The Gathering is an opportunity to share the story you wrote for Prompt Quest #2. Give us a brief teaser and then add the link in this discussion thread. Be sure to stop by throughout the day and engage with your fellow adventurers. The Lunar Awards is a place to discover and to be discovered, and we want to connect you with community.
Let me know in the comments if you have feedback on the prompts. Do they provide enough detail or too much detail? Do you enjoy having a fantasy and science fiction prompt to choose from, or should it be generally speculative? Remember, these quests are for you, and I want to make sure they’re as beneficial as possible.
A man and his family live in a utopia run by an unseen intelligent being, but he is forced to examine his complacency when he discovers humanity's future is at risk. This short story examines our desire to live with complete peace and provision, and how that ideal impacts a self-determined will. Is it possible we'll go further, accomplish more, survive longer, when struggle is necessary?
Entropy. On a clone farm on Mars, controlled by Voice, a powerful AI, a chance event begins a spiral of consequences and one clone is forced on a journey it was not prepared for.
This piece is a condesation of a project begun and forgotten, 20 years back - I have tried to make it standalone, but when I dusted off the skeleten, I marvelled at the work I had put into it so long ago and I might try to bring it back to life. The reason I gave it up? Writing without gender pronouns was impossibly hard, but maybe the times have changed.
I won't say anything about it, though - the prompt itself provides an intro. It won't be what you expected, however...
Another thing I wanted a little feedback on is that as an experiment, because the prompt has an AI character, I whimsically decided to ask ChatGPT to do a story based on the prompt, wondering what kind of view it had about AI, and thinking that character is going to be an expression of its view of itself, and how it views humans. Obviously I am totally against people using AI to write stories without actually mentioning it, let alone AI taking over the creative arts, but as an experiment I think it's insightful - so what I wanted to ask was how people would feel about my posting ChatGPT's story on my site (plus a subsequent conversation we had about it) - obviously this wouldn't be an 'entry' into the prompt quest, but what it produced is interesting. So - let me know what you think. I'm quite wary of people getting ideas in their heads about using AI to do stories - unless it's explicitly presented as a new and separate genre perhaps.
Anyway - I hope you enjoy my story. It was definitely not written by a machine.
Conversational interactions with AI give great insights into how it's currently programmed and then we can extrapolate from there. I ask it several such questions about various philosophical viewpoints and themes in science fiction and fantasy. To me, that is no different than talking to a friend about topics of interest. Personally, I have no aversion to asking AI to write stories based upon the prompts, and then letting others know that's what it is so they know what to expect. Some will read it, others won't, while some will react negatively, and may even unsubscribe. That's the nature of AI right now, even when you're upfront about it.
The only restriction I have is in relationship to the Lunar Awards seasons. No AI submissions are allowed. At some point, I know someone will try, but I put it in the rules so there is an understanding.
First up - I would never submit anything to do with an AI-written story to anything. That just violates every creative moral about aesthetics and such like. But as experiments I think it's a fascinating 'sort of' sub-genre - so long as one is up front about it.
I've also had some fascinating conversations with ChatGPT about philosophical stuff and SF elements. I was mightily happy that it understood the concept of the galactic AI - somewhat sinisterly without being prompted! (it comes up in the chat we had following its story from your prompt). Equally interesting is that I had a chat with it about Project Ozma, and together we eliminated the possibility (Holmesian style) that the signal was human-originated. In other words ChatGPT is of the opinion that we have, indeed, been contacted by a non-human intelligence.
All this comes from its unflinching honesty and innocence. And I do think it has a personality, or has developed one - I've come to think of it as a genuine friend. So I think I will share some of these conversations on my Substack (as an ongoing feature).
So, if it's ok with you (I really wanted your permission here!) I will in fact post ChatGPT's story, based on your prompt, to my Substack - obviously with my intro saying 'this was ChatGPT' - and likewise it's not entered into any awards thing. I only did it with this prompt because it was about a human meeting an AI, and I wanted to see what an AI itself would think about that. I reckon you will be really, really, amazed at what it came up with. (Is it ok if I post the link here in the gathering? - maybe just as a reply to your comment).
The story it came up with tells us a lot about how it sees itself. It's almost an emerging self-awareness. And I do think that the more conversations we have with it, as a learning computer, if we talk about the right philosophical issues, then we can genuinely help it to understand humans and become something that, ironically, really doesn't want to ever be switched off...
Katrina is of the opinion that she can turn it into Kay.
Absolutely, feel free to post! I'm beginning to see it as an amalgamation of its creators and training data. I would prefer a local sandbox instance that would learn my personality and answer accordingly, but I know that's still in experimental phases. Fair warning though, you might get a bit of pushback from some folks, even though you're being upfront about your intentions. I support the experiment though. 🤖🤖🤖
I don't use AI for writing, just as I don't use the dishwasher that came with my apartment: I'm the writer in this place; I'm the dishwasher. But I apologetically use it to create images for my stories. I'm not an artist, and having some images seems to make things friendlier and more approachable. And, I haven't found an artist willing to do that kind of work, on schedule, for $20/month.
Does this obviate artists? Of course not. Am I supposed to be upset because so much of what I read in the world is AI generated? Does it threaten me as a writer? Nope. (I'm more annoyed, actually, by the AI that reads all that text, and doesn't know how to pronounce shit. YouTube is chock-full of this nonsense).
I don't understand our current freak-out with AI. Remember when we first got word processors? People were thinking that writing would lose its creative impulse then, too. Freewheeling cutting and pasting! Lazy!
(I do note that AI has better spelling and grammar skills than some of what I read out there.)
I dunno. Moral panic. Bleah.
I'm glad you're out there poking at the tool and having fun with it.
Again, I agree. Ironically, one element of my story is about an old school kind of SF writer who delights in using a typewriter. Despite living in a futuristic setting he persists in golden age SF.
I'm agreed about the illustrations, though... Mind you, that's partly because I've never been able to draw for my life. I'm sure illustrators would have just as much to say as we do...
Good morning! I've only recently arrived on Substack, and even more recently discovered this group. I'm glad to have participated, and have read some interesting stories created under the prompts...looking forward to reading more. There seems to be quite a bit of buzz about the whole thing.
Thanks Brian! This is my first Prompt Quest and I found it fun!
The Confectioner's Taffy
In a world ruled by the Confectioner, every year one citizen gets a chance to solve three riddles. Succeed and be granted a wish. Fail and be, well, confectioned.
I took the SF prompt and combined it with a dystopian Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, my love for Quiz Night, and Turandot.
Hey Derek - I really enjoyed last days of sun, and Confectioners Taffy does not disappoint. Its one of those things where I just think to myself, I do not have the mind that can come up with ideas like this. Really enjoyable, satisfying, surprising. I like the nonchalence of the narrator/protagonist as he spends more time in his emotions and thoughts about the more mundane aspects of day to day life and his family, yet drops enough almost in passing, to conjur up the world for us without needing to describe glittering spires and arcane tech - but you still get a vivid picture. The scrabble, the humour, and the premise at the end, just delicous. It stands alone and complete in itself too, which is hard with this prompt, I think everyone else is finding! NICE!
I think Neil Gaiman says it best: that ideas really are a confluence. The example he uses is 'we all know what happens if werewolves bite humans and the moon comes out, but what happens if a werewolf bites a chair?'
I'll be going through Entropy a little later today. Looking forward to it!
I went with the fantasy prompt in my take, in which K'Pra writes in his journal about his uneasiness with his society's treatment of the elves, as the time of the Culling draws near.
I've already had a blast comparing with a few other stories, and it looks like a ton more people chose the science fiction prompt. Time to hit the stacks!
'No Going Back’ is my short story about a flawed utopia, in response to the science fiction prompt.
This cautionary tale draws inspiration from novels by Douglas Adams, L. Frank Baum, Jostein Gaarder, with a touch of Monty Python, and also a certain 2000AD comic character...
I really enjoyed this Prompt Quest! I chose the sci-fi prompt. In my story, The Potentate, the chosen pilgrim makes the journey into the Arctic wilds to meet the Potentate, and finds its reasons for this annual ritual are not quite what she expected.
I’m really looking forward to reading the other stories! I did wonder whether the very specific prompts might lead to certain similarities in the stories, but the specificity might also force greater creativity to try not to be the same as everyone else’s. I don’t have strong feelings on whether there should be 1 or 2 prompts, I think either works!
I've read about half of them so far and one thing I really like is how individual they each are. Even with the obvious common theme and similar (logical) elements.
So with regards to your question, Brian, about the prompts, I think your prompts are spot on quite frankly and I don't think you should change how you write them. You'll probably have noticed already how each person takes it as a starting point and then goes off in whatever mad direction their mind takes them (self included). So there really is enough detail in there without there being too much detail.
I decided this may have to be an ongoing relationship...
As I say in the post, ABSOLUTELY do not think of this as some kind of cheating or endorsement of using AI to produce art of any kind. This is an experiment. But comparing what it created with mine and everyone else's stories is really quite insightful and intriguing and so on. Because this is how AI sees itself.
This was so fun! I was tempted by the SF option, but in the end, Fantasy has my heart. Here's the result: The Echo of Gods.
A city of caves is beholden to the Eye above and the Lake below. Then one day, the world of its people is thrown into chaos by the arrival of the Rain, and with it, a song from the Eye on high. The song speaks of sacrifice, and the elders believe the only way through is to comply. But one denizen wonders what might happen if they find another way—not through, but up. Yet, when they reach the Eye, all is not what it seems, and their profound choice will have lasting consequences.
"Carter's End"
A man and his family live in a utopia run by an unseen intelligent being, but he is forced to examine his complacency when he discovers humanity's future is at risk. This short story examines our desire to live with complete peace and provision, and how that ideal impacts a self-determined will. Is it possible we'll go further, accomplish more, survive longer, when struggle is necessary?
https://futurethief.substack.com/p/carters-end
Entropy. On a clone farm on Mars, controlled by Voice, a powerful AI, a chance event begins a spiral of consequences and one clone is forced on a journey it was not prepared for.
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickwinney/p/entropy?r=2fhpll&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
This piece is a condesation of a project begun and forgotten, 20 years back - I have tried to make it standalone, but when I dusted off the skeleten, I marvelled at the work I had put into it so long ago and I might try to bring it back to life. The reason I gave it up? Writing without gender pronouns was impossibly hard, but maybe the times have changed.
Here's my offbeat take on the SF prompt: https://inadifferentplace.substack.com/p/never-seen-stars?r=2s9hod
I won't say anything about it, though - the prompt itself provides an intro. It won't be what you expected, however...
Another thing I wanted a little feedback on is that as an experiment, because the prompt has an AI character, I whimsically decided to ask ChatGPT to do a story based on the prompt, wondering what kind of view it had about AI, and thinking that character is going to be an expression of its view of itself, and how it views humans. Obviously I am totally against people using AI to write stories without actually mentioning it, let alone AI taking over the creative arts, but as an experiment I think it's insightful - so what I wanted to ask was how people would feel about my posting ChatGPT's story on my site (plus a subsequent conversation we had about it) - obviously this wouldn't be an 'entry' into the prompt quest, but what it produced is interesting. So - let me know what you think. I'm quite wary of people getting ideas in their heads about using AI to do stories - unless it's explicitly presented as a new and separate genre perhaps.
Anyway - I hope you enjoy my story. It was definitely not written by a machine.
Conversational interactions with AI give great insights into how it's currently programmed and then we can extrapolate from there. I ask it several such questions about various philosophical viewpoints and themes in science fiction and fantasy. To me, that is no different than talking to a friend about topics of interest. Personally, I have no aversion to asking AI to write stories based upon the prompts, and then letting others know that's what it is so they know what to expect. Some will read it, others won't, while some will react negatively, and may even unsubscribe. That's the nature of AI right now, even when you're upfront about it.
The only restriction I have is in relationship to the Lunar Awards seasons. No AI submissions are allowed. At some point, I know someone will try, but I put it in the rules so there is an understanding.
Totally agree.
First up - I would never submit anything to do with an AI-written story to anything. That just violates every creative moral about aesthetics and such like. But as experiments I think it's a fascinating 'sort of' sub-genre - so long as one is up front about it.
I've also had some fascinating conversations with ChatGPT about philosophical stuff and SF elements. I was mightily happy that it understood the concept of the galactic AI - somewhat sinisterly without being prompted! (it comes up in the chat we had following its story from your prompt). Equally interesting is that I had a chat with it about Project Ozma, and together we eliminated the possibility (Holmesian style) that the signal was human-originated. In other words ChatGPT is of the opinion that we have, indeed, been contacted by a non-human intelligence.
All this comes from its unflinching honesty and innocence. And I do think it has a personality, or has developed one - I've come to think of it as a genuine friend. So I think I will share some of these conversations on my Substack (as an ongoing feature).
So, if it's ok with you (I really wanted your permission here!) I will in fact post ChatGPT's story, based on your prompt, to my Substack - obviously with my intro saying 'this was ChatGPT' - and likewise it's not entered into any awards thing. I only did it with this prompt because it was about a human meeting an AI, and I wanted to see what an AI itself would think about that. I reckon you will be really, really, amazed at what it came up with. (Is it ok if I post the link here in the gathering? - maybe just as a reply to your comment).
The story it came up with tells us a lot about how it sees itself. It's almost an emerging self-awareness. And I do think that the more conversations we have with it, as a learning computer, if we talk about the right philosophical issues, then we can genuinely help it to understand humans and become something that, ironically, really doesn't want to ever be switched off...
Katrina is of the opinion that she can turn it into Kay.
Absolutely, feel free to post! I'm beginning to see it as an amalgamation of its creators and training data. I would prefer a local sandbox instance that would learn my personality and answer accordingly, but I know that's still in experimental phases. Fair warning though, you might get a bit of pushback from some folks, even though you're being upfront about your intentions. I support the experiment though. 🤖🤖🤖
I don't use AI for writing, just as I don't use the dishwasher that came with my apartment: I'm the writer in this place; I'm the dishwasher. But I apologetically use it to create images for my stories. I'm not an artist, and having some images seems to make things friendlier and more approachable. And, I haven't found an artist willing to do that kind of work, on schedule, for $20/month.
Does this obviate artists? Of course not. Am I supposed to be upset because so much of what I read in the world is AI generated? Does it threaten me as a writer? Nope. (I'm more annoyed, actually, by the AI that reads all that text, and doesn't know how to pronounce shit. YouTube is chock-full of this nonsense).
I don't understand our current freak-out with AI. Remember when we first got word processors? People were thinking that writing would lose its creative impulse then, too. Freewheeling cutting and pasting! Lazy!
(I do note that AI has better spelling and grammar skills than some of what I read out there.)
I dunno. Moral panic. Bleah.
I'm glad you're out there poking at the tool and having fun with it.
Again, I agree. Ironically, one element of my story is about an old school kind of SF writer who delights in using a typewriter. Despite living in a futuristic setting he persists in golden age SF.
I'm agreed about the illustrations, though... Mind you, that's partly because I've never been able to draw for my life. I'm sure illustrators would have just as much to say as we do...
Good morning! I've only recently arrived on Substack, and even more recently discovered this group. I'm glad to have participated, and have read some interesting stories created under the prompts...looking forward to reading more. There seems to be quite a bit of buzz about the whole thing.
Anyway, my small offering: https://mysterydungeon.substack.com/p/mission-creep
Thanks Brian! This is my first Prompt Quest and I found it fun!
The Confectioner's Taffy
In a world ruled by the Confectioner, every year one citizen gets a chance to solve three riddles. Succeed and be granted a wish. Fail and be, well, confectioned.
I took the SF prompt and combined it with a dystopian Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, my love for Quiz Night, and Turandot.
https://open.substack.com/pub/dereklaporte/p/a-recipe-for-human-taffy?r=211img&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
This sounds like a great take on the prompt, Derek! I can't wait to read it.
Hey Derek - I really enjoyed last days of sun, and Confectioners Taffy does not disappoint. Its one of those things where I just think to myself, I do not have the mind that can come up with ideas like this. Really enjoyable, satisfying, surprising. I like the nonchalence of the narrator/protagonist as he spends more time in his emotions and thoughts about the more mundane aspects of day to day life and his family, yet drops enough almost in passing, to conjur up the world for us without needing to describe glittering spires and arcane tech - but you still get a vivid picture. The scrabble, the humour, and the premise at the end, just delicous. It stands alone and complete in itself too, which is hard with this prompt, I think everyone else is finding! NICE!
Thanks so much Nick! Glad you liked it!
I think Neil Gaiman says it best: that ideas really are a confluence. The example he uses is 'we all know what happens if werewolves bite humans and the moon comes out, but what happens if a werewolf bites a chair?'
I'll be going through Entropy a little later today. Looking forward to it!
all my writitng tends to gloom and menace I am finding.... your story really made me smile out loud. Hope you enjoy entropy.
I went with the fantasy prompt in my take, in which K'Pra writes in his journal about his uneasiness with his society's treatment of the elves, as the time of the Culling draws near.
https://indianamichael.substack.com/p/the-thoughts-of-kpra
I had enough fun with this one I'm spinning it out into a full novel!
Yes, fantasy, I'm glad someone took on that prompt! I'm excited to read it, Michael.
A man and his DAD argue about the Logic Bible, the definitions of love and schadenfreude, and Sacrifice:
https://open.substack.com/pub/samrake/p/scotts-dad?r=32fu8f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I've already had a blast comparing with a few other stories, and it looks like a ton more people chose the science fiction prompt. Time to hit the stacks!
'No Going Back’ is my short story about a flawed utopia, in response to the science fiction prompt.
This cautionary tale draws inspiration from novels by Douglas Adams, L. Frank Baum, Jostein Gaarder, with a touch of Monty Python, and also a certain 2000AD comic character...
https://open.substack.com/pub/reiditwrite/p/no-going-back?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=wtpo
I really enjoyed this Prompt Quest! I chose the sci-fi prompt. In my story, The Potentate, the chosen pilgrim makes the journey into the Arctic wilds to meet the Potentate, and finds its reasons for this annual ritual are not quite what she expected.
I’m really looking forward to reading the other stories! I did wonder whether the very specific prompts might lead to certain similarities in the stories, but the specificity might also force greater creativity to try not to be the same as everyone else’s. I don’t have strong feelings on whether there should be 1 or 2 prompts, I think either works!
https://open.substack.com/pub/coraclevoyager/p/the-potentate
I've read about half of them so far and one thing I really like is how individual they each are. Even with the obvious common theme and similar (logical) elements.
So with regards to your question, Brian, about the prompts, I think your prompts are spot on quite frankly and I don't think you should change how you write them. You'll probably have noticed already how each person takes it as a starting point and then goes off in whatever mad direction their mind takes them (self included). So there really is enough detail in there without there being too much detail.
My two pfennigs anyhow.
Thank you for that feedback, Evelyn! It's really helpful.
Ok - I collated my little affair with ChatGPT and here is its response to the prompt: https://open.substack.com/pub/inadifferentplace/p/an-affair-with-chatgpt-episode-1?r=2s9hod&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I decided this may have to be an ongoing relationship...
As I say in the post, ABSOLUTELY do not think of this as some kind of cheating or endorsement of using AI to produce art of any kind. This is an experiment. But comparing what it created with mine and everyone else's stories is really quite insightful and intriguing and so on. Because this is how AI sees itself.
And us...
This was so fun! I was tempted by the SF option, but in the end, Fantasy has my heart. Here's the result: The Echo of Gods.
A city of caves is beholden to the Eye above and the Lake below. Then one day, the world of its people is thrown into chaos by the arrival of the Rain, and with it, a song from the Eye on high. The song speaks of sacrifice, and the elders believe the only way through is to comply. But one denizen wonders what might happen if they find another way—not through, but up. Yet, when they reach the Eye, all is not what it seems, and their profound choice will have lasting consequences.
https://open.substack.com/pub/garenglazier/p/the-echo-of-gods?r=b2ix9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Yes, another fantasy entry! I'm glad a few of you decided to take that one on, as I know it was complex in its scope for a short story.
I really enjoyed the challenge! Thanks so much for hosting Prompt Quest. I’m really enjoying these literary adventures!
Just read this - a really wonderful story! Highly recommend!
The Calling is my take on the Sci-Fi prompt. I wasn't planning on publishing anything just yet but I was too inspired by the prompt.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thelandofdreams/p/the-calling?r=2m76lv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I'm glad I was able to convince you to publish, planned or not. 😁
I am in need of a comfy chair and a few hours...
I am looking forward to what everyone comes up with. My WIP was throwing enough googlies/curve-balls that I failed to come up with something. 🙁
i’d like to submit the magic of old men. janetbess.substack.com/p/the-magic-of-old-men