# Texterial: A Text-as-Material Interaction Paradigm for LLM-Mediated Writing

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00452 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.00452/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 28 of its 86 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 28 Feb 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 28 of 28)

- [BERT: Pre-training of Deep Bidirectional Transformers for Language Understanding](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1810.04805/) (2018)
- [Language Models are Few-Shot Learners](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14165/) (2020)
- [Efficient Estimation of Word Representations in Vector Space](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1301.3781/) (2013)
- [Towards Reasoning in Large Language Models: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.10403/) (2022)
- [CoAuthor: Designing a Human-AI Collaborative Writing Dataset for Exploring Language Model Capabilities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.06796/) (2022)
- [Style Transfer from Non-Parallel Text by Cross-Alignment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1705.09655/) (2017)
- [Sparks: Inspiration for Science Writing using Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.07640/) (2021)
- [A Design Space for Intelligent and Interactive Writing Assistants](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.14117/) (2024)
- [Bridging the Gulf of Envisioning: Cognitive Design Challenges in LLM Interfaces](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.14459/) (2023)
- [Luminate: Structured Generation and Exploration of Design Space with Large Language Models for Human-AI Co-Creation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.12953/) (2023)
- [Sensecape: Enabling Multilevel Exploration and Sensemaking with Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.11483/) (2023)
- [Beyond Text Generation: Supporting Writers with Continuous Automatic Text Summaries](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.09323/) (2022)
- [VISAR: A Human-AI Argumentative Writing Assistant with Visual Programming and Rapid Draft Prototyping](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.07810/) (2023)
- [PromptPaint: Steering Text-to-Image Generation Through Paint Medium-like Interactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.05184/) (2023)
- [DirectGPT: A Direct Manipulation Interface to Interact with Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.03691/) (2023)
- [Supporting Sensemaking of Large Language Model Outputs at Scale](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.13726/) (2024)
- [Authors' Values and Attitudes Towards AI-bridged Scalable Personalization of Creative Language Arts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.00439/) (2024)
- [Collage is the New Writing: Exploring the Fragmentation of Text and User Interfaces in AI Tools](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.17217/) (2024)
- [Textoshop: Interactions Inspired by Drawing Software to Facilitate Text Editing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.17088/) (2024)
- [Script&Shift: A Layered Interface Paradigm for Integrating Content Development and Rhetorical Strategy with LLM Writing Assistants](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.10638/) (2025)
- [Visual Story-Writing: Writing by Manipulating Visual Representations of Stories](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.07486/) (2024)
- [Writing Tools: Looking Back to Look Ahead](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.17894/) (2023)
- [WhatELSE: Shaping Narrative Spaces at Configurable Level of Abstraction for AI-bridged Interactive Storytelling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.18641/) (2025)
- [AI-Instruments: Embodying Prompts as Instruments to Abstract & Reflect Graphical Interface Commands as General-Purpose Tools](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.18736/) (2025)
- [Making the Write Connections: Linking Writing Support Tools with Writer's Needs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.13320/) (2025)
- [LMCanvas: Object-Oriented Interaction to Personalize Large Language Model-Powered Writing Environments](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.15125/) (2023)
- [Toyteller: AI-powered Visual Storytelling Through Toy-Playing with Character Symbols](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.13284/) (2025)
- [Phraselette: A Poet's Procedural Palette](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.06335/) (2025)

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Narrative Keyframing for Generative Creative Writing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.10337/) (2026)
- [Towards Cognitive Process-Aware Proactive Writing Support](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.30424/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

What if text could be sculpted and refined like clay -- or cultivated and pruned like a plant? Texterial reimagines text as a material that users can grow, sculpt, and transform. Current generative-AI models enable rich text operations, yet rigid, linear interfaces often mask such capabilities. We explore how the text-as-material metaphor can reveal AI-enabled operations, reshape the writing process, and foster compelling user experiences. A formative study shows that users readily reason with text-as-material, informing a conceptual framework that explains how material metaphors shift mental models and bridge gulfs of envisioning, execution, and evaluation in LLM-mediated writing. We present the design and evaluation of two technical probes: Text as Clay, where users refine text through gestural sculpting, and Text as Plants, where ideas grow serendipitously over time. This work expands the design space of writing tools by treating text as a living, malleable medium.