What happens if you’ve finally completed your novel? What do you do then? Who do you turn for feedback aside from a trusted friend? That person’s great, they really are, but guess what has a more penetrating gaze? Artificial intelligence.
Built into its systems are an analysis of thousands of completed novels. Google’s Gemini, in particular, functions more like a professional editor than a coffee shop friend.
You can take your novel to this free fountain of knowledge and have it give you the feedback you need. And there’s all sorts of prompts you can use as an AI novelist, which I cover below.
You can tune up your novel in every category from creating characters who behave consistently like themselves to maintaining the serious tone of your novel while also writing a humorous scene. Gemini can give feedback on Macro level elements and micro level elements (like typos).
Get ready to edit your work and ENJOY the process with a little help from our friend, Gemini!
How an AI Novelist Can Get the Best Feedback
Before wielding the red pen, Gemini gets to know you, the architect of your world. In other words, you need to provide context before Gemini can do its best feedback work. First, tell it the genre your work is in.
Gemini needs to know genre because each genre comes with it many familiar conventions. A heart-wrenching romance thrives on emotional beats, while a sci-fi masterpiece demands a cohesive world-building strategy.
- Genre and Style: Is it a swashbuckling historical adventure or a witty coming-of-age story?. Do you aim for a formal, academic tone, or something more informal and conversational? Knowing your desired style helps Gemini ensure your voice shines through.
- Feedback Focus: Writer’s juggle multiple things. Specify what KIND of feedback you’d like. Do you crave a “plot dissection”? A “Character development feedback” deep dive? Or a “dialogue polish”? Maybe you’re concerned about “grammar” or “overall clarity suggestions.” Identifying your priorities allows Gemini to focus its analysis and deliver the most impactful suggestions.
How Gemini Can Be Your Writing Partner in Crime
With your goals in mind, Gemini dons its analytical spectacles and dives into your manuscript. But fear not, this isn’t a battlefield. The AI’s here to support and collaborate. Here’s what you can expect:
- Plot and Structure: A captivating story needs a sturdy frame. Gemini can be asked to provide “feedback on narrative flow,” to “identify pacing issues,” and tell you “are cause-and-effect relationships clear?” “Did a [character xyz’s] sudden betrayal feel unearned?” “Was a [pivotal] scene rushed?” Gemini will then highlight these areas, on prompt at a time, and suggest alternative structures or plot twists to keep readers glued to the page.
For example: In your sci-fi thriller, the protagonist discovers a hidden alien artifact. The immediate jump to a full-blown alien invasion might feel rushed. Gemini could suggest building tension by incorporating prompts like:- “Insert a scene where the protagonist experiences a series of smaller, unsettling encounters with alien technology, foreshadowing the coming invasion.”
- “Consider adding cryptic messages or warnings from other characters that hint at a larger alien threat.”
- Characters: They’re the lifeblood of your story. Gemini can be asked to analyze your “characters’ motivations,” [if they are well developed in the context of the story], how is the development of the character [in general], and “internal consistency of [character xyz]. “Does [character xyz’s] dialogue contradict their established personality?” “Is the backstory of [character xyz] fleshed out?”
- Gemini will point out inconsistencies and offer “suggestions to make your characters…” “More relatable” or “more complex.”
For instance: If in your historical romance, the Duke is portrayed as a stoic, duty-bound man. However, his sudden declaration of love for the fiery heroine feels out of character. Gemini could suggest adding scenes that showcase the Duke’s softer side suggesting prompts (that you can then feed back to Gemini) like:- “Write a scene where the Duke confronts a personal dilemma that reveals his capacity for compassion.”
- “Explore the Duke’s past through flashbacks or internal monologues to establish his emotional vulnerability.”
- Dialogue: A well-crafted conversation breathes life into characters and advances the plot. Gemini assesses the natural flow of your dialogue, ensure ask it “where the dialogue doesn’t align with [each character’s] voice,” and to “identify any awkward phrasing or unrealistic exchanges.” The goal is to create distinctive voices and speech patterns that make your characters leap off the page.
For example: In your fantasy novel, a wise old wizard delivers a cryptic message to the young hero. The dialogue currently reads: “The fate of the realm rests upon thine shoulders, young one. Seek the Eye of Argon!” Gemini could suggest rephrasing it and offer prompts like:- “Rewrite the wizard’s message in a way that reflects his age and wisdom. Consider using more evocative language.”
- “Inject a sense of urgency into the dialogue. How can the wizard emphasize the weight of the hero’s responsibility?”
- Grammar and Mechanics: A captivating story shines even brighter with flawless execution. Ask it to “identify grammatical errors,” “identify typos, and punctuation mistakes,” ensuring your manuscript is polished and professional. Ask it to “give me feedback on areas that significantly impact readability,” helping you avoid those dreaded comma splices or misplaced modifiers.
- Overall Clarity and Cohesion: A clear message delivered with a consistent voice is essential for reader engagement. Ask Gemini to “check for the clarity of my story’s theme,” “clarity of my story’s message,” and “clarity of my story’s world-building.” Ask “Do any scenes feel confusing?” “Is there a disconnect between the tone and voice in different parts of the manuscript?” Gemini will highlight these areas and provide suggestions for smoother transitions and stronger thematic connections, ensuring your message resonates with your readers.
For instance, imagine a scene in your mystery novel where the detective encounters a quirky informant. The scene’s humorous tone clashes with the overall seriousness of the case. Here, Gemini might suggest prompts like:
- “Consider revising this scene to better reflect the urgency of the investigation. How can you maintain some tension while still introducing the informant?”
- “Is there a way to weave humor into the narrative without sacrificing the overall tone of the mystery?”
Beyond the Feedback: A Writer’s Toolkit
Your journey with Gemini doesn’t end with feedback. Gemini offers a treasure trove of resources to empower you throughout your writing process:
- Similarity Checker: Worried about unintentional plagiarism? Our advanced similarity checker scans your work for potential echoes of other texts. We’ll highlight any areas of concern and suggest alternative phrasings, ensuring your writing is fresh and original.
If you haven’t written the novel yet and you’d like AI to help with THAT, you may be interested in a post I wrote about writing novels with ChatGPT. Enjoy!
With Gemini by your side, you’re not just receiving feedback, you’re entering a collaborative partnership. It’ll enhance your strengths, address your challenges, and empower you to take your writing to the next level.
As complicated as writing is, you don’t have to go it alone. And you can perform rewrites that take MINUTES instead of days. You have all the time in the world to tinker and refine your manuscript when you get so much productive work done this quickly. I’m happy for you that you have a dream inside of you about what you want this to be. I hope AI makes your dreams come true.
Love,
