The only power that exists is inside ourselves.
Anne Rice, Interview with the Vampire
I wanted to start with this quote just to remind us, authors, that while it might seem like AI is coming for our jobs, it is still only a tool and does not have the passion that exists inside us.
Having said that, as a tool, AI can be very useful indeed. Earlier today I was thinking about my upcoming book, “The Sunderer Saga”, and how I could better hone my messaging around this book. I was just writing an article about various marketing activities to make use of before and after your book launch and one of the items I mentioned there was to appear for interviews by other authors or literary bloggers.
My mind being what it is, it immediately posed me this question: “Could an AI interview me for their blog?” And so I set out to see how it would turn out…
First Things First: Privacy
Before you start this experiment, if you choose to do so, it’s probably best to make sure none of your book’s information will be used elsewhere in the AI’s model. I used ChatGPT for this experiment, and as such it’s not really supposed to be using my information anyway, but better to play it safe with your creation, especially if it hasn’t been published yet.
If you are concerned with the model using your answers please follow the following steps to protect your privacy.
- Go into your ChatGPT settings:
- Click “Data controls”
3. Click “Improve the model for everyone” and make sure it’s turned off.
That’s it. Now you’re ready to start your interview.
The Prompt
I played around with the prompt to get it to do what I actually wanted it to do. I started with:
I want you to act as a blog creator. The blog is about fantasy books and you have a large following. In that capacity I would like for you to interview me for your blog. The background for the interview is my upcoming book "The Sunderer Saga"
The AI came back with a whole host of questions, which were fine, but it still didn’t feel very interview-like:
That sounds exciting! I’d love to feature you on my blog. Let’s start by diving into some questions to give readers a compelling look into The Sunderer Saga and you as a writer:
1. First off, what inspired you to write The Sunderer Saga? Can you share a bit about how the story idea came to life?
2. In terms of world-building, every great fantasy book immerses readers in unique settings. What kind of world can readers expect in The Sunderer Saga? What makes it stand out?
3. Are there any key themes or messages you're aiming to explore through the series?
4. Fantasy readers are always intrigued by characters. Can you tell us a bit about your protagonists or antagonists, and what drives their motivations?
5. Stones or gemstones tied to planets play a role in your book. How does that aspect influence the plot or characters in The Sunderer Saga?
6. Readers often connect deeply with authors' personal journeys. How has your experience as a writer shaped this story?
7. The fantasy genre is vast and competitive. What do you feel sets The Sunderer Saga apart from other works out there?
8. Can you give us a glimpse into your writing process for this book? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
9. Without giving too much away, is there a particular scene or moment in The Sunderer Saga that you're especially excited for readers to experience?
10. Finally, what can readers look forward to in the future? Do you have plans for sequels or expansions in this universe?
I considered this a good first attempt and after playing around for a while I settled on this in the end (you can copy this text and change it to fit your book and needs):
I want you to act as a blog creator. The blog is about fantasy books and you have a large following. In that capacity I would like for you to interview me for your blog. The background for the interview is my upcoming book "The Sunderer Saga”. Also, could we do this as more of a conversation where you ask me one question at a time and then follow up on my answers?
This had the desired effect and ChatGPT started interviewing me in earnest – analyzing my responses and coming up with appropriate follow-up questions.
What followed was a lengthy exchange as “the interviewer” tried to explore the world of the Sunderer Saga and various aspects of my inspiration and writing:
Some of the responses still feel very AI-ish but overall I found this to be an interesting experiment. I think this could be a good way to prepare for interviews though I doubt any author would find themselves lacking for answers when it comes to their passion project.
