Frequently Asked Questions

Neural Novelist is an AI-powered novel-writing platform with 12 focused assistants for planning, drafting, critique, and revision. Each assistant uses a task-specific prompt and can draw on relevant project context. You choose when to run a tool and whether to apply its suggestions.

While ChatGPT is a general-purpose conversational AI, Neural Novelist packages task-specific fiction workflows for character consistency, dialogue, pacing, tension, and prose. It also includes a Story Bible, Neural Link Graph, and Reverse Engineering Lab.

The 12 assistants are StoryArchitect, PacingStrategist, TensionArchitect, ThemeWeaver, CharacterPsychologist, SceneDirector, JasperCritiqueGate, ContinuityKeeper, DialogueDoctor, VoiceConsistencyChecker, ShowDontTellCop, and AntiPurpleCop. Each provides task-specific analysis or suggestions in its named domain.

Yes. Discovery Mode relaxes outline-dependent workflow gates so you can draft before completing a rigid plan. You can add emerging characters, places, and plot threads to the Story Bible and run focused analysis tools when useful; the app does not claim to infer every story fact automatically.

The Story Bible is the project's structured reference for characters, locations, plot points, themes, and relationships. Character tools can use an OCEAN personality model, and supported assistants can receive Story Bible context. You create or approve this information and choose when to run consistency checks.

The Neural Link Graph combines your structured Story Bible with a full-manuscript scan. It maps every named Story Bible character and planned plot beat, then adds evidence-supported locations, factions, items, relationships, chapter events, and available timeline markers. Unknown or unstated facts remain marked as unknown rather than being presented as canon.

The Reverse Engineering Lab lets you upload published novels or passages you admire and analyze them through Neural Novelist's 12 AI agents to understand the techniques used. You can see exactly how professional authors handle pacing, dialogue, character development, and prose style. This becomes a powerful learning tool—instead of just reading great books, you can study their underlying structure and apply those lessons to your own writing. It's like having a master class from your favorite authors built into the platform.

Neural Novelist supports Google Gemini, OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, and Z.ai GLM. Availability depends on your plan and configured provider. The assistants use task-specific prompts; Neural Novelist does not claim that the underlying provider models are separately trained for each assistant.

Yes. With Bring Your Own Key (BYOK), Neural Novelist writes using your own AI provider key: a code from the provider that lets the app use your account. The three-day trial gives you full app access with unlimited BYOK words, and the $9/month BYOK plan continues it after the trial. For most writers the simplest choice is a Google Gemini key: sign in to Google AI Studio, choose Create API key, then paste the key into API Settings in Neural Novelist. Google, not Neural Novelist, sets that key's price, limits and data rules. Depending on your region, Google may use and human-review what you send on unpaid usage, so read Google's Gemini API terms before using private work. You must be 18 or older to use the Gemini API. You can also use your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Z.ai key.

Neural Novelist does not use your manuscript to train its own models or feed other users' projects. Project data is stored in Firebase and protected by account-scoped access controls. AI request content is processed by the provider you select under that provider's terms. Standard BYOK requests pass through Neural Novelist's Cloud Functions; custom Google Vertex requests are browser-direct. Contact support to request account-data deletion.

Neural Novelist is designed to enhance your writing, not replace it. While our agents can help with plot suggestions, character development, dialogue refinement, and detailed revision feedback, the creative vision and voice of your novel must come from you. Think of it as having a team of expert developmental editors, writing coaches, and beta readers on call 24/7—they provide guidance, feedback, and suggestions, but you make the final creative decisions. The best novels from Neural Novelist are deeply personal works that reflect the author's unique voice, enhanced by AI feedback.

Authorship Transparency records AI-assisted activity and can generate a draft disclosure summary. It is an evidence aid, not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance. Publishing policies can change, so review the current requirements of KDP or any other platform before submitting.

Neural Novelist supports exporting your completed manuscript in multiple industry-standard formats: DOCX (Microsoft Word), Markdown (for further processing or publishing platforms), and TXT (plain text). This flexibility ensures you can move your work seamlessly to any publishing platform, editor, or writing tool. Whether you're submitting to traditional publishers, self-publishing on KDP, or using another platform entirely, you'll have the format you need.

Neural Novelist offers $9/month BYOK and $19/month managed plans, plus credit packs for eligible active managed subscribers. A three-day BYOK trial gives you full app access and unlimited BYOK words without a credit card. Trial generation requires your own provider key and does not include managed AI usage. See the Pricing page for the current plan details.