Magic in the Modern World
These texts are unfinished tales, offering the setup of a joke without the punchline, or the rising action without the climax. They are incomplete by design, capturing specific moods and conflicts while leaving the consequences undefined. This leaves the door open for the reader to speculate on the mechanics of the magic or the motive of the crime.
This project is an experimental program at the intersection of human creativity and applied artificial intelligence research. It explores how digital tools can act as a partner in the writing process, aiding in the evolution of storytelling and scriptwriting while supporting digital literacy development.
The genres explored today include Contemporary Fantasy, Romance, and Thriller, mixing the supernatural with the intense pacing of a drama. Jamie F. Bell is the author responsible for these varied glimpses into other lives.
We invite you to take these story seeds and let them grow. Read the text, understand the stakes, and decide for yourself how the story should end.
Today’s Unfinished Tales and Short Stories
Blending the urgency of thrillers with the imaginative scope of contemporary fantasy and cyberpunk, this entry invites readers into a world of expository and epistolary depth. We analyze the nuances of romance and Boys Love (BL) within the context of evolving publishing trends. By championing digital literacy and the use of creative technology, we explore how AI-assisted narrative can reimagine short stories, offering fresh perspectives on traditional literary forms.
The Unseen Compass
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Epistolary | Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
The bell above the door of The Portage Coffee House gave its usual jingle, a sound as familiar and comforting as the hiss of the espresso machine, but the figure who entered brought with him a chill that had nothing to do with the wind howling off the Prairies. He moved with the slow, heavy grace of someone carrying a secret burden, his eyes darting across the worn wooden tables and the art-lined walls, searching for something he couldn’t name.
The Canvas of Winter
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Literary | Genre: Romance
Steven and Jane, two teenagers, are in Professor Sterling’s office on a cold winter day. They are engaged in a discussion about the profound impacts of art, transitioning from philosophical debate to the exciting proposition of a new community arts project.
Halide and Half-Light
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Epistolary | Genre: Thriller
The crimson glow of the darkroom lamp painted John Carson’s grim face in a feverish, unnatural light. His breath hitched, tasting metallic fixer and dust. Outside, the brutal January wind screamed like a banshee through the eaves, rattling the single-pane glass of the converted garage window. He swore he could feel the cold seeping through the concrete floor, right into his bones, a prelude to the colder dread that was starting to bloom in his chest.
Beneath the Tarnished Silver
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Cyberpunk | Genre: Contemporary Drama
The smell of rising dough and dark roast coffee clung to the air, a stubborn warmth against the chill that seeped under the old oak door of ‘The Crust & Crumb’. Outside, the world was a study in hushed white and muted greys, the first proper snowfall of December having settled overnight like a heavy, silent confession. Inside, the ancient floorboards groaned under Lena’s weight as she moved, her breath visible in the frigid air that still lingered despite the oven’s best efforts. The town’s single street lamp, visible through the steamed-up window, cast a jaundiced glow on the pristine blanket of snow, a small beacon in the deepening twilight.
Sun-Bleached Silence
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Expository | Genre: Boys Love (BL)
Colton and Tommy are in the abandoned shell of an old general store in the sweltering summer heat, having a tense, emotionally charged conversation following a fight. The scene is set amidst dust, decay, and harsh sunlight, reflecting their bruised relationship.
About the Project
By design, these stories have no beginning and no end. Many stories are fictional, but many others are not. They are snapshots from worlds that never fully exist, inviting you to imagine what comes before and what happens next. We had fun exploring this project, and hope you will too.
The Unfinished Tales and Short Stories collection is part of an experimental, creative arts and research program by The Arts Incubator Winnipeg and the Art Borups Corners collectives. Each chapter is an interdisciplinary arts and narrative storytelling experiment focused on two key areas: AI-Assisted Scriptwriting, where researchers explore using AI to generate story ideas, plot structures, and alternative story arcs to enhance creative development; and Talent Development and Training, where the project studies the necessary skills for creative professionals to manage AI and immersive technologies in production, helping to inform future training curricula. The project was made possible with funding and support from the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects program and the Government of Ontario. We thank them for supporting the arts, digital transformation research and innovation in Ontario.
About the Author
