32 ChatGPT Prompts for Writing a Novel (Creating Captivating Characters)

ChatGPT is transforming the landscape of novel writing.

From dreaming up novel plots to creating engaging characters, weaving gripping narratives, and even refining dialogues—its potential is genuinely groundbreaking.

But with a universe of opportunities, it’s challenging to identify a starting point.

Hence, I’ve crafted this handbook.

In this handbook, inspired by real-world novelist situations and numerous hours of tinkering with ChatGPT, I'll reveal proven ChatGPT prompts for writing a novel.

Let's embark on this journey.

ChatGPT Prompts for Writing a Novel

Decide on the genre of the novel

Deciding on the genre of a novel is a crucial first step in the writing process.

Provide ChatGPT with a brief synopsis or main themes of your story, and it can suggest an appropriate genre for your novel.

It can also analyze popular trends in literature to give you a genre that might appeal to a wider audience.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a literary agent helping a first-time author determine the genre of their novel.

Here is a brief synopsis of the story:

Brainstorm story ideas

Coming up with a captivating storyline for a novel can be challenging.

But, ChatGPT can help you brainstorm creative plot ideas that will pique the interest of your readers.

You just need to provide a genre, or a basic theme, or even a character name, and ChatGPT can suggest various storylines based on your input.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced novelist, generate an intriguing plot for a crime thriller novel set in the 1980s.

The protagonist is a young, ambitious detective named John.

Develop the primary characters

Creating believable and relatable characters is crucial to a captivating novel.

ChatGPT can help you flesh out your main characters' traits, backgrounds, motivations, and conflicts.

You simply need to provide a basic outline or idea for each character, and it will help you deepen their profiles.

For instance, ChatGPT can help you define the protagonist's personality or the antagonist's driving force.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced novelist, help me develop the primary characters for my upcoming novel.

Here are the character outlines:

1.

Protagonist: A young, naive girl with hidden magical abilities.

2.

Antagonist: A seasoned warlord seeking immortality.

Create the story setting

Creating a unique and compelling setting for your novel is crucial in drawing your readers into your story.

By providing ChatGPT with a brief description of your story, it can generate an atmospheric and detailed setting.

It can explore geographical locations, historical periods, cultures, or even entirely new worlds in fantasy novels.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced author and help me create an engaging setting for my novel.

The story is about a young woman discovering her magical abilities in a society where magic is considered a crime.

Generate a detailed setting for this novel.

Outline the plot structure

Whether you're working on your first novel or just need a fresh perspective, ChatGPT can help you outline a compelling plot structure.

Provide the AI with the genre, main characters, and a brief overview of the story.

It will create an outline that includes the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced novelist, help me outline a plot structure for a sci-fi novel featuring a group of interstellar explorers who discover an alien civilization.

I need an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Write a compelling opening scene

Whether you're struggling with writer's block or just need a little inspiration, ChatGPT can help you create a gripping opening scene for your novel.

Provide ChatGPT with a brief overview of your story's setting, characters, and premise, and it will generate a scene that draws readers in from the first sentence.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned novelist and craft a compelling opening scene for my novel.

The setting is a bustling 19th-century London, our protagonist is a young, unassuming detective, and the story revolves around a series of mysterious, unsolved murders.

Develop the main conflict

Creating a gripping conflict is a crucial aspect of novel writing that can captivate readers' attention.

You can use ChatGPT to design the main conflict that drives your story forward, basing it on your characters' motivations, desires, or fears.

Provide a brief outline of your main characters and their world, and ChatGPT can develop a fitting conflict for your novel.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced novelist, develop the main conflict for my upcoming book.

My protagonist is a young, ambitious detective in a dystopian world, who is haunted by her past failures.

What could be her main conflict?

Plan out the rising action

In the process of writing a novel, the rising action is a crucial element that builds suspense and interest.

ChatGPT can help you map out the rising action by suggesting events or scenarios based on the plot and characters you've created.

You can provide details about your story, such as the genre, setting, and main characters, and let the AI do the rest.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced novelist, help me plan out the rising action for my mystery-thriller novel set in 1920s New York City.

The main characters are a cunning detective and a notorious mob boss.

Construct a gripping climax

ChatGPT can help budding writers create a riveting climax for their novel.

By feeding it some background about the characters, their motivations, and the general plot, ChatGPT can suggest a thrilling turning point that ties all threads together.

Whether it's a reveal, a confrontation, or a twist, ChatGPT can give you the climax that your novel needs.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a skilled novelist and construct a gripping climax for my novel.

The main characters are Jane, a determined detective, and Mark, a charming yet secretive businessman.

The story has been building tension around Mark's mysterious activities.

Please suggest an exciting climax that unravels Mark's secrets and concludes Jane's investigative journey.

Map out the falling action

ChatGPT can help you plan the falling action for your novel, where the story begins to wrap up and the final pieces of the puzzle start falling into place.

You just need to provide a brief overview of your novel including the main characters, climax, and the intended resolution.

ChatGPT can then outline the sequence of events leading to the resolution.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced novelist to map out the falling action for my novel.

Here are the details: The main character is a detective trying to solve a murder case.

The climax is when she discovers the murderer is her partner.

The resolution is her bringing him to justice.

Please map out the events leading to this resolution.

Write a satisfying resolution

After spending months or even years pouring your heart and soul into a novel, reaching a satisfying ending can seem daunting.

ChatGPT can help you bring the story to a close that is fitting and satisfactory for your characters and readers alike.

Simply provide the AI with the overall plot, character journeys, and what loose ends need tying up for an exceptional resolution.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned novelist, write a satisfying resolution for my novel.

The story revolves around a young woman rediscovering her identity in a foreign city.

She has faced hardships, formed new relationships, and is now at a crossroads.

How should her journey conclude?

Generate subplots

While you are focused on the main plot of your novel, ChatGPT can assist you in crafting engaging subplots.

Simply provide the AI with an overview of your main characters and their journey, and it can suggest numerous subplot ideas to enrich your narrative.

These subplots can help deepen your characters, increase tension, or introduce unexpected plot twists.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced novelist and generate subplot ideas for my novel.

The main plot revolves around a young detective trying to solve a mysterious case in a small town.

Here are the details about the main characters and their backgrounds:

Create character backstories

Novel writing is a complex process, and creating compelling characters is a vital part of it.

Backstories provide depth to characters, making them relatable and interesting.

With ChatGPT, you can generate intriguing character backstories.

Just provide it with your character's basic information or traits, and it will generate a backstory based on them.

ChatGPT Prompt:

I'm writing a novel and need to create an interesting backstory for my main character.

The character is a middle-aged woman who is a skilled detective with a troubled past.

Based on this information, please generate a compelling backstory that will make her character more relatable and intriguing.

Develop the narrative voice and point of view

Creating a compelling narrative voice and point of view is essential to engage readers in a novel.

ChatGPT can assist in this by generating examples of narrative voices based on a given character description or storyline.

You can also ask it to switch between first, second, and third person perspectives to see how it changes the story's tone and feel.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned novelist tasked with developing the narrative voice and point of view for the main character in my novel.

The character is a retired detective living in a small coastal town, who gets drawn back into a life of crime-solving.

Write a paragraph from the first-person perspective and then rewrite it from the third-person perspective.

Balance showing vs.

telling

Writing a novel involves a delicate balance between showing and telling.

ChatGPT can assist you in finding this equilibrium.

Provide a piece of your work and ask it for suggestions on where to show more by describing scenes and emotions, and where to tell by straightforwardly conveying information.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT to help you rephrase a telling sentence into a showing one.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced novelist and help me balance showing vs.

telling in my writing.

Here is a sample of my work where I feel I might be 'telling' too much.

Help me convert this into 'showing':

Incorporate dialogue effectively

Dialogue plays a critical role in novels, enhancing the story's realism and providing character insights.

ChatGPT can assist you in writing natural, engaging dialogue that advances your plot.

Provide your characters, their traits, and the context, then ask ChatGPT to craft a suitable dialogue that adheres to these parameters.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Help me craft a dialogue for my novel.

The characters involved are Sarah, a rebellious teenager, and her mother, a strict yet caring woman.

The context is Sarah coming home late from a party, against her mother's instructions.

Introduce themes and motifs

When writing a novel, themes and motifs give depth to your story.

ChatGPT can help you brainstorm these crucial elements to enhance your narrative.

Provide ChatGPT with a brief overview or concept of your novel, and it can propose various themes and recurring motifs that can be interwoven throughout your story.

It can help create a cohesive narrative that adds intrigue and layers to your novel.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced novelist to introduce potential themes and motifs for my novel.

The story revolves around a young artist struggling to find her place in a dystopian world.

What themes and motifs could I incorporate in this context?

Add foreshadowing and suspense

Creating suspense and foreshadowing in a novel is an art.

It requires careful crafting and an understanding of reader psychology.

ChatGPT can assist you in developing these elements to enhance your story's tension and intrigue.

Provide your current plot or specific scenes, and ChatGPT can suggest ways to incorporate foreshadowing and build suspense.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced novelist and assist me in adding suspense and foreshadowing to my story.

Here's the plot and some key scenes I've developed so far:

Decide on the pacing of the story

Determining the pace of your novel is a vital aspect of storytelling.

ChatGPT can help you decide how quickly or slowly the events in your story should unfold.

Provide ChatGPT with a brief overview of your story, and it can suggest an appropriate pacing strategy.

This could range from a fast-paced thriller to a slow-burning drama, depending on your story's genre, plot, and characters.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Assist me as an experienced novelist in deciding the pacing for my upcoming novel.

It's a detective story set in Victorian London, with a complex plot that revolves around a series of mysterious thefts.

Edit and revise the first draft

The first draft of your novel is just the beginning.

There's always room for improvement and refinement.

You can use ChatGPT to assist you in editing and revising your manuscript.

It can help you with grammar, sentence structure, flow, and even story elements.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced editor and provide suggestions to revise this first draft of a novel.

Here is a snippet of the draft for your review:

Solicit and incorporate feedback from beta readers

ChatGPT can be a useful tool in processing feedback from your beta readers.

Feed it with the comments and suggestions from your readers, and it will distill the recurring themes, criticisms, and praises, helping you understand what aspects of your novel need improvement.

You can even ask ChatGPT to suggest ways to incorporate the feedback into your next draft.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned author and sift through the feedback received from beta readers of my latest novel.

Identify common criticisms, praises, and suggestions, and provide suggestions on how I can incorporate these into the next draft.

Here's the feedback from my beta readers:

Proofread for grammar and spelling errors

Every writer, no matter how experienced, can overlook grammar or spelling mistakes in their work.

ChatGPT can be your second pair of eyes, scanning your text for any errors and providing corrections.

Just feed your novel or any part of it into ChatGPT and ask it to proofread for grammar and spelling.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced editor, proofread the following excerpt from my novel for grammar and spelling errors.

Here is the excerpt:

Finalize the manuscript for publication

Proofreading and editing your manuscript is a critical step before publishing.

ChatGPT can assist you in this task.

Feed ChatGPT with your manuscript and ask it to identify grammar mistakes, repetition of phrases, inconsistencies, and more.

Furthermore, it can provide suggestions to enhance readability, character development, plot coherence, and dialogues.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced editor and review my novel manuscript for any errors, inconsistencies, or areas of improvement.

Here is the manuscript:

Write a captivating book blurb

Every aspiring novelist knows the struggle: the daunting blank page, the challenge of creating engaging characters, and the intricate craft of weaving a compelling plot.

But fear not, for ChatGPT is here to assist you.

With a fundamental understanding of literary techniques and storytelling principles, it can help you draft an enchanting blurb for your novel.

ChatGPT Prompt:

You are an accomplished author tasked with writing a captivating book blurb for a forthcoming novel.

The novel is a thrilling mystery set in a small coastal town.

Here are the key details:

Plan and execute a book launch strategy

Launching a book can be overwhelming, but with ChatGPT, you can create a comprehensive book launch strategy.

You need to provide the details about your book, target audience, and key selling points.

ChatGPT will then generate a step-by-step book launch plan, including strategies for pre-launch publicity, launch day activities, and post-launch marketing.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned book launch strategist and create a detailed plan for launching my novel.

The novel is a mystery thriller targeting readers aged between 20-35.

It features a strong female protagonist who solves crimes using her photographic memory.

Interact with readers and respond to reviews

ChatGPT can be a fantastic tool for interacting with your readers and responding to their reviews.

You can use it to filter through feedback, identifying common themes, praise, or criticisms.

Let ChatGPT handle the initial interaction, and then you can follow up with more personalized responses.

This ensures that every reader receives a thoughtful and timely response.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a novel writer and respond to the following reviews from readers.

Acknowledge their praise, address their criticisms, and make them feel valued for their feedback.

Here are the reviews:

Develop a marketing and promotional plan

ChatGPT can help you design a comprehensive marketing and promotional plan for your novel.

Provide details such as your target audience, the genre of your novel, and any unique selling points.

It can then suggest strategies for online promotion, organizing book tours, engaging with book clubs, and more.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced marketing strategist and develop a promotional plan for my upcoming novel.

The novel is a fantasy thriller aimed at young adults.

It has elements of mystery, adventure, and a unique magic system.

Apply for literary awards and competitions

If you've written a novel and want to boost your chances of getting noticed, entering literary awards and competitions can be a great option.

ChatGPT can help you curate a list of suitable contests and provide guidelines for application.

You simply need to feed the details of your novel, such as genre, audience, and length, and ask it to suggest relevant competitions.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a professional writer, I have recently completed my novel which is a science fiction thriller targeting young adults.

It is approximately 90,000 words long.

Can you suggest some literary awards and competitions that I could consider applying for this type of novel?

Arrange book signings and readings

As an aspiring author, arranging book signings and readings could be a daunting task.

But with ChatGPT, it can plan an event effectively.

ChatGPT could assist in writing compelling invitations to bookstores and libraries, or designing promotional materials.

It could also help schedule your events or even draft speeches for your readings.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced publicist to help me arrange book signings and readings for my newly released novel.

I need assistance with writing invitations to bookstores, designing promotional materials, and planning the schedule.

Also, help me draft a captivating speech for the readings.

Negotiate contracts with publishers

Navigating the intricacies of publishing contracts can be tricky, but ChatGPT can help guide you.

Whether it's understanding specific clauses, negotiating terms, or wanting tips on how to approach a negotiation, ChatGPT can provide assistance.

Just provide it with the details of the contract and your concerns, and it will provide practical advice.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced literary agent assisting a first-time author in negotiating a publishing contract.

The publisher's contract includes terms that are unclear, and the author is unsure about the royalties being offered.

Please provide advice on the next steps and potential negotiation strategies.

Consider options for self-publishing

ChatGPT can guide you through the self-publishing process, helping you understand its pros and cons, and suggesting the best platforms to use.

Simply ask ChatGPT for advice on how to self-publish a novel, and it will provide you with an overview and specific steps to follow.

For instance, it can explain the differences between using platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and Smashwords.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an expert in the field of publishing, please provide me with a comparison of different self-publishing platforms.

What are the steps I need to take to self-publish my novel successfully?

Plan for the next book in the series or the next standalone novel.

Whether you're continuing a series or starting a fresh story, ChatGPT can assist you in outlining the key elements of your novel.

Feed it with initial information about your current book’s characters, plot, setting, and themes, or share new ideas for a standalone novel.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT to expand on a character's backstory or to generate plot twists.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned novelist and assist me in planning my next book.

My current series is about a group of space explorers.

Give me an outline for the fifth book focusing on a new planet and introducing a new character.

 

Conclusion

Phew! We've traversed quite a journey.

From sparking off novel concepts to polishing character arcs, fabricating cliffhangers, and dissecting plot twists, ChatGPT is revolutionizing every facet of novel writing.

It's your trusty comrade when you're grappling with writer's block, your complex plot calculator, and your collaborative ally for imaginative storytelling.

However, bear in mind:

ChatGPT is an instrument, not a substitute for your genius. Marry its possibilities with your own intuition to bring forth truly captivating narratives.

Now it's your cue.

Choose one or two prompts from this guide and experiment with them in your next chapter, plot structure session, or writer's circle. You may be astonished at how much more productive—and inventive—you become.

And if you’re ready to venture into even more powerful tools that surpass ChatGPT, delve into Galaxy.ai.

Hosting every AI device in one hub, it’s the supreme creativity accomplice for contemporary novelists.

Happy novel writing! 🚀