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📚 4 Easy Steps to Develop Your Story with AI

📚 4 Easy Steps to Develop Your Story with AI

Dave Villalva
September 14, 2024

Hey 👋 - Dave here.

Happy Saturday morning.

A lot of people in this community might be participating in Runway’s GEN:48 short film contest this week, so here’s I’ve got for you today:

ChatGPT story development process
4 simple steps with prompts
99% give, 1% request

This 2023 greatest hit has a read time of: 3 minutes

Keep creating!

Sometimes crafting a story can be tough, especially when you’re starting with no idea or just a partial one.

But fear not.

With the help of AI, you can transform writer’s block into a quick adventure.

In this article, I’ll guide you through a 4-step process using your favorite chatbot to create a legit idea you’ll want to keep working on.

Let’s dive in.

** Important Note: This 4-step process is intended to be performed in the same AI chatbot conversation, with each new prompt being entered immediately following the prior answer, so the answers build upon each other.

Step 1: The Personal Touch

Begin your storytelling journey by drawing from your own experiences, interests, and hobbies.

By selecting genres, themes, and elements close to your heart, you ensure that your passion for the story stays strong, even as you face the inevitable challenges of the creative process.

Remember, the most compelling stories are those that truly connect with their creators. Because when you pour your heart and soul into your work, your audience will feel it, too.

—

Step 1 Prompt: Genre & Theme

– Caution: Entering too much information into the [placeholder] can dilute the output:

// Copy the prompt below, then edit the bold text in brackets, and paste into your fav chatbot //

Please analyze my personal interests, hobbies, and experiences listed below and provide ideal genres (fiction category or type) and universal themes (central idea or message), which I could potentially use as a foundation for a fictional story. Here are my favorite movies, novels, shows, interests, hobbies, or experiences: [list your favorite movies, novels, shows… explain interests, hobbies, or impactful experiences].

Format your answer in markdown syntax as follows:

First suggestion:

Fiction Genre 1.1:

Fiction Genre 1.2:Universal Theme 1.1:Universal Theme 1.2:Universal Theme 1.3:

Second suggestion:

Fiction Genre 2.1:Fiction Genre 2.2:Universal Theme 2.1:Universal Theme 2.2:Universal Theme 2.3:

Third suggestion:

Fiction Genre 3.1:Fiction Genre 3.2:Universal Theme 3.1:Universal Theme 3.2:Universal Theme 3.3:

Note: You can also just ask ChatGPT, Claude, Grok or your fav chatbot for a list of Genres and Universal Themes for fiction and films. Then review those and choose one Genre and Universal theme to explore based on your desire.

Step 2: The Birth of an Idea

Armed with your chosen theme and genre, it’s time to create or refine your story idea.

By working closely with AI, you’ll uncover unconventional concepts and thought-provoking insights that will set your tale apart from the rest.

Remember, the journey of a thousand words begins with a single idea.

—

Step 2.1 Prompt: Story Idea from Scratch

// Copy the prompt below, then edit the bold text in brackets, and paste into your fav chatbot //

Based on the Fiction Genre of [insert genre], Universal Theme of [insert theme], suggest 5 unique, unconventional and thought-provoking story ideas that can go on to become a bestselling novel or blockbuster film.

—

Step 2.2 Prompt: Existing Story Idea

//Prompt below (edit the bold text in brackets)//

Based on the Fiction Genre of [insert genre], Universal Theme of [insert theme], help me refine and expand this idea [placeholder] to make it more unique, engaging, and thought-provoking. The intention is to find novel ideas and unconventional narratives that make people think while also serving an audience proven to love innovative stories.

Step 3: Breathing Life into Characters

The heart of every great story lies in its characters.

As you develop your protagonist and antagonist, focus on infusing them with depth and complexity, ensuring that their motivations, backgrounds, and personalities are rich and multi-dimensional.

By doing so, you create a cast of characters that captivates readers and propels your narrative forward.

** Note: The short story summary you enter below can be a simple copy and paste from one of your Step #2 outputs provided by your chatbot output.

—

Step 3.1 Prompt: Protagonist

// Copy the prompt below, then edit the bold text in brackets, and paste into your fav chatbot //

Based on the story idea of [insert short story summary], help me create a multi-dimensional protagonist for my chosen story idea, including their background, personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Also provide one clear, unmistakeable objective with high-stakes that the multi-dimensional protagonist must achieve in the story. Keep in mind this story is based in the genre of [insert genre] and a universal theme of [insert theme].

—

Step 3.2 Prompt: Antagonist

// Copy the prompt below, then edit the bold text in brackets, and paste into your fav chatbot //

Now help me create a multi-dimensional antagonist that will challenge the protagonist above in accomplishing their core, unmistakeable objective, based in the same story above, including the antagonist’s motivations, background, and personality. This antagonist must be a formidable force for the overarching narrative to ensure high-stakes conflict, tension, and suspense.

Step 4: The Narrative Backbone

With your characters in place, it’s time to construct a solid narrative foundation.

The relationship between your protagonist and antagonist should serve as the backbone of your story, driving the plot and injecting it with high-stakes conflict.

So you will lean on AI to develop a three-act structure that explores the depth of this central conflict, keeping your audience enthralled from beginning to end.

—

Step 4 Prompt: Basic 3-Act Structure

// Copy the prompt below, then edit the bold text in brackets, and paste into your fav chatbot //

Now using the protagonist and antagonist we just developed above, outline a three-act structure for this story idea and focus on the importance of very slow development character building and not rushing the main plot but slowly building the story arc. Inside the three-act structure, provide the main conflicts and resolutions between the protagonist and antagonist. Include key story beats, turning points and climax in each act.

Remember, those four steps are designed to be completed inside the same chatbot conversation with each answer immediately building upon the prior one.

But I’m confident this process can easily guide you from no idea to a cohesive, compelling plot.

It will definitely need more work, but you can also use AI to identify genres and themes that deeply connect with your personal interests and passions while capturing the hearts and minds of your audience.

That’s it for this Saturday.

If you feel like TSS gives you 100%, give back 1% by spreading the word.

See ya next week!

— David

P.S. If you responded to my invitation for my free storytelling program (beta), then expect another email this week with more details!