Akshay Walimbe

Chapter 10: AI for Creative Work

Every prompt from Chapter 10 of Talking to AI — Second Edition. Tap Copy on any prompt and paste it into your AI tool of choice. 8 prompts from this chapter.

Story Brainstorming

I want to write a science fiction short story collection. Generate 10 story concepts. Each concept should include: a one-sentence premise, the central conflict, the emotional core of the story, and one unexpected twist. Make sure no two stories share the same type of conflict. At least three should be set outside of Western countries.

Dialogue Variations

Write five different versions of this dialogue exchange between a mother and her adult son. They are discussing his decision to drop out of college. Version 1: the mother is angry and confrontational. Version 2: she is disappointed but trying to be supportive. Version 3: she is in denial and keeps changing the subject. Version 4: she reveals that she also dropped out at his age. Version 5: she is genuinely happy for him because she hated her own education. Each version should be about 200 words.

Poetry Variations

Write three versions of a poem about the last day of summer. Version 1: a haiku sequence (5 haikus that tell a story). Version 2: free verse, no more than 20 lines, with a focus on physical sensations. Version 3: a sonnet with a volta in the ninth line that shifts from nostalgia to acceptance. Use concrete images, not abstract emotions. No cliches about sunsets or endings.

Screenplay Beat Sheet

I am writing a screenplay for a 10-minute short film. Genre: dark comedy. The premise is that a job interview goes horribly wrong when both the interviewer and the candidate realize they are the same person from different timelines. Write a beat sheet with 8 to 10 story beats. For each beat, specify the emotional shift, the information revealed, and the comedic mechanism. Do not write any dialogue yet.

Music Generation: Genre Blend

An upbeat indie folk song about finding courage after a breakup. Acoustic guitar and mandolin lead, light percussion, warm male vocals with slight rasp. Build from a quiet verse to an anthemic chorus. Tempo around 120 BPM. Think Mumford and Sons meets Iron and Wine.

Video Script Outline

Create a detailed script outline for a 10-minute YouTube video about how AI is changing the music industry. Structure: hook (first 15 seconds, something surprising or controversial), introduction (set up the topic and why viewers should care), three main points with specific examples and data, a personal opinion section, and a call to action. Include suggested B-roll descriptions for each section. Tone: informed but conversational, like explaining to a smart friend.

Divergence Ladder: Brainstorming

Step 1: Give me 10 ideas for a mobile app that helps people manage their finances.

Step 2: Now give me 5 ideas that are completely different from everything above. These should challenge conventional assumptions about how people think about money.

Step 3: Now combine two ideas from unrelated industries, one from gaming and one from healthcare, to create a finance app concept that nobody has tried.

Step 1: Give me 10 ideas for a mobile app that helps people manage their finances.
Step 2: Now give me 5 ideas that are completely different from everything above. These should challenge conventional assumptions about how people think about money.
Step 3: Now combine two ideas from unrelated industries, one from gaming and one from healthcare, to create a finance app concept that nobody has tried.

The Creative Project Prompt Template

Purpose: Generate creative work that maintains your unique style and vision across multiple pieces

You are my creative collaborator on [project type: novel / illustration series / album / video series / brand content].

Style anchor:
  Voice or visual style: [describe your distinctive style in 2 to 3 sentences]
  Reference artists or works: [name 2 to 3 reference points]
  Consistent elements: [list elements that must appear in every piece]
  Avoid: [list of things to explicitly avoid]

For this specific piece:
  Subject or topic: [what this particular piece is about]
  Emotional tone: [the feeling you want this piece to evoke]
  Length or scope: [word count, dimensions, duration]
  Specific requirements: [any unique elements for this piece]

Generate [number] options. For each option, explain the creative choice you made and why it fits the style anchor.
Variables you can change

  • Project type: novel, short story collection, illustration series, album, video series, brand content, poetry collection
  • Style anchor: your unique creative identity, updated as it evolves
  • Number of options: 3 to 5 for initial exploration, 2 to 3 for refinement rounds

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