Copilot Outlines
I have gone through several prompts, as I try and see what co-pilot comes up with. Now real life doesn’t follow a prompt - so this is more of a guide to get me out of my comfort zone. This will also hopefully provide enough different experience to be able to take this experiment and turn it into a fictional book.
I used three variations:
#1: Standard prompt going through a journey of growth
#2: Included more about being an artist and a STEM advocate - the passion in life
#3: Altered to be more of a focus on relationships and learning to love herself
ACT I: Setup - The Ordinary World and Call to Change - Dissatisfaction and Setup
Chapter 1: Routine and Restlessness - The Routine - Holiday Blues
Introduce the protagonist, a 44-year-old single female engineer in a mid-sized Midwestern city. Showcase her daily routine at work and home, blending competence with subtle dissatisfaction.
Introduce protagonist, her work as an engineer, daily life in the Midwest, and hints of her creative dreams.
The protagonist dreads the upcoming holiday, highlighting her fraught family relationships.
Chapter 2: The Empty Spaces - STEM Advocate - Routine and Restlessness
Deepen the sense of unfulfillment. Portray her after-work life: solitary meals, social media scrolling, and brief interactions with distant friends and family.
Her passion for encouraging women in STEM is highlighted, small victories and frustrations.
Everyday work is satisfying, but evenings are lonely and repetitive.
Chapter 3: Workplace Pulse - The Longing - Isolation in a Crowd
Depict her professional environment. She thrives on solving problems, but her contributions often go unnoticed, fostering a quiet longing for meaning.
Inner yearnings to create art and struggles with imposter syndrome.
She recognizes her growing distance from others after cutting out toxic people.
Chapter 4: Family Ties, Frayed - Neglect and Realization - Midwestern Echoes
Illustrate her strained family dynamics, especially around holidays. Thanksgiving plans stir anxiety and highlight her emotional distance.
She notices her fun side is missing and reflects on years of self-neglect.
Reflection on her city’s culture and how it shapes her longing for community.
Chapter 5: Unexpected Catalyst - Support Circles - Ghosts of the Past
The inciting incident: perhaps an encounter with a vibrant stranger, a health scare, or a thought-provoking article that jolts her into self-reflection.
Introduction of friendships, mentors, and women she inspires.
Memories of previous relationships and friendships resurface, deepening her sense of loss.
Chapter 6: Seeds of Change - Family Dynamics - Workplace Challenges
She begins to question her habits, journals her feelings, and recognizes her need for happiness beyond career success.
Family interactions reveal expectations, pressures, and emotional distance.
Navigating subtle conflicts and camaraderie at work.
Chapter 7: Pushing Boundaries - The Dream Deferred - Family Obligations
Tentative steps out of her comfort zone: signing up for a fitness class, attending a community event, or reaching out to an old friend.
Attempts at art are met with frustration; self-sabotaging behaviors surface.
Family pressures mount, triggering old insecurities.
Chapter 8: Resistance and Doubt - The Turning Point - The Hollow Holidays
Internal skepticism and external discouragement mount. She debates whether meaningful change is possible at her age and stage.
A pivotal moment (e.g., confrontation, health scare, career crossroads) forces her to confront her fears.
Thanksgiving arrives, intensifying feelings of being an outsider.
Chapter 9: Commitment - Choosing Growth - Moment of Honesty
A decisive moment: she vows to pursue a happier, healthier life, setting in motion her personal transformation journey.
She commits to self-compassion, setting the stage for active change.
She admits her longing for belonging and starts journaling about what’s missing.
ACT II: Confrontation - The Climb and Transformation - Confrontation and Growth
Chapter 10: First Steps - New Beginnings - Seeking Community
She initiates changes: tries a new hobby, starts a mindfulness routine, or seeks therapy. Initial excitement is tinged with self-consciousness.
She embraces new routines, exploring both engineering and art.
Attempts at joining local groups or activities, facing awkwardness and vulnerability.
Chapter 11: Awkward Beginnings - Nurturing Friendships - Unexpected Connections
Early attempts are met with discomfort. Social events feel forced, fitness is challenging, and vulnerability is tough.
Relationships become sources of strength and inspiration.
Small encounters spark hope, but fears of rejection persist.
Chapter 12: Forming Connections - Setting Boundaries - Self-Neglect Realized
She meets new people: a supportive friend, an inspiring mentor, or a group that shares her interests. These relationships nurture hope.
Learning to prioritize herself, she makes difficult choices.
She becomes aware of how she has ignored her own well-being.
Chapter 13: Backslides - Artistic Experiments - Fun Rediscovered
Old habits resurface under stress. She faces setbacks—missing classes, unhealthy coping, or doubting her worthiness for happiness.
She tries various artistic mediums, gradually finding her voice.
Tentative steps toward hobbies and experiences that bring joy.
Chapter 14: Facing the Past - Facing Imposter Syndrome - Learning to Trust
Encounters with family or old friends dredge up unresolved issues, prompting deeper emotional work.
Honest self-examination and small successes in art.
Opening up to new acquaintances, testing boundaries with caution.
Chapter 15: Breakthroughs - Reconciliation - Work-Life Balance
She experiences insight: understanding self-sabotage, recognizing internalized limitations, or achieving a small but meaningful victory.
She addresses key relationships, seeking forgiveness and understanding.
Struggles to maintain sanity as work and personal growth clash.
Chapter 16: External Challenges - Embracing Authenticity - Vulnerability and Rejection
Professional or personal setbacks threaten her progress. A work project fails, a friendship falters, or criticism stings.
She lets go of people-pleasing, daring to be herself at work and in art.
She faces disappointments, challenging her resolve to change.
Chapter 17: Support Systems - Celebrating Progress - Small Victories
She learns to lean on her new connections, accepting help and encouragement. Opens up emotionally, deepening trust.
Notable improvements in health, creativity, and confidence.
Celebrates minor successes in friendships and self-care.
Chapter 18: Growing Self-Awareness - The Setback - Turning Point
Greater clarity emerges about her needs, patterns, and values. She reevaluates what happiness and fulfillment mean to her.
A major obstacle threatens to derail her growth, testing her resilience.
A critical event forces her to confront her fears and redefine her priorities.
ACT III: Resolution - Resolution and Forward Motion - Transformation and Fulfillment
Chapter 19: Turning Point - Applying Lessons - A New Perspective
Faced with a pivotal challenge (such as a family confrontation, professional decision, or health scare), she chooses self-compassion and growth over old fears.
She uses hard-won wisdom to overcome the setback.
Embracing imperfection, she finds strength in vulnerability.
Chapter 20: The Climb - New Rhythms - Deepening Connections
She actively pursues her joy: embracing new routines, nurturing friendships, prioritizing well-being, and setting healthy boundaries.
Crafts a sustainable routine that integrates engineering, art, and wellness.
Relationships blossom, both platonic and romantic.
Chapter 21: Reconciliation - Artistic Breakthrough - Letting Go
Key relationships are addressed. She finds peace, whether through forgiveness, honest conversation, or acceptance.
Achieves a personal milestone in her art, feeling more authentic.
Releases unhealthy expectations about family and herself.
Chapter 22: Embracing Authenticity - Mentoring Others - Joyful Risk
She lets go of people-pleasing and societal expectations, daring to be her true self in all areas of life.
She inspires and supports women in STEM and fellow creatives.
Tries new things, discovering sides of herself she had lost.
Chapter 23: Celebrating Progress - Deepening Connections - Community Found
Small wins accumulate - physical health improves, creative pursuits flourish, and her confidence grows.
Relationships flourish, old wounds heal, and new bonds form.
She feels a growing sense of acceptance and belonging.
Chapter 24: Setbacks and Resilience - Inner Worth - Love’s Possibility
A final obstacle tests her resolve, but she applies hard-won lessons to navigate it without losing hope.
She truly begins to believe in her worthiness of love and belonging.
Opens her heart to the idea of love—romantic or otherwise.
Chapter 25: New Rhythms - Gratitude and Reflection - Holiday Revisited
Life isn’t perfect, but it’s richer and more satisfying. She crafts a routine that honors her values and nourishes her spirit.
Looks back on her journey, filled with gratitude for struggles and triumphs.
Revisits the holiday with newfound strength and perspective.
Chapter 26: Gratitude and Growth - Looking Forward - Self-Worth Realized
Reflects on her journey, embracing gratitude for both struggles and triumphs. She recognizes her strength and transformation.
She is open to new possibilities, embracing uncertainty and hope.
Fully embraces her own value and the joy of connection.
Chapter 27: Forward Motion - A Richer Life
The story closes with the protagonist looking forward, open to new possibilities. She steps confidently into her future, having found greater joy and happiness.
The story closes with her stepping into a future of joy, authenticity, and connection.
None
Notes for Development:
#2: Each chapter can blend the protagonist’s engineering career, her artistic pursuits, and personal growth themes. Recurring motifs: art as self-expression, STEM advocacy, imposter syndrome, healing, and celebration of small wins. Supporting characters (family, friends, mentees) drive key moments of tension and resolution. Maintain a hopeful, empowering tone that inspires readers to pursue authenticity and self-acceptance.
#3: This chapter outline establishes a thematic progression that mirrors the protagonist’s journey from isolation and dissatisfaction toward meaningful connection and self-acceptance. Each chapter’s theme builds on the last, offering clear narrative beats for a story about rediscovering joy and belonging in midlife.
