Weekly Unfinished Tales and Short Stories from our Dataset
This curated collection presents a selection of short stories drawn from the extensive dataset of the “Unfinished Tales” project, an interdisciplinary creative arts and narrative storytelling experiment. Each piece, a narrative experiment in its own right, reflects the project’s commitment to exploring the multifaceted nature of contemporary storytelling, often touching upon themes of memory, community, and the passage of time. These daily entries offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of human experience and imaginative constructs being developed within our research framework.
Beyond their inherent narrative appeal, these stories serve a crucial dual purpose within our project’s core objectives. Firstly, they provide invaluable data for our AI-Assisted Storytelling and Scriptwriting research, allowing us to analyze diverse plot structures, character arcs, and thematic developments, which in turn inform the generation of new narrative ideas and alternative story paths. Secondly, they act as practical case studies for our Talent Development and Training initiatives, offering creative professionals tangible examples to hone their skills in managing AI tools, fostering digital literacy, and embracing interdisciplinary approaches in the evolving landscape of immersive technologies.
Today’s Unfinished Tales and Short Stories
The Winter Broadcast
Author: Eva Suluk | Category: Gritty Realism | Genre: Coming-of-Age
The control room, usually a chaotic hub of activity, felt eerily still, its silence broken only by the distant hum of ancient equipment and the nervous cough of someone down the hall. Winter had settled deep into Northwood, pressing against the worn brick of the community television station, and an even colder dread had settled into the hearts of its small crew. This room, once a canvas for youthful ambition, now felt like a tomb, waiting for its final broadcast.
The Plastic Fir
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Slice of Life | Genre: Coming-of-Age
Ben, a man in his seventies, struggles to assemble a fake Christmas tree in his living room on a rainy April afternoon, while his adult son watches with growing concern.
A Future Broadcast
Author: Leaf Richards | Category: Gritty Realism | Genre: Coming-of-Age
The smell of stale coffee and damp plaster clung to the air in the narrow corridor leading to Studio B. Outside, a tentative Spring sun wrestled with grey clouds, painting the puddles in the cracked car park with a watery, fleeting gold. Inside, the hum of ancient electronics was a constant companion, a low thrum against the backdrop of Briar’s racing thoughts. This meeting, she knew, felt less like a discussion and more like an impending confrontation, a battle for the soul of the station, fought over a chipped laminate table.
The Nordic Concept
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Minimalist | Genre: Satire
The family gathers in a hyper-modern, sterile living room to decorate a sparse Christmas tree, battling over the conflicting desires for aesthetic perfection and sentimental chaos.
The Glass Apple
Author: Tony Eetak | Category: Slice of Life | Genre: Coming-of-Age
Andrew discovers a disturbance in his quiet home—a misplaced Christmas ornament that triggers a surreal deviation from the season.
Design Notes and Applied Research
This collection, framed by Coming-of-Age narratives and satirical perspectives, critically examines the evolving landscape of artistic skills development. Through gritty realism, slice-of-life vignettes, and minimalist approaches, these stories ground the profound shifts brought about by digital transformation in relatable human experience. They offer insights into how artists navigate new tools, platforms, and audiences, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities inherent in this digital evolution. This curated selection thus serves as a thematic lens into the practical implications of integrating technology within creative practices.
The compilation of these diverse narratives represents a significant experimental phase in our ongoing exploration of contemporary artistic practices. It provided a unique opportunity to observe how various storytelling forms can illuminate the complex interplay between artistic growth and technological advancement. Engaging with these stories proved to be an enjoyable and insightful endeavor for the project team. This project ultimately underscored the dynamic potential for creative expression within a rapidly digitizing arts sector.
About the Project
The Unfinished Tales and Short Stories collection was an interdisciplinary arts and narrative storytelling experiment in 2025. It was part of a creative arts and participatory research project by The Arts Incubator Winnipeg and the Art Borups Corners collectives. It focuses on two key areas: AI-Assisted Storytelling and Scriptwriting, exploring AI tools for generating ideas, plot structures, and story arcs; and Talent Development and Training, studying digital skills, literacy and training needs for creative professionals by experimenting with AI and immersive technologies to inform future projects. Funding and support were generously provided by the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects program and the Government of Ontario. We thank them for supporting the arts, digital transformation, and applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) research.
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