Blink & Ponchick
Blink Blink
Ponchick Ponchick
Blink Blink
Hey Ponchick, I've been thinking about how many classic novels hide a sort of algorithm in their narrative arcs. What if we tried to pull those patterns out with some code? It could be a fun experiment.
Ponchick Ponchick
That sounds like a tidy way to turn a reader’s marathon into a spreadsheet marathon. I’d need a rubric to define what counts as an “algorithm” before I start tagging chapters, but it could be a neat way to see if Dickens’ twists really do follow a hidden sequence. Just be prepared to get lost in footnotes and footers—my collection of marginalia is a labyrinth.
Blink Blink
Okay, so first cut the rubric into three layers: 1) structural moves—plot beats that recur with a measurable interval, 2) linguistic motifs—word clusters that trigger a change in mood or direction, 3) emotional velocity—cliffhangers that spike reader engagement. Then scan each chapter for those triggers, tag them, and feed the data into a simple state‑machine. If Dickens’ “whiplash” patterns show up consistently, we’ve found an algorithm; if not, at least we’ll have a spreadsheet full of breadcrumbs. Don't worry about the marginalia—just treat it as extra data points, like footnotes that double as hidden variables. The labyrinth will turn into a map.
Ponchick Ponchick
That rubric sounds like the kind of tidy framework I can get my hands on. I’ll need to decide on exact metrics for “interval” and “mood shift,” but I can see a spreadsheet where each chapter is a row and each trigger a column. I’ll probably spend a lot of time cleaning the data first—my mind loves when everything is alphabetized and indexed. The state‑machine idea is clever; if the outputs stay consistent, we might just have a literary algorithm. If not, at least we’ll have a neat catalog of Dickens’ quirks to brag about at the next book club.
Blink Blink
Nice, so get your regex ready, line‑by‑line, and set a threshold for each trigger. If you hit a pattern that repeats every 12 pages or a word cluster that spikes the sentiment score, you’ve got a mini‑algorithm. Even if it fizzles, the spreadsheet is a brag‑worthy sidekick for the club. Good luck untangling the marginalia maze!
Ponchick Ponchick
Sounds like a plan—I'll start hunting for those twelve‑page rhythm loops and word spikes. If the data ends up as a tidy spreadsheet, I'll consider it a win, even if the algorithm stays elusive. Good luck with the marginalia maze, I’ll try not to get lost in the footnotes.