The Extraordinary in the Ordinary
There is a specific allure to the unfinished story; it suggests a world that continues to exist even when the words stop. These tales are presented as incomplete fragments, scenes torn from a larger context that may never be fully written. They rely on the reader’s capacity to recognize the emotional truth of a moment, even when the plot mechanics are left obscure.
This project is an exercise in interdisciplinary collaboration between human creativity and artificial intelligence. We are testing the capabilities of AI to assist in the generation of tone and setting, refining the digital workflows that support modern authorship. It is a practical study in how technology can serve the arts, rather than replace the artist.
The selection for this post blends the grounded nature of Contemporary Fiction with the subtle impossibilities of Magical Realism and the emotional stakes of Romance. The stories explore how the inexplicable can bleed into everyday life. We are pleased to introduce the authors for this session, Jamie F. Bell and Eva Suluk, who bring these surreal and romantic visions to life.
Read these excerpts with an open mind. We invite you to fill in the blanks, imagining the magic and the relationships that extend beyond the boundaries of the text.
Today’s Unfinished Tales and Short Stories
Blending the everyday with the extraordinary, this collection focuses on Contemporary Magical Realism and the intimacy of Epistolary formats. As we navigate the evolving world of publishing, our initiative uses creative technology to enhance the Poetic and Lyrical qualities of these short stories. We are dedicated to fostering digital literacy through the exploration of AI-assisted narrative generation, proving that even Colloquial and Conversational styles within Romance and Paranormal Romance can be elevated through innovative digital tools.
The Infinite Stroll
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Epistolary | Genre: Contemporary Magical Realism
The comforting hum of The Portage Coffee House offers a momentary reprieve for Mikael, a young man adrift in the wake of academic completion. Beneath the surface of clattering cups and hushed conversations, he seeks answers to life’s grandest questions, unknowingly engaging with a presence far older and wiser than it appears.
The Rust-Lung Carousel
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Poetic / Lyrical | Genre: Contemporary
The padlock on the main gate was a joke. Finn clipped it with a pair of bolt cutters from his dad’s shed, and the chain fell away with a tired, rusty clatter. The sound was swallowed by the rhythmic shushing of the waves under the pier. Inside, the Oceanville Fun Fair was a graveyard of summer memories, its rides hulking like sleeping metal beasts under the weak security lights.
A Confluence of Ochre and Absence
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Paranormal Romance | Genre: Contemporary Fiction
The air held that particular, metallic tang of late autumn, a scent of damp earth and decaying leaves that clung to David’s coat. A low, grey sky pressed down, threatening rain, but for now, only a persistent wind rustled through the skeletal trees, plucking the last stubborn ochre and crimson leaves from their branches. The quiet crunch underfoot was a lonely rhythm against the vast silence of the suburban street.
A Peculiar Arrangement of Chair and Principle
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Romance | Genre: Romance
The air in the community hall, thick with the scent of lukewarm tea and disinfectant, usually hummed with a low, agreeable drone of muted conversation and the shuffling of card games. But today, a palpable tension hung over Table Three, where the late afternoon sun, weak and watery, cast long, distorted shadows across the worn linoleum. Beth, her lips a thin, unyielding line, clutched a well-thumbed paperback, while Artie, arms crossed over his chest, glared at the empty chair beside her, a chair he considered his by unwritten decree.
Unfurling Bark
Author: Eva Suluk | Category: Colloquial / Conversational | Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Late autumn had stripped the park down to its skeletal truth. The air carried the damp, earthy scent of decaying leaves and the distant, metallic tang of city traffic. Bare branches scraped a grey sky, and a few stubborn sparrows hopped across the damp asphalt path, pecking at forgotten crumbs. A sense of quiet resignation hung heavy, broken only by the crunch of solitary footsteps or the rustle of a forgotten plastic bag caught in a thorny bush.
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
