A fiction writer on Hacker News was stuck on the main conflict of a story, so they talked it through with ChatGPT by voice on their phone while on the bus, then asked it for a revised outline reflecting the changes and word-count targets for each section.
I'm writing a [GENRE] story about [ONE-LINE PREMISE]. I'm stuck on [THE PROBLEM, E.G. WHY THE MAIN CHARACTER WOULD STAY]. Ask me questions one at a time to help me work it out, and don't rewrite my story for me. When we've finished, give me a revised outline with the changes we agreed and a word-count target for each section, aiming for [TOTAL WORDS] words overall.
Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details before you send it.
How to try it
- Open the ChatGPT app and use voice mode when you have a few spare minutes, such as on a commute.
- Describe where you’re stuck and let it ask questions rather than hand you a plot.
- Finish by asking for a revised outline with word-count targets, and paste it into your writing file.
More creativity use cases
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I'm a beginner piano player working on [SKILL, E.G. HAND INDEPENDENCE]. Suggest [NUMBER] short, progressive exercises for this, each with a one-line explanation of what it trains. Then write the first exercise as a complete MusicXML file, in [KEY] and [TIME SIGNATURE], no longer than [NUMBER] bars, so I can open it in MuseScore and print it.
Find rhymes and punchy lines for a birthday poem with ChatGPT
For a friend's birthday, a Hacker News user wrote and performed a three-minute verse about the friend and their puppy in about eight minutes. ChatGPT didn't write it: they used it to find rhyming words that fitted the rhythm, synonyms and punchy endings for their own lines.
I'm writing a funny birthday poem for [NAME] about [TOPIC, E.G. THEIR DOG]. Here are my lines so far: [PASTE]. Don't rewrite it. Instead, for each line ending, suggest rhymes that fit this rhythm, offer a few synonyms for words that feel clunky, and suggest 3 punchier ways to end the final line.
Plan a Dungeons & Dragons game for your kids with Claude
A parent who had wanted to run Dungeons & Dragons for their 14-year-old and friends for years, but never had time to learn the game or how to be a good dungeon master, is using Claude to plan the campaign and get up to speed fast.
I'm a complete beginner dungeon master running Dungeons & Dragons for [NUMBER] players aged [AGE]. Explain only the rules I need for a first session, then plan a [LENGTH, E.G. TWO-HOUR] adventure about [THEME] with a simple map description, three encounters, a few non-player characters with names and voices, and tips for keeping everyone involved.
Reference: Hacker News