I'm going through old draft blog posts and am getting some of them finished up. Since this one is relevant to another one I'm finishing up, it must go up first.
Back in February, I had this idea that Simon & Schuster could come up with better Nancy Drew Diaries plots by using a chat bot. This is not a joke. It sounds like a joke, but the Nancy Drew plots currently being used by S&S are completely pathetic. Sadly, artificial intelligence can create more interesting plots than the people actually creating the plots at S&S.
I gave ChatGPT some prompts. Here are some prompts in bold followed by what ChatGPT gave me. ChatGPT gave me what are really just plot outlines, but they could be fleshed out into something great by a good ghostwriter.
Write a mystery with Nancy Drew investigating a mystery at a library.
Nancy Drew was a young and talented detective who was known for her sharp mind and her ability to solve complex cases. One day, she received a call from her friend, Bess, who told her about a strange mystery at the River Heights Library. Apparently, the library's valuable collection of rare books had been disappearing one by one, and no one seemed to know how.
Nancy was intrigued by this case and decided to pay a visit to the library to see if she could help. When she arrived, she met with the librarian, Mrs. Stevens, who was visibly upset. Mrs. Stevens told Nancy that the library had recently acquired a valuable collection of rare books, but they had started disappearing a few days ago, and they had no idea who could be behind it.
Nancy started her investigation by talking to the library staff and asking questions about the missing books. She learned that the books had been taken at night, when the library was closed. This made Nancy suspicious, as it suggested that the culprit was someone who had access to the library after hours.
Nancy also took a closer look at the library's security system and found that there was a small gap in the cameras' coverage that would allow someone to enter the library without being seen. She decided to stake out the library that night to see if she could catch the thief in the act.
As Nancy waited in the shadows, she saw a shadowy figure enter the library through the gap in the cameras. She quickly followed the figure and found herself face to face with the library's janitor, Mr. Green. Mr. Green was holding a rare book in his hand and appeared to be very nervous.
Nancy confronted Mr. Green, who admitted to stealing the books because he needed the money to pay for his daughter's medical treatment. He told Nancy that he had planned to return the books after he had the money, but he couldn't bear the thought of going to jail.
Nancy understood Mr. Green's situation, and she decided to help him instead of turning him in to the police. She worked with Mrs. Stevens to find a way to help Mr. Green get the money he needed, and in the end, he was able to pay for his daughter's treatment and return the stolen books to the library.
Nancy had solved another mystery, and she was proud of the work she had done to help someone in need. The River Heights Library was once again a safe place for rare books, and the town was grateful for Nancy's help.
I then asked ChatGPT to add dialogue to the River Heights Library plot. This is what I was given.
Nancy Drew was a young and talented detective who was known for her sharp mind and her ability to solve complex cases. One day, she received a call from her friend, Bess, who told her about a strange mystery at the River Heights Library. Apparently, the library's valuable collection of rare books had been disappearing one by one, and no one seemed to know how.
Nancy was intrigued by this case and decided to pay a visit to the library to see if she could help. When she arrived, she met with the librarian, Mrs. Stevens, who was visibly upset.
"Nancy, I'm so glad you're here," Mrs. Stevens said, her voice shaking. "We have a problem. The rare books in our collection have been disappearing, and we don't know how."
Nancy was shocked. "Do you have any leads on who might be behind this?" she asked.
"No, we don't," Mrs. Stevens replied. "We've checked the security footage, but we can't see anything. It's as if the books just disappeared into thin air."
Nancy started her investigation by talking to the library staff and asking questions about the missing books. She learned that the books had been taken at night, when the library was closed. This made Nancy suspicious, as it suggested that the culprit was someone who had access to the library after hours.
Nancy also took a closer look at the library's security system and found that there was a small gap in the cameras' coverage that would allow someone to enter the library without being seen. She decided to stake out the library that night to see if she could catch the thief in the act.
As Nancy waited in the shadows, she saw a shadowy figure enter the library through the gap in the cameras. She quickly followed the figure and found herself face to face with the library's janitor, Mr. Green.
"Mr. Green, what are you doing here?" Nancy asked, surprised.
Mr. Green was holding a rare book in his hand and appeared to be very nervous. "I... I... I took the book," he stammered. "I needed the money to pay for my daughter's medical treatment. I was going to return it, I swear."
Nancy understood Mr. Green's situation, and she decided to help him instead of turning him in to the police. She worked with Mrs. Stevens to find a way to help Mr. Green get the money he needed, and in the end, he was able to pay for his daughter's treatment and return the stolen books to the library.
"Thank you, Nancy," Mrs. Stevens said, grateful. "You truly are a remarkable young woman."
Nancy smiled. "I'm just glad I could help," she said. "The River Heights Library is a special place, and it deserves to be protected."
Nancy had solved another mystery, and she was proud of the work she had done to help someone in need. The River Heights Library was once again a safe place for rare books, and the town was grateful for Nancy's help.
In another session on a different day, I was given this.
Title: The River Heights Threat
Nancy Drew is back in her hometown, River Heights, and is asked to help solve a mystery at her old high school. The school has been receiving anonymous threats, causing fear and disruption among the students and staff.
Nancy starts her investigation by talking to the school principal, teachers, and students. She discovers that the threats seem to be targeting a specific group of students who are involved in a student council election.
As Nancy delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of secrets and rivalries among the students. One of the candidates for student council president has been caught cheating on a test, and another candidate has been spreading false rumors about their opponents.
Meanwhile, Nancy receives a new threat that puts her own life in danger. She realizes that the person behind the threats is someone close to her, someone she thought she could trust.
Nancy continues her investigation, using her detective skills to gather evidence and find the truth. She finally uncovers the identity of the person behind the threats, bringing the case to a close and restoring peace to River Heights High School.
In the end, Nancy discovers that the threats were made by a student who was upset about losing the election. She turns the evidence over to the police, and the student is arrested and brought to justice.
Here's another plot that I was given. I am pretty sure that ChatGPT was inspired by The Mystery at Lilac Inn.
Title: The Missing Heirloom
Nancy Drew receives a letter from her friend, Emily, asking for her help in solving the mystery of a missing heirloom. Emily's family has owned a valuable diamond necklace for generations, but it has recently disappeared from their safe.
Emily believes that the necklace has been stolen, but no one in the family will admit to taking it. The police are investigating, but they are having trouble finding any leads.
Nancy travels to Emily's hometown and begins to look into the case. She starts by interviewing the members of the family and the staff of their home. She discovers that there were several people who had motive and opportunity to steal the necklace.
One of the family members had recently lost a lot of money in a risky business venture and was in desperate need of funds. Another family member was known to be an avid collector of expensive jewelry. The maid who had access to the safe where the necklace was stored was also acting suspiciously.
Nancy continues her investigation and uncovers more clues. She finally discovers the truth behind the missing heirloom and puts an end to the mystery.
In the end, Nancy finds the missing necklace and returns it to Emily's family. She also uncovers the culprit behind the theft, bringing the case to a close.
I would love to read these plots as finished Nancy Drew Mysteries.
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