Hi folks
(1 of 2)
Yes, I’m going to send you two prompts a day on Monday and Tuesday, so you have all but the very last of the prompts early to take you through the holiday week. That way, if you want to write extra ahead of time and bank it, you can do that.
This prompt below is the one you would be writing Tuesday 11/26 to be turned in on Wednesday 11/27 by noon Central Time, but just label your email for prompt 26 and you can turn it early and I’ll credit it ahead.
And of course, you can always use the mini-play at the bottom of the email and blog post as an escape hatch for the day’s writing.
Happy writing to you all, in the meantime.
Let’s get you that first writing prompt…
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Challenge #26 - Chat GPT, Gmail AI, and Off Book
Write Nov. 26th - or earlier if you like
Due: Wednesday, November 27th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)
Another suggestion from Threshold Theater Literary Associate Kate Cosgrove:
“Write a scene that could convincingly pass as a scene generated by ChatGPT (without using ChatGPT... obviously).”
This reminds me of two things, the first of which is Gmail’s AI, which includes three options at the bottom of every email which it hopes will be helpful as a quick response to a message someone sent you:
Looks great!
Got it, thanks!
Done.
Done and uploaded.
This is great, thank you so much!
Thanks, I’ll take a look.
This is great, thank you!
Glad to help!
Here you go!
Sorry about that! I just resent it.
Will do, thanks for letting me know.
Printed!
But nothing confuses AI more than submitting script scenes in the body of an email. I got lots of confused completely inappropriate responses like the following:
Absolutely!
All the best with your writing endeavors.
Amazing story!
Beautiful day!
Beautiful poem.
Beautiful story!
Bummer!
Congratulations!
Glad to hear you made it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Glad you like the book!
Good luck!
Good one(s)!
Got it.
Got the invite.
Got you down!
Great!
Great question!
Haha!
Haha, thanks!
Hahaha!
Have a great weekend too!
I agree with you.
I know you do.
I think it’s perfect!
I’m so proud of you!
I’m sorry.
It was fun!
It was our pleasure!
Lol.
Looking forward to it too!
Made it to the end!
Me neither.
Much better.
Of course you can!
Ok to send.
Pic?
So glad you enjoyed it!
So true!
Still nothing.
Sweet dreams!
Thank you!
Thanks, you too!
These are cute.
These are great!
They look great!
This is a good one.
Very cool!
Very funny!
We will be there!
We will miss you!
(And my personal favorite AI response…)
What is this?
This also puts me in mind of the recurring improv comedy series Off Book at HUGE improv theater (R.I.P.)
For this improv show, the concept was as follows:
An actor memorizes the lines of one side of a conversation in a scene from a play. They can only say those lines, in the order they were written.
An improviser is assigned the actor as a scene partner but the improviser is not provided with the script for the scene, and actually has no idea what the scene is about. They can only take their cues from what the actor says to them. Sometimes the actor’s side of the conversation is open to wide interpretation. Often the improviser commits to a bit that is VERY different from what the scene is actually about - and comedy ensues, as the actor and improviser work together to find their way through the scene. (They used scenes from a couple of my plays in different rounds of this concept and it was a lot of fun to watch.)
Artificial intelligence trying to create the other side of the conversation based on lines it’s been fed is a lot like this (and though not nearly as creative, it’s still very funny :)
So take any or all of that as a jumping off point.
Or, as usual, just write whatever you like and turn it in by the deadline. Up to you.
Just write something :)
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If you’re not interested in this prompt, you can
try 2021’s challenge #26: Random Phrase Generator part 4
Or try 2022’s challenge #26: Visual Writing Prompt
Or try 2023’s Challenge #26: Impossible Set (from Threshold Theater Literary Associate Kate Cosgrove)
Or, you know, just ignore the prompts altogether and write whatever you want - as long as you’re writing and turning it in by the deadline, that’s all that matters for the challenge :)
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And because we call can get in our own way so easily, here’s some words of reassurance on the basics of this month:
Friendly Reminders - Answers To Common Questions:
(Follow the links to read me expounding on these items :)
Don’t Stress About Writing A Full Play
Don’t Stress About FormatDon’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt
No. Really. I Mean It. Don’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt
Don’t Stress About Finishing An Idea (You Can Add Later)
Don’t Stress About “Succeeding” or “Failing”
Don’t Stress About What You’re Turning In Each Day
Don’t Stress About November 28th (however you recognize the holiday weekend)
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How to submit your work for Challenge #26
You have options. They are:
Save your script as a PDF or Word Doc and send as an attachment to an email sent to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com
OR
Copy and paste your script in the body of an email and send it to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com
OR
Post your script online (as a Google doc, or in a blog post, on your own personal website, etc.) - email a link to this script to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com
(If you’re going to Google doc route, just make sure to have the document public, or give permissions to our email address to open it)
When emailing us, make the subject line of your email - Challenge #26
(That just helps us sort through the email more quickly)
(Or, you know, just reply to this email if you want :)
OR
Post the link for the online document option noted above in the comments section below on this very blog post for today's challenge on our writing challenge blog
Write Nov. 26th - or earlier if you like
Again, this is: Due: Wednesday, November 27th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)
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And, just to reassure you, no, we are not going to be sticklers about you following these directions down to the minutest detail - the important thing is that you write, and then that you share it with us, so we can keep track of who’s writing every day.
Also, no, there is no penalty for finishing and submitting early - but it also isn’t a race, so give yourself all the time up til 12 noon Central Time on Wednesday to write if you need it. When you’re done, you’re done.
Again, remember, it doesn’t need to be great, it doesn’t even need to be responding to this prompt (the prompt is just there so you’re not staring at a blank screen to start with no idea what to write about :)
Doesn't even need to be complete - you could have the beginning or the middle or the end of an idea, maybe two out of three but not all, that's still fine. This is all about getting things started, you can write more later. You have 4 more days to build on whatever you come up with today, if you want. Just get anything on the page, even if won't make sense to anyone else, as long as it make sense to you.
It just needs to be something.
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And that something can be:
Lights up.
NARRATOR: And so we sail on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
AI: Beautiful poem! What is this?
Lights down.
The End
That’s always your escape hatch, every day.
That’s your base line.
Build on it.
Have fun.
Don’t stress.
Make an impulsive decision and run with it.
Breathe.
You’ve got the day.
Just write.
And take good care of yourselves, and each other.
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