Help & Getting Started
Everything you need to know to start writing with StoryMuse
Welcome to StoryMuse! This guide will help you get started with your creative writing journey. Whether you're writing a novel, screenplay, or short story, StoryMuse provides the tools to organize your work and get AI-powered assistance when you need it.
Getting Started
Getting started with StoryMuse is simple:
- Create an account - Sign up with your email address
- Start a new project - Click "New Story" on the dashboard
- Set up your story - The Story Setup Wizard will guide you through defining your project's basics
- Start writing! - Create chapters and scenes to organize your work
Tip: Take time to fill out the Story Setup Wizard completely. The information you provide (genre, tone, themes) helps the AI give you more relevant suggestions later.
Working with Projects
Projects are the top-level containers for your stories. Each project can contain:
Chapters
Organize your story into chapters. Each chapter can contain multiple scenes.
Scenes
The building blocks of your story. Write your actual content in scenes.
Characters
Track your characters, their traits, motivations, and arcs.
Locations
Document the places in your story world.
Project Types
StoryMuse supports different project types:
- Novel - For prose fiction with chapters and scenes
- Screenplay - For scripts with proper formatting (action, dialogue, etc.)
- Short Story - For shorter works
Writing & Editing
The scene editor is where you'll spend most of your time. It includes:
Editor Features
- Rich Text Formatting - Bold, italic, underline, and more
- Auto-save - Your work is automatically saved as you type
- Word Count - Track your progress with real-time word counts
- Focus Mode - Minimize distractions while writing
Screenplay Mode
For screenplay projects, the editor provides specialized formatting:
- Scene Headings - INT./EXT. location formatting
- Action - Scene descriptions and action lines
- Character - Character name cues
- Dialogue - Properly formatted dialogue
- Parenthetical - Acting directions
- Transition - CUT TO, FADE OUT, etc.
World Building
Keep track of your story's world with the World Info panel. Access it from the sidebar in the project editor.
Characters
Create detailed character profiles including:
- Name, age, and role in the story
- Physical description and personality traits
- Background and motivations
- Character arc notes
Locations
Document the places in your story:
- Name and type (city, building, etc.)
- Description and atmosphere
- Significance to the story
Lore
Track world-building elements like:
- History and events
- Magic systems or technology
- Cultures and societies
- Rules and customs
AI Features
StoryMuse offers optional AI-powered writing assistance. All AI features are opt-in - you control when and how to use them.
Continue Writing
Get suggestions for what comes next in your scene.
Rewrite
Get alternative versions of selected text.
Brainstorm
Generate ideas for plot points, characters, or dialogue.
Consistency Check
Ensure your story stays consistent with your world info.
Tip: The AI uses your project's context (synopsis, characters, locations) to provide more relevant suggestions. Keep your world info updated for better results!
Choosing AI Models
StoryMuse offers a variety of AI models organized by subscription tier. You can select your preferred model in the AI Settings panel.
Free Tier Models
- Storyteller Basic - Excellent for draft generation and creative brainstorming
- Creative Writer - Optimized for character dialogue and scene descriptions
- Story Assistant - Good quality for general writing assistance
Pro Tier Models
- Narrative Pro - Professional model for mature content and unrestricted narratives
- Character Expert - Advanced capabilities for deep character development and emotional scenes
- Plot Master - Latest flagship model for complex plotting and structure
Premium Tier Models
- Elite Novelist - Top-tier quality for literary fiction and polished prose
- Master Storyteller - OpenAI's flagship for genre fiction and commercial narratives
- Premium Author - Massive context window for extended narratives and series
Exporting Your Work
Export your completed work in multiple formats from the toolbar in the project editor:
Novel/Prose Export Formats
- TXT - Plain text, compatible with any application
- DOCX - Microsoft Word format with formatting preserved
- PDF - Professional document format for sharing or printing
Screenplay Export Formats
For screenplay projects, additional export options are available:
- Fountain (.fountain) - Plain text screenplay format, compatible with many screenwriting apps
- Final Draft (.fdx) - Industry-standard format for Final Draft software
- PDF - Properly formatted screenplay PDF for sharing
Importing Your Work
Already have a manuscript? You can import existing work into StoryMuse.
Supported Import Formats
- TXT - Plain text files
- DOCX - Microsoft Word documents
- PDF - PDF documents (text extraction)
- EPUB - E-book format
Beta Feature: The import feature automatically detects chapter breaks and organizes your manuscript into chapters and scenes. Results may vary depending on how your original document is formatted. We're continuously improving this feature!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import my existing work?
Yes! StoryMuse supports importing manuscripts in TXT, DOCX, PDF, and EPUB formats. The import feature is currently in Beta and will automatically detect chapter breaks to organize your work. For best results, ensure your chapters have clear headings like "Chapter 1" or "Chapter One".
When will Screenplay mode be fully available?
We're actively working on and testing Screenplay mode! We expect it to be fully available before the end of Q1 2026. In the meantime, you can still create screenplay projects and use the specialized formatting tools - we're just polishing the experience.
More FAQs Coming Soon
Have a question not covered here? Return to the dashboard and use the Help menu to contact us!
Legal
Please review our legal documents to understand your rights and responsibilities when using StoryMuse:
Still have questions? We're here to help! Return to the dashboard and use the Help menu to contact us.
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