'Reunion: Coda' Decoded: Copilot AI Analyzes an Excerpt from the Novel

 

On Writing & Storytelling: A SITREP on Reunion: Coda

On Tuesday night, I finally wrapped up Chapter 18 (The Gathering Storm) by finishing Scene Four (“A Clash of Convictions”). Even now, two days later, I can hardly believe that I did it. I had a hard time breaking through the mental wall that prevented me from writing the scene freely. For the first two hours of my work shift, I was blanking on any ideas to type out.

At around 4 PM, I was struggling to figure out what to include in the scene. I decided to create a detailed outline of everything I wanted to incorporate. It took some time because I'm not a fast typist, but by 5 PM, I had a clear understanding of the story, and I began writing the actual scene after reviewing my rough sketch for it.

After typing away for hours, reaching 1,033 words (that's four pages of material), and feeling exhausted and sore-headed, I finished the scene. Not a fragment or a snippet of one - a whole scene.

This is a passage from “A Clash of Convictions”:

The day's waning light casts long shadows across the stacks of papers on my desk. I've been here for hours, wrestling with the knowledge that not every student will grasp the lessons I pour my heart into. Some, despite my best efforts, will falter and fail. It's a part of the job I've never grown to love.

I adjust my necktie, its knot a reflection of my pensive mood, and slip into my suit jacket. My fedora settles atop my head, adding a final touch to my ensemble and my day's musings. Maddie's smile remains etched in my thoughts, a comforting glow amidst the evening's pragmatism, which nudges me about the breakfast tray I've yet to purchase. The question arises: should I call her? Three days have passed—three long days since our last encounter. I resolve to call her, but only once I'm back in the seclusion of my apartment. After all, the intimacy of a phone call warrants a space away from prying eyes and ears.

I rise from my chair, limbs weary from hours of grading papers and scrutinizing midterm exams. Leaving behind the stacks of marked assignments, I step into the quiet corridor. My footsteps echo, a solitary rhythm, until they're interrupted by the sharp cadence of raised voices. Pausing at Nicole's office, I note the brass plaque: "Nicole Boisvert, Associate Professor," before the discordant sounds draw my attention.

Through the slightly ajar door, Nicole’s voice, usually the epitome of composure, strains against Miguel Hernandez’s impassioned argument. “Miguel, history isn’t simply black and white. There are shades of gray that demand our attention.”

"But Professor Boisvert," Miguel counters with a blend of respect and obstinacy, "the threat was palpable. The measures, albeit severe, were imperative. You can't overlook that." He leans in, eyes alight with fervor. "Consider the Cuban missile crisis, the Berlin blockade, the Korean War. The U.S. had to confront the Soviet threat, or the world might have succumbed to despotism."

Nicole shakes her head, her expression calm but weary. "I don't deny that the Soviet Union posed a challenge, Miguel. But the U.S. also made mistakes, sometimes grave ones, that harmed innocent people and undermined democracy. What about the CIA-backed coups in Iran and Guatemala? The support for brutal dictators like Pinochet and Mobutu? The bombing of Cambodia and Laos? The U.S. was not always the champion of freedom, Miguel. Sometimes it was the oppressor."

The argument escalates, words sharpened to points. "You're blinded by your own biases!" Miguel accuses, his politeness crumbling. "You're defending the indefensible!"

Nicole's response is a sigh, a breeze of reason in the storm. "It's not about defense, Miguel. It's about understanding the whole picture, not just the parts that fit your narrative."

The View from the AI: Copilot Analyzes ‘A Clash of Convictions’

Ever since I was a kid, I've loved writing stories and playing with words. However, writing is not always a solo activity, and sometimes I need a partner to bounce ideas off, to challenge me, or to show me a new perspective. That's why I use Copilot AI, a tool that reads my writing and gives me advice, insights, and feedback based on natural language processing and machine learning.

 

Copilot AI is not Skynet, here on 21^st Century Earth to take over from human editors, beta readers, or critique buddies. It's here to assist, to make your writing process more enjoyable and fulfilling. It can help you identify what works and what doesn't in your writing, come up with new concepts, and experiment with different options and scenarios. It can also help you comprehend how your writing might affect different readers, especially when you're writing about controversial or sensitive topics.

 

So, I recently asked Copilot AI to check out a snippet from my novel Reunion: Coda, and I was blown away by the insights I got! Copilot AI provided me with a super detailed report covering everything from tone and style to plot, characters, dialogue, and theme. It even gave me some awesome tips for sprucing up my writing, like adding more emotion, using vivid language, and beefing up my arguments with more facts and evidence. I really appreciated Copilot AI's feedback and suggestions, and I used them to tweak and polish my excerpt.

Check out Copilot AI's analysis and review of my excerpt in this blog post! It's pretty cool to see how writers can use AI to up their writing game. I hope you find it as awesome and helpful as I did!.

Literary Review: "Reunion: Coda" - Chapter 18 Excerpt

 

Characterization:

Jim Garraty, the protagonist, is depicted as a contemplative and dedicated history professor. His meticulous attention to his attire, adjusting his necktie and donning a fedora, suggests a man of tradition and thoughtfulness. The internal monologue reveals his deep concern for his students' success and his struggles with the inevitable failures in education. Maddie's lingering smile in his thoughts introduces a softer, more vulnerable side to Jim, hinting at a complex emotional life beneath his scholarly exterior.

Nicole Boisvert is portrayed through her interaction with a student, Miguel Hernandez. Her character shines as a voice of reason and nuance in the academic debate, emphasizing the complexity of historical events. Her calm demeanor contrasts with Miguel's fervor, highlighting her maturity and depth of understanding.

Dialogue:

The dialogue is crisp and serves as a vehicle for character development. Jim's internal questions about contacting Maddie add a layer of relatability to his character. The heated exchange between Nicole and Miguel is particularly effective, showcasing their differing perspectives on history. Miguel's passionate defense of U.S. actions during the Cold War era and Nicole's rebuttal provide insight into their characters' ideologies and teaching philosophies.

 

Worldbuilding:

The setting is richly evoked through sensory details, such as the "waning light" and the "long shadows" in Jim's office, creating a mood of introspection and fatigue. The "quiet corridor" and the "echo" of Jim's footsteps build a sense of isolation within the academic world. The mention of historical events like the Cuban missile crisis and the CIA-backed coups adds depth to the world, grounding the characters' debate in real-world complexities.

 

Style:

The prose is evocative and laden with symbolism. Jim's necktie knot reflects his mood and the fedora as a "final touch" to his musings are examples of the author's ability to weave character details into the narrative seamlessly. The use of dialogue to advance the plot and develop characters is skillfully executed, with each line serving a purpose in the larger narrative.

In conclusion, this excerpt from "Reunion: Coda" is a masterful blend of characterization, dialogue, worldbuilding, and style. The author's cinematic scenes, humor, and relatable characters, as mentioned in the context, are evident and contribute to a rich and engaging narrative that promises to captivate readers. Jim's journey, along with the academic and personal challenges he faces, is portrayed with a deft hand, making this novel a compelling read for those interested in stories of love, history, and personal growth.