This document discusses the use of predictive text in writing through the Botnik app, which allows users to combine various source texts to create unique narratives. It provides guidance on how to upload custom sources, find public domain texts, and participate in writing challenges, such as crafting scenes or poems. Additionally, it includes instructions on sharing creations and notes on copyright considerations.

1. PREDICTIVE TEXT STORIES
Image 1

2. • Most smart phones
have predictive text
built into their
keyboards.
• Suggested words
appear as you type.
Predictive Text in the Real World
Image 2

3. Creating Your Own Story
Image 3
Call me
Ishmael?

4. https://botnik.org

5. Botnik offers a number of
premade “voices” to start
writing right away.

6. • Each “voice” is made up
from a source text.
• A source can be any text,
but the premade voices
include narration, poetry,
music lyrics, recipes, and
television scripts.

7. This example was made using the
Harry Potter narration and Harry
Potter dialog voices.

9. Press the menu
button to show
additional
options.
You can upload your own
custom source: only .txt files
that are less than 1 MB work.
These options allow you to
change the look and feel of the
suggestion panel.
Additional pre-made voices can
be selected and loaded.

10. Creating Combined Voices
Each botnik keyboard has a URL ending in a unique code:
You can combine this codes with a comma to create combined
keyboards…

11. When combining sources
you will be able to adjust
often one source is used.
This is called the “voice
volume.”

12. Creating a Custom Voice / Source
Click on
[Browse] to look
for the text you
want to use as
your source.
Only simple text files - .txt – will work
with botnik.
Keep files under 1MB (1000 KB)

13. After clicking [Upload] you will see botnik start the upload process.
This can take about a minute.
Once the uploading is
complete the page will
refresh and your new
source will be updated.

14. Finding Source Text
Project Gutenberg: Over 59,000 public
domain eBooks.
https://www.gutenberg.org/
Internet Archive: eBooks and Texts
https://archive.org/details/texts
Open Library
https://openlibrary.org/
There are many sources of texts online. Below are some free
resources you can use. Most are free from copyright.
Hathi Trust Digital Library
https://www.hathitrust.org/
IMSDb: The Internet Movie Scrip Database
https://www.imsdb.com/
Open Library
https://openlibrary.org/

15. Easy File Conversion
Most computers have a simple text
reader. Windows has Notepad. Copy
and past your source document into
notepad and save the file.
NOTE: Microsoft word can also save
files as a .txt file. However, to ensure
the .txt file is as small as possible, it is
recommended that you use Notepad
rather than Word’s export when
possible.

16. Sources are Saved
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
https://botnik.org/apps/writer/?source=f9668f73a914b336a6ac4585ecf28e18
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
https://botnik.org/apps/writer/?source=ea13a46a3a0635196ca2953d1f8d4b6f
Assorted works by Dr. Seuss (Grinch, Green Eggs and Ham, etc.)
https://botnik.org/apps/writer/?source=d58947f7e973efe88b1deecc6272b321
Preload sources to Botnik and share with others.
Remember to note copyright information when you publish and
share your creative works.

17. Use the [Shuffle] button to refresh
the suggested word list. If you don’t
like what you see, hit [Shuffle] to
give yourself more opitons.

18. Examples from Botnik Studios
https://botnik.org/studios.html

19. Program Examples
Image 4

20. Harry Potter Challenge
Write the best one page Harry Potter scene you can using the “Harry
Potter Narration” voice.
Setup and Program:
•Explain how the Botnik writer app works and demonstrate how to write using the app.
•Each participant will need their own computer. Alternatively, they can work in small groups
and co-write the scene. They should have at least 20 minutes to write the scene.
•You can help setup the scene. For example, you might state the location and time, who is in
the room, or what has just happened in the story. The goal is then to create a funny or
plausible in-universe scene using the botnik app.
•You may begin the program by writing a scene collectively – the presenter doing the typing
as everyone votes on what word to choose next.
Once everyone has time to write their scene they will have a chance to read it, or have it
read aloud by the presenter, in front of the group. Alternatively, these can be posted on
social media and voted on by the public.

21. Poetry Month Challenge
Write the best poem (max one page) using the Botnik app
and [poetry source]
Setup and Program:
•Explain how the Botnik writer app works and demonstrate how to write using the app.
•Each participant will need their own computer.
•You may choose to select a theme for the poem: summer, winter, life, death, etc. This will
help to create a cohesive theme for the challenge and a target for participants to pursue.
• You may want to pre-select the writer(s) for the challenge and create a custom botnik
source link that everyone uses: Walt Whitman poems, Robert Frost, Edgar Allen Poe, etc.
•It would help if you go over the different types of poems. Give examples and how they can
be written. You may also choose to challenge participants to write a specific style of poem.
Once everyone has time to write their poem they will have the opportunity to read it
aloud, or have it read aloud by the presenter. Poems can also be posted online for public
voting.

22. Images
1. Alibaba Tech. (2018). https://medium.com/@alitech_2017/how-alibabas-ai-writer-is-starting-the-content-revolution-
27804d845e11
2. Sprint. (2019).
http://eguides.sprint.com/support/eguides/htc10/content/htc_10_ug/enter_text_with_word_prediction.html
3. Express Writers Corp. (2017). https://expresswriters.com/why-robots-wont-replace-the-writer-anytime-soon/
4. Coursera. (2019). https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera-course-
photos.s3.amazonaws.com/92/61ab00265811e59638cb20cb5a23c8/basic-
writing.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2.625
All other images are sourced from Botnik.org
Sources
Additional Resources:
• The tutorial for Botnik.org offers tips on how to use the predictive text writer: https://botnik.org/tutorial.html
• For an excellent overview of how predictive text works: https://lifehacker.com/how-predictive-keyboards-work-and-how-
you-can-train-yo-1643795640
• For an example of a Harry Potter chapter written using predictive text: https://botnik.org/content/harry-potter.html

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If you wish to use copyrighted material from this presentation for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair
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CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Licensed under a
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Originally created by Rino A. Landa, June 2019.