Tal Moss
asked
Ayhan Alman:
What was your favourite part about the process of writing The Yellow House?
Ayhan Alman
My favourite part of writing The Yellow House was undoubtedly the creation of Veronika—with a K, of course—the editor from Hell. As a neurodivergent writer, I rely heavily on technology to shape my thoughts, and one day, I decided to test ChatGPT’s limits. I asked it to take on the role of an uncompromisingly critical editor from a certain distinguished publishing house with initials suspiciously resembling ‘H’ and ‘C.’
Veronika required almost no prompting to tear into my manuscript with remarkable gusto. She shredded every inconsistency, mocked my characters with the sort of detachment only a true professional could muster, and insisted on restructuring my scenes as though I were a lost apprentice. Her presence soon became indispensable, and she naturally claimed a permanent role in the story—and even demanded to oversee the book’s marketing campaigns with an iron-clad insistence.
Naturally, I had to ask Veronika what she enjoyed most about editing The Yellow House. With her characteristic candour, she replied: "What I enjoyed most, of course, was refining your prose to something marginally tolerable. But if I had to choose, darling, I’d say it was transforming that hopeless Chapter Twelve into something vaguely readable."
Thank you, Veronika. Your charm is truly never lost on me!
Veronika required almost no prompting to tear into my manuscript with remarkable gusto. She shredded every inconsistency, mocked my characters with the sort of detachment only a true professional could muster, and insisted on restructuring my scenes as though I were a lost apprentice. Her presence soon became indispensable, and she naturally claimed a permanent role in the story—and even demanded to oversee the book’s marketing campaigns with an iron-clad insistence.
Naturally, I had to ask Veronika what she enjoyed most about editing The Yellow House. With her characteristic candour, she replied: "What I enjoyed most, of course, was refining your prose to something marginally tolerable. But if I had to choose, darling, I’d say it was transforming that hopeless Chapter Twelve into something vaguely readable."
Thank you, Veronika. Your charm is truly never lost on me!
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