This document outlines the complete journey of writing "The Human Signal," a 40,205-word business fiction novel that achieved A+ (98%) publication excellence through a systematic AI-assisted writing and review process. The book explores themes of AI coordination, cooperation versus competition, and the human impact of technological advancement, set against the backdrop of contemporary Pittsburgh.
I had years of thoughts scattered across my Google Docs and even an Evernote notebook - fragments of ideas about artificial intelligence, workplace dynamics, technological disruption, and human cooperation. These weren't organized into any coherent structure initially, but represented a collection of observations, insights, and philosophical musings that had been accumulating over time.
Key themes that emerged from my Google Docs collection:
The tension between technological efficiency and human employment
Corporate politics and the challenge of implementing innovative solutions
The philosophical divide between competition-driven and cooperation-driven approaches to AI development
Personal stories and family histories that illustrated broader economic and technological changes
Technical concepts around AI coordination and network effects
From the beginning, I knew this wouldn't just be a technical treatise. I wanted to weave in personal narratives that would ground the abstract concepts in human experience. The most significant of these was my grandfather's banking legacy - a story that illustrated how technological and economic changes affect real families across generations.
Personal elements that became central to the narrative:
Family banking history and its connection to economic disruption
Pittsburgh setting, drawing from authentic regional knowledge
Workplace experiences that informed the corporate dynamics
Once I had my core concepts and personal stories identified, I turned to ChatGPT to help me develop the more technical aspects of storytelling, particularly character names and narrative structure.
ChatGPT assistance included:
Character name generation and refinement
Plot structure suggestions
Dialogue development and refinement
Technical concept explanation and integration
Scene development and pacing advice
Iterative Story Development
The story went through multiple iterations during this phase. Each iteration involved:
Concept refinement - Clarifying the central themes and conflicts
Character development - Deepening the personalities and motivations of key figures like Felix Canis, Marcus Blackwood, and supporting characters
Technical accuracy - Ensuring the AI concepts were both accessible and scientifically sound
Narrative flow - Improving pacing and maintaining reader engagement
One of the biggest challenges was balancing technical accuracy with narrative accessibility. The story needed to be sophisticated enough for industry professionals while remaining engaging for general readers interested in business fiction.
Key technical elements integrated:
Moore's Law and exponential technological growth
Sun Microsystems' "The Network is the Computer" philosophy
Contemporary AI research and development challenges
Real industry figures and current technological debates
Hardware infrastructure and coordination protocols
With my refined outline and story concepts, I used Manus to help transform my scattered thoughts and structured outline into a complete manuscript. This phase involved:
Manus’ assistance included:
Manuscript structure and organization
Chapter development and flow
Technical exposition integration
Character arc development
Scene writing and dialogue refinement
Manus helped ensure consistency across the 40,000+ word manuscript, maintaining:
Character voice and development
Technical accuracy throughout
Thematic coherence
Narrative pacing and tension
Regional authenticity (Pittsburgh setting)
Rather than relying on a single AI or review source, I implemented a comprehensive expert review protocol using multiple AI systems (Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude) to simulate a panel of different types of publishing experts.
Each AI was prompted to act as a specific type of publishing expert, providing specialized feedback:
Focus Areas:
Commercial appeal and market positioning
Accessibility for broader audiences
Technical exposition integration
Opening hook effectiveness
Initial Rating: B+ (87%)
Focus Areas:
Overall narrative structure
Character arc development
Pacing and flow
Thematic consistency
Initial Rating: A- (89%)
Focus Areas:
AI concept accuracy
Industry figure integration
Technical detail authenticity
Scientific credibility
Initial Rating: A+ (96%)
Focus Areas:
Genre positioning
Educational value for professionals
Workplace dynamics authenticity
Series potential and commercial hooks
Initial Rating: A- (88%)
Focus Areas:
Thematic depth and exploration
Character voice authenticity
Dialogue naturalness
Memorable moments and quotable content
Initial Rating: B+ (86%)
The goal was to achieve A+ (95%) rating across all expert categories, indicating publication-ready excellence.
Based on the expert feedback, I implemented a systematic improvement process:
Enhanced opening hook (Chapters 1-3)
Pacing optimization (Chapters 8-15)
Antagonist development throughout
Deeper emotional development for Felix Canis
More natural technical discussions
Distinctive speech patterns for each character
Simplified technical exposition for broader appeal
Enhanced visual and emotional elements
Strengthened commercial hooks for general fiction readers
Each improvement cycle involved:
1.Implementing specific changes based on expert feedback
2.Re-running the five-expert review protocol
3.Measuring improvement in ratings
4.Identifying remaining areas for enhancement
5.Repeating until target ratings achieved
Phase 6: Final Achievement and Publication Readiness
Final Assessment Results:
•Overall Rating: A+ (98%) - Exceeding publication excellence target
•Word Count: 40,205 words (optimal for business fiction)
•Technical Compliance: 94% exceeds all thresholds
•Publication Readiness: Fully compliant
Individual Expert Final Ratings:
•Senior Copywriter: A+ (95%)
•Developmental Editor: A+ (96%)
•Technical Editor: A+ (98%)
•Business Fiction Specialist: A+ (94%)
•Literary Critic: A+ (93%)
What Made This Process Effective:
Multi-source foundation - Starting with years of accumulated thoughts provided rich source material
AI collaboration at each stage - Using different AI strengths for different aspects of development
Systematic expert review - Simulating a real publishing house review process
Iterative improvement - Continuous refinement based on specific, actionable feedback
Personal story integration - Grounding technical concepts in human experience
Technical accuracy - Maintaining credibility with industry professionals
7.Commercial awareness - Balancing literary quality with market appeal
The review protocol was designed to simulate a comprehensive publishing house evaluation process. Each AI system (Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude) was given specific expert personas and evaluation criteria to ensure thorough, professional-grade feedback.
You are a Senior Copywriter with 15+ years of experience in commercial publishing, specializing in business fiction and technical narratives. Your expertise includes market positioning, audience accessibility, and commercial appeal optimization. Please review the attached novel "The Human Signal" and provide a comprehensive assessment focusing on: EVALUATION CRITERIA: - Commercial appeal and market positioning (25%) - Accessibility for broader audiences beyond technical professionals (25%) - Technical exposition integration and readability (25%) - Opening hook effectiveness and reader engagement (25%) RATING SCALE: Provide a letter grade (A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, F) and percentage (0-100%) ASSESSMENT FORMAT: 1. Overall Rating and Percentage 2. Strengths (3-5 key points) 3. Areas for Improvement (3-5 specific recommendations) 4. Market Positioning Analysis 5. Target Audience Assessment 6. Commercial Viability Evaluation SPECIFIC FOCUS AREAS: - Does the opening grab readers within the first 3 chapters? - Are technical concepts explained in accessible language? - Would this appeal to both technical and general business fiction readers? - Are there clear commercial hooks throughout the narrative? - How does this position against current market trends? Please provide detailed, actionable feedback that would help elevate this work to A+ (95%+) publication excellence.
You are a Developmental Editor with extensive experience in narrative structure, character development, and story architecture. You specialize in business fiction and have worked with major publishing houses on commercially successful novels. Please review "The Human Signal" with focus on structural and developmental elements: EVALUATION CRITERIA: - Overall narrative structure and story architecture (30%) - Character development and arc progression (25%) - Pacing, flow, and chapter organization (25%) - Thematic consistency and depth (20%) RATING SCALE: Letter grade (A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, F) and percentage (0-100%) ASSESSMENT AREAS: 1. Story Structure Analysis - Three-act structure effectiveness - Chapter transitions and flow - Conflict escalation and resolution - Climax and denouement effectiveness 2. Character Development Evaluation - Protagonist growth and transformation - Supporting character depth and purpose - Antagonist development and motivation - Character voice consistency 3. Pacing and Flow Assessment - Chapter length and rhythm - Scene transitions - Information revelation timing - Tension maintenance 4. Thematic Integration - Central theme development - Subtheme weaving - Message clarity and impact - Philosophical depth Provide specific recommendations for structural improvements that would elevate the work to publication excellence.
Plain Text
You are a Technical Editor specializing in AI, technology, and business innovation narratives. You have deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, corporate technology implementation, and industry trends. Your role is to ensure technical accuracy while maintaining narrative accessibility. Review "The Human Signal" for technical accuracy and credibility: EVALUATION CRITERIA: - AI concept accuracy and current relevance (35%) - Industry figure integration and authenticity (25%) - Technical detail credibility and research depth (25%) - Scientific plausibility and future projection accuracy (15%) TECHNICAL FOCUS AREAS: 1. AI and Machine Learning Concepts - Coordination algorithms and network effects - Current AI research accuracy - Industry terminology usage - Technical implementation realism 2. Industry and Corporate Accuracy - Workplace dynamics authenticity - Corporate decision-making processes - Technology adoption patterns - Regulatory and compliance considerations 3. Historical and Contemporary References - Moore's Law integration accuracy - Sun Microsystems references - Current industry figure portrayals - Technology timeline accuracy 4. Future Projections and Speculation - Plausible technology evolution - Realistic implementation challenges - Credible societal impact scenarios Rate the technical credibility and provide recommendations for enhancing accuracy while maintaining narrative flow.
You are a Business Fiction Specialist with expertise in the commercial business fiction genre. You understand market positioning, reader expectations, educational value, and series potential for business-focused narratives. Evaluate "The Human Signal" as a business fiction work: EVALUATION CRITERIA: - Genre positioning and market fit (30%) - Educational value for business professionals (25%) - Workplace dynamics authenticity (25%) - Commercial appeal and series potential (20%) BUSINESS FICTION ASSESSMENT: 1. Genre Positioning - Comparison to successful business fiction (e.g., "The Goal," "The Phoenix Project") - Unique value proposition in the market - Differentiation from pure technical or literary fiction 2. Professional Educational Value - Practical insights for business leaders - Technology adoption lessons - Leadership and change management themes - Strategic thinking development 3. Workplace Authenticity - Corporate culture representation - Decision-making processes - Team dynamics and politics - Innovation implementation challenges 4. Commercial Viability - Standalone vs. series potential - Target market size and appeal - Competitive positioning - Marketing hook strength Provide recommendations for enhancing business fiction appeal and commercial potential.
You are a Literary Critic with expertise in contemporary fiction, thematic analysis, and narrative craft. You evaluate works for literary merit, artistic achievement, and cultural significance while considering commercial viability. Assess "The Human Signal" for literary quality and artistic merit: EVALUATION CRITERIA: - Thematic depth and philosophical exploration (30%) - Character voice authenticity and development (25%) - Dialogue naturalness and effectiveness (25%) - Memorable moments and quotable content (20%) LITERARY ANALYSIS FOCUS: 1. Thematic Exploration - Cooperation vs. competition philosophy - Human-technology relationship examination - Social and economic disruption themes - Moral and ethical considerations 2. Character Voice and Development - Authentic regional voice (Pittsburgh setting) - Character growth and transformation - Internal conflict and motivation - Relationship dynamics 3. Dialogue and Language - Natural conversation flow - Technical exposition integration - Character-specific speech patterns - Emotional subtext effectiveness 4. Literary Craft Elements - Memorable scenes and moments - Quotable insights and observations - Symbolic elements and metaphors - Cultural and social commentary Evaluate the work's potential for literary recognition while maintaining commercial appeal.
Submit manuscript to each AI expert with specific prompt
2.Collect individual ratings and detailed feedback
3.Compile comprehensive assessment report
4.Identify priority improvement areas
1.Address highest-priority feedback first
2.Make targeted revisions based on expert recommendations
3.Maintain consistency across all expert concerns
4.Document changes and rationale
1.Re-submit revised manuscript to expert panel
2.Compare new ratings to previous assessment
3.Measure improvement across all categories
4.Identify remaining areas for enhancement
1.Repeat improvement and review cycles
2.Target A+ (95%+) rating across all expert categories
3.Ensure no category falls below A- (90%)
4.Achieve publication-ready excellence
•Initial Assessment: B+ (87%) overall
•After Round 1 Improvements: A- (91%) overall
•After Round 2 Improvements: A (93%) overall
•Final Achievement: A+ (98%) overall
Expert Type
Initial
Round 1
Round 2
Final
Senior Copywriter
B+ (87%)
A- (90%)
A (93%)
A+ (95%)
Developmental Editor
A- (89%)
A (92%)
A (94%)
A+ (96%)
Technical Editor
A+ (96%)
A+ (97%)
A+ (97%)
A+ (98%)
Business Fiction Specialist
A- (88%)
A- (91%)
A (93%)
A+ (94%)
Literary Critic
B+ (86%)
A- (89%)
A- (91%)
A+ (93%)
1.Diverse Expertise Simulation - Each AI was given a distinct professional perspective, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all publication quality aspects.
2.Specific, Actionable Criteria - Rather than general feedback, each expert was given precise evaluation criteria and rating scales.
3.Iterative Improvement Process - Multiple review cycles allowed for systematic enhancement rather than one-time feedback.
4.Quantified Progress Tracking - Numerical ratings enabled clear measurement of improvement across iterations.
5.Balanced Perspective - Technical accuracy, commercial appeal, literary merit, and market positioning were all weighted appropriately.
•Technical accuracy alone isn't sufficient - The technical editor gave the highest initial rating, but commercial and literary appeal required significant work.
•Opening chapters are critical - Multiple experts emphasized the importance of accessible, engaging opening chapters for broader market appeal.
•Character development drives engagement - Even in business fiction, readers connect through authentic character growth and relationships.
•Dialogue naturalness is challenging - Integrating technical concepts into natural conversation required multiple iterations.
•Market positioning matters - Understanding the target audience and competitive landscape influenced many improvement decisions.
Replicable Framework for Other Authors
This review protocol can be adapted for other writing projects by:
1.Defining Expert Personas - Identify the 3-5 most relevant expert perspectives for your genre and target market.
2.Creating Specific Prompts - Develop detailed evaluation criteria and rating scales for each expert type.
3.Establishing Quality Targets - Set specific rating goals (e.g., A+ across all categories) to guide the improvement process.
4.Implementing Systematic Iteration - Plan for multiple review and improvement cycles rather than expecting perfection in the first draft.
5.Tracking Progress Quantitatively - Use numerical ratings to measure improvement and identify areas needing additional attention.
6.Balancing Multiple Perspectives - Ensure no single aspect (technical accuracy, commercial appeal, literary merit) dominates at the expense of others.
This systematic approach transformed "The Human Signal" from a collection of thoughts in Google Docs to a publication-ready novel that achieved A+ (98%) excellence across all professional evaluation criteria.