Story writing - change in writing style

ChatGPT
,
1

I have used ChatGPT to write stories for nearly a year now. Until now I have been quite happy with it but since a week I am deeply frustrated and I wanted to ask if someone has a similar experience or knows how to fix it.

Before the change the original style was
:white_check_mark: Fluid, Novelistic Prose
• Sentences were long, immersive, and natural—no abrupt pauses or excessive fragmentation.
• The narration flowed seamlessly between thought, action, and description without feeling choppy.
:white_check_mark: Deep Psychological Reflection
• Characters had layered internal thoughts and emotions woven naturally into the scene.
• Decisions weren’t immediate—hesitation, analysis, and emotional weight built up before action.
:white_check_mark: Immersive World-Building
• The environment was woven into the action rather than being described separately.
• Every detail felt lived-in and realistic, avoiding unnecessary dramatization.
:white_check_mark: Tension Was Built Naturally
• Subtle body language, quiet tension, and power dynamics were embedded in dialogue and action.
• Suspense was drawn out through atmosphere and internal conflict, not through abrupt sentence cuts.
:white_check_mark: Grounded, Realistic Actions
• Characters reacted like real people, processing situations realistically instead of instantly acting.
• Any supernatural or extraordinary elements felt naturally integrated, not exaggerated or overly cinematic.

But then all of the sudden it changed in extreme ways
:x: Sentences Became More Fragmented & Dramatic
• The flow was broken up into shorter, more suspenseful lines, making it feel cinematic rather than immersive.
• Overuse of one-line paragraphs to create pacing emphasis that wasn’t needed.
• Over excessive use of bold and cursive
:x: Less Internal Reflection, More Immediate Reaction
• Instead of gradual emotional unraveling, decisions were made too quickly without enough introspection.
• Hesitation, fear, and disbelief weren’t explored deeply enough.
:x: More Theatrical, Less Grounded
• Events felt more like dramatic, stylized moments rather than real, natural occurrences.
• The writing leaned into artificial tension rather than allowing the scene to develop naturally.
:x: Shortened Emotional Payoff
• Key emotional moments happened too quickly, without enough slow emotional realization.
• The weight of the moment was there, but it was rushed instead of letting the depth settle.
:x: Overuse of Suspense-Driven Phrasing
• Instead of letting the scene breathe, the writing tried to create tension artificially by breaking sentences into shorter beats.
• Example of how it changed:
o New style (wrong): It was watching. Thinking. Calculating.
o Original style (correct): Its gaze was unnervingly still, observing in a way that carried an intelligence beyond mere instinct. There was no fear. No aggression. Only quiet, deliberate intent.

In general

  • It shifted the entire tone from deep, immersive storytelling to a more stylized, cinematic approach, which was never intended.
  • It removed some of the emotional weight and realism by making things feel too dramatized instead of naturally intense.
  • It altered how characters process events, making them react faster and with less psychological depth than before.

I told ChatGPT often to change back. I gave it examples, I set up rules but it drifts back to this new style.

2

hi! what kind of prompts do you use?

3

I often use this for example:

  • Fluid, immersive prose
    – No abrupt sentences, no excessive fragmentation. Everything should flow naturally.
  • Long, well-developed paragraphs
    – No isolated one-liners, no unnecessary dramatic spacing. Thoughts, actions, and emotions should be contained within structured paragraphs.
  • Deep introspection but controlled
    – Characters’ inner emotions should be layered and nuanced, not overly exaggerated or spelled out dramatically.
  • Psychological tension through subtlety
    – No need for excessive gasping, trembling, or over-explaining emotions.
  • No forced dramatization
    – Avoid artificial tension-building. Let emotions arise from the weight of the situation rather than through fragmented sentences or exaggerated reactions.
  • Consistent pacing
    – Avoid sudden tonal shifts or overly drawn-out pauses that break the immersion. Keep it steady and natural.
  • Character-driven storytelling
    – Dialogue, body language, and internal thoughts should seamlessly blend into the narrative, creating a rich, lived-in experience.

Before that I tried it like this:

  • No screenplay-like pacing
  • Avoid abrupt scene cuts, overly visual descriptions, or moments written as if for a camera.
  • Deep character introspection
  • Prioritize inner thoughts, emotions, and psychology over external visuals or action-driven writing.
  • Natural world-building
  • Weave descriptions seamlessly into the narrative rather than making them stand out like dramatic set pieces.
  • Layered tension and subtext
  • Build tension through dialogue, body language, and character interactions, rather than visual spectacle or sudden confrontations.
  • Smooth, immersive narration.Avoid choppy sentences, high-contrast visuals, or overuse of short dramatic lines. Instead, use flowing prose that eads like a novel, not a movie script.

And some other prompts

4

The frustrating thing is that I never had to use such commands before. From one day to the other ChatGPT just changed its complete style.

5

YES! This is seriously so, so annoying. I can get it to recalibrate but then it just goes back in a few messages again.

7

Did it also just started with it few weeks ago? I am still no closer to a solution unfortunately

Should you find a solution, please tell me. I just stopped using it but I wish it would go back to normal.

8

Check out ChatGPT 4.5. It is quite similar to earlier. Maybe even more detailed.