the story moves along.

My current thoughts are that I will get the AI to generate a basic story path, but I will need to go back and heavily edit the story. Is using an AI writer beneficial? I think so. I believe it will help me go from a clean page to a basic story real quick. Then the editing will be the real work.

If you have stayed around this long, thank you for your time. I would be grateful to hear your thoughts on using an AI writer and on the story premise.

Have a great day!