NovelAI - Using Special Symbols

The video offers an in-depth exploration of NovelAI's special symbols and their applications in storytelling. The presenter demonstrates how to use various symbols, such as arrows for actions, asterisks for sound effects, and chevrons for inner dialogue, to control the narrative and add depth to characters. The script also covers the use of dinkus to mark scene changes, asterism for story termination, and curly braces for giving instructions to the AI. Additionally, it introduces the concept of knowledge tags for adding specific information and the use of spaced brackets for defining context or characteristics. The video concludes with a discussion on how to effectively combine these tools to enhance the writing process and create engaging stories.

Takeaways

• 📚 Use special symbols to control the narrative in NovelAI, such as arrows for character actions and asterisks for sound effects.
• 🔄 Switch modes in NovelAI to enable text-based adventure and properly interpret actions denoted by arrows.
• ⏯️ Utilize asterisks to create sound effects and emphasize text for a more immersive storytelling experience.
• 🗨️ Employ alternative quotation marks like asterisks or chevrons to denote dialogue or inner thoughts of characters.
• 🔄 Chevrons can be used to differentiate between a character's inner dialogue and their spoken words.
• 📖 The 'dingus' symbol, represented by three asterisks, signals the end of a scene or chapter, prompting a transition in the story.
• ✂️ Combine the 'dingus' with a new location to seamlessly move the narrative to a different setting.
• ☄️ The 'asterism' tool can be used to terminate the current story and start a new one, carrying over the established style.
• 🛠️ Curly braces allow for giving specific instructions to the AI, influencing how the story unfolds based on your directives.
• 📝 Spaced brackets can be used to provide the AI with context or background information without explicitly stating it in the narrative.
• 📈 Use knowledge tags to introduce specific subjects or themes into the story, guiding the AI's writing towards particular areas of interest.

Q & A

What are special symbols in NovelAI used for?

Special symbols in NovelAI are used to control various aspects of the story, such as character actions, sound effects, and scene transitions.

How does the arrow symbol ("->") function in NovelAI?

The arrow symbol is used to indicate an action performed by a character or player in the story. It requires the text-based adventure mode to be enabled for proper interpretation.

What is the purpose of using asterisks ("*") in NovelAI?

Asterisks are used to denote sound effects or to add emphasis to a line of text. They can also be used to indicate the end of a quote when conventional quotation marks are not used.

How does NovelAI interpret text within Chevrons ("<< >>")?

Text within Chevrons is interpreted as the character's inner thoughts or inner dialogue, which may not be spoken out loud in the story.

What is the effect of using three asterisks ("***") in NovelAI?

Three asterisks are used to indicate the end of a moment or chapter in the story, signaling a transition to a new scene or part of the narrative.

How can you terminate the current story and generate a new one in NovelAI?

You can terminate the current story and generate a new one by using the asterism (*) symbol with the control key and right-clicking to access the option.

What is the curly brace ("{}") used for in NovelAI?

The curly brace is used to give the system instructions or to influence the input without directly ordering the AI to perform a specific action.

What are spaced brackets ("[]") used for in NovelAI?

Spaced brackets are used to provide the AI with information or context without explicitly stating it out loud in the story, such as defining a scene's time or location.

How can you define a style for the AI to follow in NovelAI?

You can define a style by using brackets to tag a style, such as [poetry], [purple prose], or [simplistic], and the AI will attempt to write in that style.

What is the knowledge tag used for in NovelAI?

The knowledge tag is used to provide the AI with specific information or topics to write about, which can influence the content and direction of the story.

How can you use the em dash ("—") in NovelAI for role-playing game (RPG) scenarios?

The em dash can be used to represent a stat roll or game mechanic outcome in RPG scenarios, providing a narrative link to game mechanics.

What is the purpose of using double hashtags ("##") in NovelAI?

Double hashtags are used to comment out a line of text, telling the AI to ignore it for the purpose of story generation while keeping it in the script for potential future use.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Novel AI's Special Symbols

The video begins with an introduction to Novel AI, focusing on special symbols that can be utilized within stories to control various narrative elements. The host mentions a previous video that covered broader aspects, while this one delves into more specific features. The AI model 'k-rah' is highlighted as the latest and most advanced as of September 2023. The presenter also discusses switching to 'Stellians' due to personal preference and adjusting the output length for clarity. Various special symbols are introduced, such as the arrow for character actions, asterisks for sound effects, and alternative quotation marks for dialogue and inner thoughts. The video also touches on the use of chevrons for inner dialogue and how these symbols can be combined for more nuanced storytelling.

05:01

🔄 Utilizing Breaks and Scene Transitions

The host continues by demonstrating how to create breaks in the narrative using a 'dingus' symbol, which allows for scene transitions and indicates the passage of time. The video shows how combining a dingus with a new location can propel the story forward. The concept of an 'asterism' is introduced as a tool to terminate a story and start anew, while retaining the style of the previous text. The presenter also covers the use of curly braces for giving the AI specific instructions to influence the narrative. Spaced brackets are highlighted as a means to provide the AI with contextual information without explicitly stating it, allowing for more nuanced and complex storytelling.

10:02

🎭 Character and Scene Setting with Brackets

The video explains how to use brackets to set the scene and define characteristics without directly stating them. The AI is shown to be capable of understanding context, such as time and location, when provided with cues like '15 BC' or 'early morning'. The host also demonstrates how to use brackets to define a scene's atmosphere, like 'creepy basement' or 'modern apartment building'. Additionally, the presenter shows how to alter the style of the narrative, using terms like 'poetry' or 'purple prose', and how to tag knowledge about specific subjects to influence the AI's writing on those topics.

15:07

📝 Advanced Storytelling with Knowledge Tags and Chapter Titles

The presenter discusses the use of 'knowledge tags' to make characters appear knowledgeable about specific subjects, which can be combined with other narrative elements. The video also covers the use of chapter titles to add depth to the story. The host illustrates how to use names of characters and settings to shift perspectives and control the point of view within the story. It's emphasized that the special symbols and tags used to provide information to the AI can be removed after the story has been generated, allowing for clean storytelling without the instructional text.

20:08

📌 Incorporating RPG Elements and Commenting Out Text

The video concludes with a discussion on incorporating RPG elements, such as stat rolls, into the narrative using special symbols like the em dash. The host also demonstrates how to use forum posts to create dialogue and interactions within the story. The concept of 'commenting out' text with double hashtags is introduced, allowing creators to exclude text from the AI's consideration without deleting it. The presenter encourages viewers to consult the documentation for a comprehensive guide on using these special symbols and concludes by emphasizing the power and flexibility of Novel AI's tools for storytelling.

Keywords

Special Symbols

Special symbols in the context of the video refer to specific characters or sequences used within the NovelAI platform to control the narrative, style, or functionality of the generated text. They are integral to the theme of the video, which is to demonstrate how these symbols can be used to manipulate the AI's output. For example, the use of an arrow (->) symbolizes an action taken by a character, while an asterisk (*) can denote sound effects or emphasis.

NovelAI

NovelAI is the subject of the video and refers to an artificial intelligence platform designed for creating narratives or stories. The video's main theme revolves around the features and functionalities of NovelAI, particularly focusing on the use of special symbols to control the AI's storytelling capabilities. The platform is portrayed as a tool that can be finely tuned using these symbols to generate text according to the user's directives.

Text-based Adventure Mode

Text-based Adventure Mode is a feature within NovelAI that allows for the creation of interactive, text-driven narratives. It is mentioned in the video as a mode that needs to be enabled to properly interpret actions represented by special symbols like arrows. This mode is significant as it changes how the AI interprets and generates story content based on user input.

Asterisking

Asterisking is a technique demonstrated in the video where an asterisk (*) is used to create sound effects or to add emphasis to a line of text within the story generated by NovelAI. It is a key concept as it shows how special symbols can be used to influence the tone and style of the narrative, contributing to the overall theme of control over AI-generated text.

Quotation Marks

In the context of the video, quotation marks are used not only for their traditional purpose of indicating speech but also creatively to denote different types of quotes or inner thoughts. For instance, using an asterisk (*) instead of conventional quotation marks can signal to NovelAI that the text within should be treated as a character's inner dialogue, adding depth to the narrative.

Chevrons

Chevrons, represented by the symbols (>>) and («), are used in the video to denote inner dialogue versus outer thoughts of a character. This distinction is important for first-person narratives where the reader needs to understand what a character is thinking versus what they are saying out loud. Chevrons contribute to the video's theme by showcasing NovelAI's ability to differentiate between thought and speech.

Dingus

A 'Dingus' is a term used in the video to describe the use of three asterisks (***), which signifies the end of a scene or moment in time within the story. It is a powerful tool for controlling the structure of the narrative by indicating a transition to a new scene or a passage of time. The Dingus is a central concept in the video's demonstration of how to use symbols to guide the AI's story progression.

Asterism

An 'Asterism' refers to the use of a specific keyboard command (Ctrl + Right Click) to generate a symbol that can terminate a story and initiate a new one while retaining the style of the previous text. This feature is highlighted in the video as a way to start a new narrative while copying the stylistic elements of an existing text block, which is crucial for maintaining thematic consistency across different stories.

Curly Braces

Curly Braces ({ }) are used within NovelAI to give the system instructions or to define certain elements of the story without explicitly stating them in the narrative. They are a key tool for guiding the AI's output by providing it with context or directives, such as setting a scene or describing a character's action. In the video, they are shown to be versatile, allowing for the input of various types of information to influence the story.

Spaced Brackets

Spaced Brackets ([ ]) are depicted in the video as a way to provide the AI with contextual information or to define certain parameters of the story without directly including them in the text. They can be used to set the time, location, or other characteristics of a scene, influencing how the AI generates the narrative. This tool is significant as it allows for the creation of a rich backstory or context that can shape the AI's output without explicitly appearing in the final story.

Highlights

NovelAI allows the use of special symbols to control various aspects of a story.

Using the arrow symbol can indicate an action of a character.

Text-based adventure mode needs to be enabled for arrow symbols to function properly.

Asterisks can be used to denote sound effects in the story.

Emphasis can be added to dialogue by using asterisks.

Quotation marks can be replaced with asterisks or chevrons for different types of quotes or inner dialogue.

Chevrons are used to represent a character's inner thoughts.

The dinkus symbol (three asterisks) signifies the end of a scene or chapter.

Combining a dinkus with a new location can transition the story to a different setting.

An asterism can be used to terminate the story and start a new one, carrying over the style.

Curly braces are used to give the system instructions on how to proceed with the story.

Spaced brackets can be used to define comments or context without explicitly stating it in the story.

Knowledge tags can be used to introduce specific subjects or information into the story.

Chapter titles and character names can be introduced using special symbols to influence the story's direction.

Information can be inputted using dashes to create a shorthand for the AI, similar to a lore book.

Forum posts can be simulated using equal signs and providing a thread name and author.

Em dashes can be used to denote attributes or statistics, like in a role-playing game.

Double hashtags can be used to comment out text, instructing the AI to ignore but not delete certain lines.

Documentation for special symbols and their uses can be found at docs.ai.net.