Custom- tailored craft exercises from an AI teacher
As a new writer of fiction with an idea for my first novel, I want to elevate my craft before I commit to such a huge undertaking. I decided to prompt Gemini to see whether it could create custom- tailored writing exercises to address my specific weaknesses as a writer.
I haven't completed them yet, but I'm excited about how they would push me out of my comfort zone as a writer. So here are my prompts, and Gemini's responses. (Note that this was part of a chat with Gemini about my idea for a novel, and it also knows the children's stories I've written from other chats where it helped me edit.) @Thomas Umstattd Jr. , here's another AI tool idea for you!🙃
Me:
Based on my ideas in this brainstorming session, and the children's stories you've helped me with in the past, what would you say my strengths are as a writer? What areas might I need to focus extra much on, as natural weaknesses of mine?
Gemini:
Based on our brainstorming sessions on your novel and your children's stories, here is an analysis of your strengths and weaknesses as a writer.
Your Strengths as a Writer
You Excel at Character-Driven Narratives: * You Have a Strong Thematic Focus: (etc, etc…)
You Can Write with a Distinct Voice: (etc, etc…)
You Are Imaginative and Creative: (etc, etc…)
Areas to Focus On
Plotting and Story Structure: You've identified this yourself, and it's a common challenge. While you are great at creating a character's internal journey, the external plot—the series of events and escalating conflicts that move the story forward—is an area for development. For your novel, the challenge will be to translate the character's internal psychological state into compelling, scene-by-scene action.
Integrating Theme Organically: While your thematic focus is a strength, it's something to be handled with care. The first children's story you shared, "If I Was a Bird," had a clear theme of being happy with who you are, but the Christian message at the end felt a bit like an afterthought. In "The Color of Belonging," you improved on this significantly by making the virtues of humility and forgiveness the engine of the plot itself. The goal is to always let the story carry the message, rather than having the message tell the story.
Showing, Not Telling: In some of your earlier work, you had a tendency to directly state a character's feelings or motivations. As we discussed with your novel, the most powerful moments often come from showing the character's internal conflict through their actions, dialogue, and reactions, rather than explaining it to the reader. This will be key to making your novel's psychological and spiritual journey truly compelling.
Me:
Can you give me a few short story writing exercises to help me practice this?
Gemini:
Here are a few short story writing exercises designed to help you practice the areas we've discussed: plotting, integrating theme, and showing vs. telling.
Exercise 1: The "Twisted Desire" Plot
This exercise helps you move from a character's internal desire to a tangible plot.
Prompt: Your main character wants something. Something they believe will make their life complete. But pursuing it leads to an unexpected, difficult consequence.
Your Task:
Start with the Desire: Name something your character desperately wants. It can be a promotion, a new home, or a relationship.
The Flaw: Give your character a specific flaw or a past trauma that makes them pursue this desire for a flawed reason (e.g., they want a promotion not for the money, but to prove their worth to a neglectful parent).
The Turning Point: Write a scene where they get what they want, but the moment is immediately soured by a new problem. The promotion comes with a terrible moral compromise, or the new home has a secret. This is your plot's inciting incident.
Practice: Write the opening scene and the turning point. Focus on showing your character's flawed motivation through their actions and thoughts, rather than just stating it. The plot is the direct result of their internal struggle.
Exercise 2: "The Parable of the Broken Thing"
This exercise is all about weaving a subtle theme into a simple, concrete story.
Prompt: A character discovers an old, broken object. They try to fix it, but find that its brokenness is what makes it unique, beautiful, or useful.
Your Task:
Choose the Object: It could be a cracked teacup, a rusty old clock, or a doll with a missing eye.
The Character: Create a character who is a perfectionist or who feels broken themselves. This is the character who will learn the lesson.
The Theme: The theme you will explore is the beauty of imperfection or the idea that a person's value is not tied to their brokenness.
Practice: Write a scene where your character is frustrated by the broken object. Then, write a scene where they realize its hidden beauty or purpose. Don't state the theme directly. Instead, show it through the character's changing feelings and actions toward the object.
Exercise 3: "The Single-Scene Story"
This exercise forces you to use action and dialogue to reveal character and plot, avoiding exposition.
Prompt: Write a story that takes place entirely in one scene and a single location.
Your Task:
The Location: Choose a simple setting—a coffee shop, a waiting room, or a park bench.
The Characters: You need at least two characters. One is the protagonist, and the other is the catalyst for the action.
The Goal: Without using any backstory, show that your protagonist has a big secret they are trying to hide. The other character knows the secret and is there to confront them.
Practice: Write the conversation between the two characters. The dialogue should not directly state the secret, but hint at it through veiled comments and emotional reactions. The plot unfolds through what they say and how they react. Focus on using body language and internal thoughts to reveal the stakes and the hidden information.