The AI Author's Playbook: Lesson One Teaser

Let's explore "The Birth of a Vision" in the early 21st Century Web

Hi everyone,

I’m thrilled to share that the first lesson of The AI Author's Playbook will drop this weekend! This is where we roll up our sleeves and begin crafting Silicon Dreams, a novella inspired by Francis Spufford’s brilliant Red Plenty.

While Spufford told the story of Soviet ambitions to outpace capitalism with their “new economy,” Silicon Dreams is about the rise of the web and the digital revolution of the 21st century. It’s a thematic exploration of transformative tech moments—social media, AI, Big Tech, the gig economy, and more.

Lesson One: The Birth of a Vision

Our journey begins with “The Birth of a Vision”, where ambition meets reality in the early days of the web. This first chapter focuses on the collapse of the Dot-Com bubble and the emergence of Web 2.0. We’ll follow characters like an overfunded entrepreneur on the edge of ruin and a visionary tech enthusiast glimpsing the web’s next chapter.

You’re free to develop your own characters, and I’ll be creating mine alongside you, sharing my process and insights.

What to Expect

Each lesson will cover:

• Using Prompts: Learn how to brainstorm characters, plots (or subplots), and research themes and history relevant to the story’s era.

• Step-by-Step Guidance: I’ll share the prompts I use and explain why they work.

• Pro Tips: Each lesson includes a Pro Tip—practical advice to make your LLM experience more effective and enjoyable. From “Do’s” to “Don’ts,” these tips will refine your creative process.

Why Start with Characters?

Because characters drive plot. Moments of tension and transformation bring stories to life, and the rise of the web is no different. By starting with dynamic, well-crafted characters, you’ll anchor your story in human experiences that resonate.

What We’ll Cover:

• Crafting Dynamic Characters: Create figures that embody the web’s early idealism and its wake-up call.

• Using LLM Prompts: Generate backstories, motivations, and conflicts for your own characters.

The Birth of a Vision Overview:

• Theme: The collapse of early internet dreams and the rise of lean, pragmatic innovations.

• Focus: The Dot-Com crash (2000-2001) and the emergence of user-generated content.

• Characters:

  • A failing entrepreneur with venture funding but no business model.

  • A visionary tech enthusiast recognizing the potential of decentralization and cheaper infrastructure.

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The Big Picture

Here’s the provisional list of themes for Silicon Dreams, so you can see where we’re headed:

• Themes of Silicon Dreams

  1. Algorithm Nation
     The rise of search engines and algorithms that shaped how we use and understand the web.

  2. Connected Dreams
     The promise and pitfalls of social media, from building communities to spreading division.

  3. Always On
     The mobile revolution led by the iPhone and the new world of constant connectivity.

  4. Digital McCarthyism
     The rise of the surveillance state and threats to privacy under government and corporate scrutiny.

  5. Empire Builders
     The consolidation of Big Tech’s power and the struggle to rein in monopolistic practices.

  6. Pandemic Web
     The internet as a lifeline during COVID-19, offering connection and growing isolation in a time marked by sheltering in place, Zoom fatigue, and the rampant spread of misinformation.

  7. The Deep Neural Network
     The triumph of AI as a commercial powerhouse reshaping industries and labor.

  8. The Fall of Utopia
     Disillusionment with Big Tech’s role in society and the internet’s broken promises.

  9. The Rise of the Machines
     AI’s transformative and controversial impact on creativity, labor, and society at large.

The story will jump back and forth in time, so the themes won’t follow a strict chronological order. These are the pivotal moments of the digital age, and Silicon Dreams will bring them to life for modern readers. As fitting for this project, we’ll use modern tools—not just search engines but LLMs—to craft this work.

Let’s bring Silicon Dreams to life, together.

Teasers are free for everyone, but the lessons are part of paid content. Consider subscribing to join the course—your journey into AI-assisted storytelling awaits!

Erik J. Larson