Creating a Frustration Breakthrough Action Tutorial

In this tutorial, we'll create an action that helps writers break through creative blocks by turning their frustrations into opportunities for fresh perspectives. The action will collect the writer's creative constraints and use AI to generate thought-provoking questions that challenge their assumptions.

Action Overview

The "Frustration Breakthrough" action consists of two tasks:

  1. Collecting the writer's creative constraints through user input

  2. Using AI to generate insightful questions based on these constraints and the current document context

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Create the Action

  1. Open the Actions panel in Chibi

  2. In the group you want to the action to, click the "+" button to create a new action

  3. Name your action "Frustration Breakthrough" and hit next.

Step 2: Add the Ask for Input Task

  1. Click "Add Task" and select "Ask for Input"

  2. Configure the task with these settings:

    • Task Name: "Collect Creative Constraints"

    • Task Variable Name: "CreativeConstraints"

    • Placeholder: "Enter the creative constraints or frustrations you're facing with your writing"

Step 3: Add the Stream Prompt Task

  1. Click "Add Task" and select "Stream Prompt"

  2. Configure the task with these settings:

    • Task Name: "Generate Breakthrough Questions"

    • AI Options: Set to "Custom AI Settings" and configure:

      • Instructions: "You're a creative partner who never directly solves problems. Instead, you ask probing questions that help the writer discover unexpected angles. Your questions should challenge assumptions and explore overlooked possibilities."

      • Choose a capable model that excels at creative and analytical thinking

      • Keep other settings at their defaults unless you want to adjust them for your specific needs

    • Prompt:

<Written So Far>
{{WholeDocument}}
</Written So Far>

<Creative Constraints>
{{CreativeConstraints}}
</Creative Constraints>

Based on my frustration in the creative constraints, what three unexpected questions could lead me to a fresh approach to what I've written so far?

Step 4: Save and Test

  1. Save your action using the save button at the top of the action editor

  2. Test the action by:

    • Writing some content in your document

    • Running the action

    • Entering your creative constraints when prompted

    • Reviewing the questions and think through how they can help your writing

How It Works

When you run this action:

  1. First, you'll see a popup asking for your creative constraints. This could be anything from "I'm stuck writing the ending" to "The character's motivation feels forced" or even "Every scene feels like a cheap adventure movie knockoff. I need something that feels more grounded, more real."

  2. The action saves your input in the {{CreativeConstraints}} variable

  3. Next, the AI analyzes what you've written so far and your creative constraints to generate three thought-provoking questions

  4. These questions are streamed directly into your document, where you can use them to explore new angles in your writing

Customization Tips

Feel free to adjust the action to better suit your needs:

  • Modify the prompt to request more or fewer questions

  • Adjust the AI instructions to change the style of questions generated

  • Experiment with different AI models to find the one that generates the most helpful questions for your writing style

Remember to take time to refine the AI instructions and prompt to ensure the questions generated are exactly the type that help you break through creative blocks most effectively. Every writer has different needs, so don't be afraid to iterate until the action works perfectly for you.

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