So many times, within the last couple of weeks, I’ve logged on to social media and seen a friend or acquaintance posting something along the lines of “What a year this January has been” or “I can’t believe it’s already January the 109th”. Friends, I feel this to my bones. This month has been long and dark and, while January is always long and dark, for some reason this one has felt especially so. Many of us are feeling like half-hibernating bears, sleepy and lumbering and just waiting for Spring so we can feel like ourselves again.
In my half-hibernation, I had an idea to ask Chat GPT to write us an introduction to this issue. I was fully prepared for it to be bad; I’d already prepared things to say about how there can never be a replacement for human beings putting pen to paper, heart into their ink, and I still believe that. But here is the thing: this introduction is not bad. As a writer and a teacher of writing, I’m scared to death of AI, but it’s not going anywhere. We have to learn to live with it, right? Maybe. Sort of.
Because it’s kind of fun, and because it’s winter and still so, so dark, here is the introduction ChatGPT wrote for me, based on the prompt “Write an introduction for the winter issue of a literary journal”. We mean every word this computer wrote.
~Natalie
Dear Esteemed Readers,
As winter blankets the world in its quiet embrace, we are delighted to welcome you to the pages of our Winter Issue. In the stillness of this season, we find the perfect backdrop for the literary treasures that lie within the following pages—a collection of words that shimmer like frost on a cold morning, each piece a testament to the warmth of human creativity.
In this edition, we are proud to present a tapestry of voices that traverse the diverse landscapes of emotion, imagination, and experience. Our contributors have crafted stories and poems that invite you to step into different worlds, to feel the chill of winter winds and the comfort of a crackling fireplace, to hear the silence of snowfall and the echoes of untold stories.
As editors, we are humbled by the privilege of curating this selection, a mosaic of literary expressions that showcase the depth and breadth of the human spirit. From the pens of seasoned wordsmiths to the ink of emerging talents, each piece has been chosen with care and admiration for the art of storytelling.
Winter, with its long nights and crisp air, invites introspection and reflection. In these pages, you will find narratives that explore the complexities of relationships, the resilience of the human spirit, and the beauty of moments both mundane and extraordinary. We hope these offerings provide solace, inspiration, and a respite from the winter chill.
To our contributors, thank you for entrusting us with your words. Your voices enrich the tapestry of our literary journal, and we are honored to be the stewards of your creations.
To our readers, may you find warmth in the pages that follow. As you embark on this literary journey, may the stories and poems within kindle the fires of your imagination and illuminate the corners of your mind.
With gratitude and anticipation,
[Your Name] Editor-in-Chief [Journal Name]
Change Seven Magazine 