How To Use NovelAI for Creative Writing

Whether you’re a professional novelist or simply love creating stories, there’s nothing worse than a case of writer’s block. Fortunately, a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform called NovelAI.net is here to help.

From the earliest drafts to image generation, NovelAI is packed with powerful tools that can supercharge your creativity. NovelAI.net leverages artificial intelligence (AI) for text and image generation. Trained on real literature, it can also incorporate your own writing style and themes.

In this article, we’ll introduce the various features of NovelAI, walk you through the process of working with NovelAI in your writing, and discuss the features of the platform’s free and monthly subscription service options.

What is NovelAI?

NovelAI can be thought of as the intersection of an AI-assisted muse, writing partner, and illustrator. While it packs the same power as AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Copilot, NovelAI was designed specifically with creative writers and storytellers in mind.

‍NovelAI is an AI storyteller trained in text generation using real literature. Through a mixture of sophisticated algorithms and deep machine learning, its large language model (LLM) can help expand on your story.

Want to experiment with different styles? NovelAI allows you to choose from a series of “AI Modules.” These natural language processing algorithms affect the style of your AI’s output.

For instance, you might choose to collaborate with a chatbot who writes in the style of Edgar Allen Poe or Arthur Conan Doyle. Or you might select a genre theme such as historical romance or fantasy. NovelAI even offers trainable AI modules you can customize based on your own data.

More than just a fun AI-writing tool, NovelAI can also be used for image generation. While super user-friendly, the image generation tools require platform tokens called Anlas, which we’ll discuss in more detail when we delve into monthly subscription service options.

A deeper look into NovelAI’s origin

NovelAI is developed by Anlatan, a team dedicated to enhancing the creative process through AI. Anlatan focuses on building AI tools that are intuitive, effective, and aligned with the needs of storytellers. The team continually updates NovelAI to improve its capabilities, ensuring that users have access to the latest advancements in AI writing and image generation.

The platform runs on a powerful backend powered by CoreWeave, a specialized cloud infrastructure that accelerates AI workloads. CoreWeave ensures that NovelAI can handle large volumes of data, enabling faster story generation and image creation without compromising quality. This infrastructure is vital for users looking to generate high-quality content efficiently.

When comparing NovelAI to other platforms like AI Dungeon, the primary difference lies in the focus. While AI Dungeon is centered around interactive storytelling with an emphasis on text adventures, NovelAI offers a broader range of creative tools, including story generation, text prompts, and image creation, making it more versatile for writers looking to explore different aspects of creative writing.

Getting started

The best way to experiment with NovelAI is to head to the website and select “Start Writing for Free” to create a new story. To save your work, you’ll need to create a free trial account.

Free accounts come with 6,144 tokens of memory, which is enough to remember roughly 24,500 characters. Be sure to hang on to your credentials because, due to the platform’s encryption, there’s no way to retrieve them if they’re lost.

You can get a nice feel for what the platform’s AI storyteller models are capable of with 50 free text generations and a tutorial introducing the dashboard’s functions. 

Unfortunately, not all of NovelAI’s functions are included in the free version. While the free version offers limited access to the advanced image generation models and 100 TTS generations, it does not provide access to Anlas for custom AI module training and full image generation capabilities. Additionally, you won’t have access to new experimental features.

Monthly subscription pricing options

If you decide to sign up for a paid account, there are a few subscription plans. While all paid plans include unlimited text generations, the pricing of each tier is based largely on the amount of memory tokens and Anlas you receive each month.

The additional memory can help the AI module remember past inputs, which improves ongoing interactions and content development. Here’s a breakdown of what each package has to offer.

• Tablet Plan. The cheapest paid plan is the Tablet plan, which comes with 1,000 Anlas and 3,072 tokens of memory (about 12,288 characters) for $10 per month. This subscription level includes access to NovelAI’s image generation models and advanced AI text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities.
• Scroll Plan. At $15 per month, the Scroll plan offers the same features as the Tablet plan with more memory. You’ll get 6,144 tokens, which are capable of remembering 24,575 characters.
• Opus Plan. As the top tier, the Opus plan offers 10,000 Anlas per month and 8,192 memory tokens (enough for about 32,768 characters) for $25 per month. Opus members get access to any new or experimental features before lower-level members.

Select a subscription plan based on your individual needs. Some users may want the additional features of the Opus plan, while others may be satisfied with the basic functionality of the Tablet or Scroll plans.

Generating text

Now let’s take a closer look at NovelAI’s story-writing abilities with a step-by-step guide to the writing process. When you first log in, you’ll be directed to a user-friendly dashboard.

In the center, you’ll see a feed with news about platform updates. As you scroll down, you’ll find the same options that appear in the left main menu. To start writing, select “New Story.”

You’ll then be directed to a dashboard where you can choose either the Storyteller or Text Adventure mode. If you’re having a hard time coming up with ideas, scroll down to the “Scenarios” section to expand on a list of plot ideas.

Storyteller mode

In the Storyteller mode, you’ll start writing a story, and your AI model will chime in and contribute. On the right-hand menu, you’ll find several AI models to choose from. These AI storyteller chatbots take the form of characters like Kayra and Clio, NovelAI’s latest models.

‍Further down the right-hand menu, you’ll find modules and presets that affect the AI’s output. Presets adapt elements like the tone of your chatbot or how concise you want it to be. AI modules are a bit more specific as far as overall structure and language model.

However, the two latest chatbots offer very few AI modules to choose from. While some of the older legacy bots, such as Euterpe, Sigurd, and Calliope, are no longer recommended by the platform, they do come with far more module options.

Legacy characters offer modules allowing your chatbot to mimic the styles of certain authors, like Edgar Allen Poe, or genres, such as fantasy. You can use these tools to train yourself to write in different voices.

While NovelAI’s suggestions are a great tool for busting writer’s block, don’t rely on them alone. It’s a fun tool for getting your creative gears turning, but it isn’t likely to win a Pulitzer any time soon.

Text adventure

While the Storyteller mode acts like an AI writing partner, Text Adventure is an interactive mode similar to playing an RPG. You begin by typing in a prompt like “enter an old tavern” or “set out on a journey.”

NovelAI will generate a description of what you see around you. You can then use the “Say” or “Do” options in the input menu to specify what happens next. NovelAI will respond accordingly, creating a fun back-and-forth exchange to move the story forward.

Text adventure mode tends to be very descriptive, so it’s a nice tool for expanding dialogue. It’s also useful for game writers.

Scenarios

Scenarios are writing prompts created by other authors. These writing exercises come preloaded with the author’s presets and notes.

Some take the form of Text Adventures with placeholders that need to be filled in. Others are stories you can make your own.

If you click “View all Scenarios,” you’ll be taken to a screen where you can browse through various options. You can also search at the top for keywords like author, genre, or perspective.

Generating images

In addition to writing, NovelAI features an image generator capable of churning out high-quality illustrations. However, the generator’s style is limited to anime. There’s a “furry” option for non-human creatures, and its output style is similar to Pixar animation.

What NovelAI sacrifices in terms of control, it makes up for in ease of use. When you select the “Generate Images” option, a screen asks you to write out a description of the type of image you’d like. Generally, it’s best to use a combination of prose and keyword tags.

There’s also the option to include a base image or draw one of your own using a few simple drawing tools. You can select the number of images you’d like as well as their orientation and size.

At the very bottom, you can select the number of steps, which is the number of iterations the AI should refine, and their scale, which determines how closely it adheres to your description. If you want to reproduce the same style of a previously generated image, you can add its seed to the settings.

Once you’ve made your selections, click the “Generate Image” button at the bottom of the screen and wait for the magic to begin. Much like the platform’s text generator, NovelAI’s image generator may not always churn out exactly what you’re looking for, but it’s a fun way to generate new ideas to build on.

Advanced features

Now that we’ve covered the basic functions of NovelAI, we’ll dig into its more advanced features and capabilities.

Creating a Lorebook

Writing a novel involves creating a new world filled with a diverse range of characters and locations. NovelAI’s Lorebook is a handy in-platform journal that keeps track of story elements.

To create a new Lorebook, click on the book icon on the left end of the input box. Select “+ Entry” to add a new note. The “+ Category” button groups your entries. For example, you might choose to create a characters category or arrange notes for various chapters.

There’s also a “Generator” option for creating new ideas. Choose from categories like person, place, thing, or location, and type a few keywords. When you click on “Generate,” NovelAI will flesh out your idea with key details.

Collaborate with others

There are several ways you can collaborate with other creators on NovelAI. As you’re creating Lorebooks, you have the option to import or export existing Lorebooks. You can use a Lorebook created by another user, or you can export one you’ve built and make it available to others.

You can also participate in NovelAI-sponsored contests to test your skills against other creators. Some contests include prizes for the winners, such as additional credits or tokens to use on the site.

Stable diffusion and open-source alternatives

Stable Diffusion is a form of generative AI that produces photorealistic images using text and image prompts. The model also creates videos and other forms of animation. Stable Diffusion is popular because of its ease of use and its ability to train on only a few images.

NovelAI incorporates Stable Diffusion as it trains its own models and algorithms. Stable Diffusion also improves the quality of its generations while also enhancing the overall user experience. They continue to make modifications to their software based on the results of Stable Diffusion tests.

It’s also worth mentioning some of the other open-source alternatives that exist alongside NovelAI. As a reminder, open-source material refers to anything that is publicly accessible and modifiable. Open-source content is popular because of its ability to be used and improved by a large group of people through collaboration and transparency.

Popular open-source alternatives to NovelAI include platforms like Wordtune and KoboldAI. Others may prefer StoryLab or ShortlyAI. Each option varies in terms of its functions and pricing.

Enhancing your writing style

The more you use NovelAI, the better its machine learning algorithms match your writing style. If you’re new to the platform, start by developing character notes and other outline elements. This gives the AI model a chance to learn your preferences before you use it for heavy-duty writing sessions.

As you start writing, don’t underestimate the value of building a strong memory bank to use as you develop content. Doing this helps the AI model better understand the qualities and traits you want your story to emulate. Before getting into the in-depth story, consider providing the model with a brief synopsis of the setting, the main characters, and the major plotlines or conflict to serve as a foundation for generation.

You can always use the retry feature if you don’t like the AI’s output. You can also take advantage of other features such as the “trim story,” “flatten story,” or “reset to prompt” functions to further refine and edit your content.

Once you’re finished, you’ll have a high-quality, engaging story you can enjoy and share with others. While AI writing is no substitute for the work of a skilled author, platforms like NovelAI often make great assistants. Whether you need help getting started or fine-tuning details, NovelAI is worth taking for a test drive.  

FAQ: Common questions about NovelAI

Can NovelAI generate stories in multiple languages?

Yes, NovelAI can generate stories in multiple languages, including English and Japanese. This makes it a versatile tool for writers around the globe.

What kind of content can NovelAI generate?

NovelAI specializes in story generation, but it can also create text prompts for various creative projects, and even templates for structured writing. Its AI tools can be used for everything from short stories to full-length novels.

Who owns the content generated by NovelAI?

Content created using NovelAI remains the property of the user. You have full rights to any stories, text prompts, or images generated by the platform.

Get started with Upwork

NovelAI is a powerful AI writing tool that can assist the creative process. As you continue to explore NovelAI, learn how it can help you start your creative journey.

Perhaps you’re looking for more help generating AI-assisted content. If so, Upwork can help. You’ll find an extensive database of AI writers on Upwork who know how to use NovelAI and other tools to aid in the creative process.

If you’re an AI writer looking for your next AI writing job, you’ll find several listings on Upwork for both full-time and freelance positions. Consider submitting a proposal for an opening that matches your interests and experience. Your next AI writing job might be just a click away.  

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Disclosure: Upwork is an OpenAI partner, giving OpenAI customers and other businesses direct access to trusted expert independent professionals experienced in working with OpenAI technologies.

Upwork does not control, operate, or sponsor the other tools or services discussed in this article, which are only provided as potential options. Each reader and company should take the time to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

‍Prices are current at the time of writing and may change over time based on each service’s offerings.