I Wrote a Short Story With ChatGPT
This is what happened
I recently wrote a short story with ChatGPT.
While I’m still experimenting with ways to make the output better and more cohesive, there is a lot that I like about the resulting narrative.
Is it perfect?
No, far from it. But it is pretty good. And that’s honestly better than most of us can do on our good days.
Here is what happened.
I Started With a Story Prompt
The first thing I did was feed a short story prompt to ChatGPT.
Here is the prompt I used:
You are writing a short story about a dad who has a dead body in his trunk but has to go on a supervised visit with his two kids. Thier mother is a cop. The story should include a beginning, middle, and end. Include dialogue, action, thoughts, feelings, description, sensory details, tension, escalating conflict, and a ticking clock. The story events should force the father to face and internal conflict that solves the ultimate problem. Please create a simple outline with 3 scenes for the beginning, 5 scenes for the middle, and 3 scenes for the end.
I could have given a much more detailed prompt but this one does incorporate many of the elements I want in a story.
At this point, I’m just looking for a story idea and outline.
In return, ChatGPT gave me this:
Title: A Father’s Burden
Outline
Beginning:
- Introduction to the father, Jack, driving in a panic with the dead body in the trunk.
- Jack’s thoughts about how the body ended up there and his fear of getting caught.
- Jack receives a reminder text from his ex-wife, Lisa, about the supervised visit with their kids.
Middle:
- Jack arrives at Lisa’s house and tries to act normal while greeting her and the kids, Emily and Jake.
- During the visit, Jack is constantly on edge and distracted, raising Lisa’s suspicions.
- Jack takes the kids to a park for a picnic, trying to buy time to figure out a plan.
- While at the park, Jack overhears a conversation about a criminal on the loose who is responsible for multiple murders.
- Jack devises a plan to pin the dead body on the criminal, but he needs to dispose of the body without the kids finding out.
End:
- Jack, now desperate, decides to take the kids on an impromptu hike, leading them toward the spot he plans to dispose of the body.
- Jack’s internal struggle between his love for his kids and his need to protect himself comes to a head when Emily gets injured during the hike.
- Jack abandons his plan, calls Lisa for help, and confesses everything. In the end, Jack realizes that being honest and facing the consequences is the only way to protect his children and himself.
I was (and am) pretty happy with this outline.
Next step, writing the damn story.
Writing the Damn Story
I asked ChatGPT to start writing the story with the following prompt:
Please write scene 1 in the beginning part of the outline. Build the plot slowly and write a long, tension filled scene. Write up to 500 words for the first scene.
Again, I kept it short and sweet.
Here is the result:
Title: A Father’s Burden
Scene 1:
The steady hum of the car engine did little to calm Jack’s racing heart. His hands clutched the steering wheel with such force that his knuckles paled, as his eyes constantly flickered between the rearview mirror and the road before him. With each passing car, his breath caught in his throat, fearing that they might somehow know what was hidden in his trunk.
A cold sweat trickled down his back as he replayed the events of the night before. He had been at a bar, drowning his sorrows after losing his job. One drink led to another, and soon enough, he was heavily intoxicated. He had stepped out into the alley to catch some fresh air, only to find himself in the middle of a heated argument between two strangers. In a moment of blind rage and inebriation, he had thrown a punch that landed on the face of one of the strangers, sending the man’s head crashing into the cold, hard pavement. The man never got up.
Panicking, Jack had hastily hidden the body in the trunk of his car, convinced that he could find a way to dispose of it later. But as the haze of alcohol lifted, the gravity of his actions weighed on him like a thousand-ton boulder. He was a murderer, and if he were caught, he would lose everything, including his children.
The sudden buzz of his phone interrupted his thoughts. As Jack glanced down, he saw a text message from his ex-wife, Lisa, the woman who had once been his world, but was now a constant reminder of his past mistakes.
“Reminder: Supervised visit with Emily and Jake today at 10 AM. Don’t be late.”
His heart sank as he realized the visit was just an hour away. He couldn’t cancel; he had already missed too many visits, and Lisa was becoming increasingly strict. But how could he face his children with a dead body in the trunk? The thought of their innocent eyes looking at him with trust and love twisted a knot in his stomach.
Jack’s eyes flickered back to the rearview mirror, now fogged up by the growing humidity inside the car. He wiped the condensation away with his sleeve, revealing the reflection of the trunk. The body lay there, hidden from sight, but a sinister presence nonetheless. He knew that he couldn’t drive around with the body for much longer. He had to find a way to get rid of it, and fast.
But first, he had to see his children.
As Jack pulled onto the street where Lisa lived, the familiar houses lined up like old friends, their manicured lawns and neatly trimmed hedges a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding inside him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the world could sense his guilt, and that every eye was on him.
He took a deep breath as he parked the car in front of Lisa’s house, the red brick facade bearing witness to a life he once shared with her. The fear of losing his children, the only good thing left in his life, threatened to crush him. He couldn’t let that happen. He had to find a way to fix this, no matter the cost.
Jack stepped out of the car, glancing back at the trunk one last time before he forced a smile on his face and approached the front door. Today’s visit would be a test of endurance, but for the sake of his children, he would have to play the part of the doting father, all the while carrying the secret of the dead body that lay just a few feet away.
Honestly, not bad. Not bad at all.
There is a lot to like here. Sure, it can be improved but for a first draft, I’m happy.
So I proceeded to ask ChatGPT to continue to write the rest of the story.
Making Stylistic Changes on the Fly
In some scenes (especially the middle), ChatGPT skimped on some of the juicy parts. When that happened, I asked ChatGPT to rewrite or expand those sections.
I probably asked ChatGPT to rewrite the entire story — or sections of the story — half a dozen times.
Here are some prompts I used:
- How else would you improve this story? (Note: ChatGPT gave me some great recommendations)
- Ok, please rewrite the story with these suggestions in mind. Fully flesh out each scene so that there is a beginning, middle, and end of each scene. Write 300 to 500 words per scene. Show more than tell. Use dialogue and action mixed with thoughts and feelings for character development. Only use a narrative summary when it is the best choice.
Mostly, those changes made for a better story.
Sometimes, though, I preferred earlier versions. As you might imagine, that means cobbling together a short story as if pulling together puzzle pieces on a giant table (in the dark).
Not easy.
But, in the next section, I’ll share with you the best results I got (so far).
I hope you enjoy it.
The Short Story: A Father’s Burden
Jack stood in his driveway, staring at the trunk of his car. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow on the quiet suburban street. The faint sound of birdsong filled the air, but it did nothing to quell the storm raging inside him.
Last night’s events played in his mind like a broken film reel: the heated argument, the struggle, and the chilling realization that he had taken a life. He remembered the frenzied scramble to conceal the body, stuffing it into the trunk of his car with trembling hands.
But today, he had to face the reality of his actions. His two children, Emily and Jake, were waiting for him at their mother’s house. Lisa, his ex-wife, was a police officer — and the last person he wanted to see right now. With a deep breath, he climbed into his car, the weight of his secret threatening to crush him.
As Jack drove, his grip tightened on the steering wheel. The ticking of the car’s clock seemed to mock him, a constant reminder that time was running out. He knew he had to get rid of the body, but how could he do that with his children waiting for him? He felt trapped, cornered, and desperate for a way out.
The night before, Jack had been out drinking, trying to drown his sorrows after another contentious conversation with Lisa over the phone. Stumbling back to his car, he encountered a man who had tried to rob him. The altercation had quickly escalated, and in a blind panic, Jack had fought back — too forcefully. The man lay lifeless on the ground, and Jack’s life changed forever.
Jack rang the doorbell, feeling a shiver run down his spine as he waited for Lisa to answer. When the door swung open, he found himself face-to-face with his ex-wife, who was still wearing her police uniform. The sight of her badge and gun only served to heighten his anxiety.
“Jack, you’re on time for once,” Lisa said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Kids, your father’s here!”
Emily and Jake came running down the hall, their smiles like rays of sunshine cutting through the storm inside Jack’s mind. He knelt down to hug them, holding on to them a little tighter than usual.
“Hey, kiddos! How about we go to the park for a picnic?” Jack suggested, desperate to get away from Lisa’s watchful gaze. The kids cheered in agreement, and Jack ushered them out the door.
At the park, Jack struggled to maintain his composure. He spread out a blanket under a large oak tree, trying to focus on his children and the beautiful day, but the weight of his secret loomed over him like a dark cloud. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Lisa’s eyes were everywhere, watching him, waiting for him to slip up.
As he absentmindedly handed out sandwiches to Emily and Jake, his mind raced with plans to dispose of the body. But each idea seemed more far-fetched and riskier than the last. Time seemed to be slipping through his fingers like sand, and with each passing minute, the pressure mounted.
Suddenly, a faint but unmistakable odor reached Jack’s nostrils. The smell of decay was beginning to seep from the trunk. He glanced around nervously, hoping that no one else had noticed. He knew he had to act fast, but with his children by his side, his options were limited.
The memory of dragging the lifeless body to his car resurfaced, filling Jack with a mixture of dread and shame. He remembered the terror that had gripped him as he struggled to fit the body into the trunk, praying that nobody would see him. Sweat had poured down his face as he finally closed the trunk, sealing his terrible secret inside.
Jack’s attention was suddenly drawn to a nearby conversation between two park-goers. They were discussing a dangerous criminal on the loose, a man responsible for a string of grisly murders in the area. Jack’s heart raced as an idea began to form in his mind. If he could pin the body in his trunk on the criminal, he might be able to escape the consequences of his actions.
He listened intently as the two people shared details about the murderer’s modus operandi, hoping to find something that he could use. A sick feeling settled in his stomach as he realized that he was now actively planning to frame someone else for his crime. But he couldn’t afford to think about that now — he needed to focus on his plan.
As the kids played in the jungle gym, Jack formulated a plan. He would need to dispose of the body in a way that would implicate the criminal without arousing suspicion from his children or Lisa. He scanned the area and spotted a densely wooded area a short distance away from the playground. It was risky, but it was his only shot.
Jack tried to play the role of the attentive father, watching as Emily and Jake laughed and climbed, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept one eye on the woods, mentally mapping out the path he would need to take to reach a suitable spot for the body. He did his best to brush off the nagging guilt that was steadily gnawing at his insides, focusing instead on the need to protect his children from the truth.
Feigning enthusiasm, Jack called the kids over. “Hey, guys! How about we go on a little adventure and explore those woods over there?”
Emily and Jake hesitated for a moment, but their father’s excitement was contagious, and they agreed. As they walked toward the woods, Jack couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for involving his children in his twisted plan. But he kept pushing forward, knowing that his future with them hung in the balance.
Before they could reach the woods, however, Jake suddenly remembered that he had left his toy action figure in the car. Without waiting for Jack’s response, he sprinted back toward the vehicle, his little legs pumping with determination.
Panic surged through Jack as he realized that Jake would likely have to open the trunk to retrieve his toy. Desperate, Jack called after him, but his words were drowned out by the sound of children playing and laughter filling the park.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Jack ran after Jake, praying that he would reach the car in time. He knew that if his son were to discover the horrible secret hidden in the trunk, the fragile world he was trying so desperately to protect would come crashing down around him.
Jack’s legs burned as he sprinted across the park, his eyes locked on Jake’s small figure nearing the car. The world around him blurred, and the only sound he could hear was the pounding of his heart. The distance between him and the car seemed to stretch on forever, and he felt as though he was trapped in a nightmare.
As Jake reached the car and began fumbling with the handle, Jack’s lungs screamed for air. He mustered every last ounce of strength and shouted, “Jake, wait! I’ll get your toy for you!”
Jake paused, looking back at his father with confusion. Jack finally reached the car, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He fought to steady himself, forcing a smile onto his face as he bent down to Jake’s eye level.
“I think your toy might be in the front seat, buddy. Let’s check there first,” Jack said, his voice strained. He prayed that his son wouldn’t question him further.
Jake nodded, his attention already drifting back to the toy he was so eager to find. Relieved, Jack quickly opened the front door and rummaged through the cluttered interior. To his immense relief, he found the action figure wedged between the seats.
“Here you go, champ,” Jack said, handing the toy to his son. Jake’s face lit up with delight, and he raced back to Emily, who was waiting impatiently by the edge of the woods.
Jack leaned against the car, his legs trembling from the adrenaline crash. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him, the gravity of how close he had come to exposing the terrible secret threatening to overwhelm him.
Gathering himself, Jack joined Emily and Jake at the entrance to the woods, doing his best to appear calm and collected. They ventured into the dense foliage, the dappled sunlight casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The sounds of the park faded behind them, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the occasional birdcall.
As they walked, Jack’s mind raced, trying to figure out how he could separate from his children long enough to dispose of the body. His plan was to scout out a location deep in the woods where he could hide the body. After finding the spot, he would take Emily and Jake back to the car, telling them to stay put while he “retrieved” something he had forgotten. Then, he would return to the woods alone to drag the body from the trunk to the hiding spot he had scouted earlier.
In his mind, Jack could see himself executing each step of the plan with cold precision. He imagined the relief he would feel once the deed was done, knowing that he had averted disaster and protected his children from the horrible truth. But as he pictured himself carrying out the plan, something didn’t feel right. The thought of involving his children, even indirectly, filled him with guilt and revulsion.
Suddenly, Emily tripped on a protruding tree root and let out a sharp cry of pain. Jack rushed to her side, his heart lurching with concern. As he gently examined her twisted ankle, he looked into his daughter’s tear-filled eyes and felt a powerful surge of love and protectiveness.
In that moment, Jack realized that he couldn’t go through with his plan. His children’s safety and well-being meant more to him than anything else, even his own freedom. He made a decision that would change the course of his life forever.
Cradling Emily in his arms, he carried her back to the park, with Jake trailing behind them. Once they were settled on the picnic blanket, Jack took out his phone and dialed Lisa’s number. He knew that there was no easy way to confess what he had done, but he couldn’t keep running from the truth.
“Lisa, I need your help,” he began, his voice cracking with emotion. “I got caught up in something last night, and I don’t know how to deal with it. I’m really scared, and I need to make things right.”
As he spoke, Jack felt the weight of his secret lifting, replaced by the heavy burden of the consequences that were yet to come. But at that moment, he knew that he was making the right choice — for himself, and for his children.
Final Thoughts
I don’t think ChatGPT is going to replace authors of fiction any time soon but the technology will advance to where it can hold its own.
For now, I think ChatGPT is better for nonfiction, blog posts, etc.
But it’s exciting to play around with narrative.
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