In this tutorial, we’re going to discuss strategies for writing a novel with the help of AI.
Since writing a novel requires a lot of planning, it’s better to break up the writing process into separate prompts.
We will cover exactly how to do this and what prompts and tools you need for each stage of the process.
Let's dive in.
AI writers are writing assistants powered by large language models (LLMs) that understand human text and take prompts as input. Unlike tools like Grammarly, which only make simple grammar corrections, writing assistants can help with creative tasks. They can:
The most popular AI writing assistant is ChatGPT.
First, authors using AI can finish first drafts 50-70% faster because AI handles time-consuming tasks such as generating plot ideas, creating character profiles, and drafting chapters.
Second, not everyone can afford developmental editors or writing coaches. However, AI tools provide instant feedback on pacing, suggest stronger verbs, identify plot holes, and maintain consistency across hundreds of pages.
Third, professional editors may charge $2,000-$5,000 per month, while AI tools cost about $20 per month. A good professional editor is better than ChatGPT, of course, but the question is whether it's worth it in your specific situation. If you’re a hobby writer or this is your first attempt at novel writing, the answer is probably no.
Now that that's out of the way, let's discuss specific techniques you can use to write a book with AI.
Different AI
ChatGPT. The most popular chatbot in the world. The free version works for testing, but serious writers need unlimited access to GPT-5 ($20/month) for quality output.
Claude. Claude is better at literary prose and longer manuscripts than ChatGPT. It costs the same, at $20/month.
Overchat AI Writer. Overchat combines multiple AI models in one interface, allowing you to switch between engines based on your task. Starts at $4.99 per week.
Sudowrite. Sudowrite is built specifically for fiction. It includes specialized features like scene expansion and plot brainstorming. Starts at $10/month.
Overchat AI Image generator. You can use the best AI image generators as part of the same subscription.
Midjourney. One of the best AI image generators, but it requires a learning curve. The cost starts at $10/month.
ChatGPT. With GPT-image-1 integration, you can generate images directly in your writing workflow. Quality is decent but not as refined as Midjourney.
Here's how professional authors use AI to write novels.
Start with high-concept pitches to find your story's core idea.
This is where you ask AI for multiple story concepts in your chosen genre. Don't settle for the first batch—you may need to run this prompt multiple times, ask for new ideas, or converse with the AI until you find concepts that excite you.
Prompt:
Give me [NUMBER] high-concept pitches for a bestselling [GENRE] story with a unique twist, intriguing characters, and gripping emotional stakes.
Keep generating until you find 2-3 concepts you like. You can also ask the AI to combine elements from different pitches.
Once you have your winning concept, copy it into your document. You'll use it for the next step.
Send your story idea back to the AI to add more details. This will give you the main plot points, character arcs, and ending — the framework for your novel.
Prompt:
Using the following concept, write a story roughly 800-word synopsis for a [GENRE] book: [PASTE STORY PITCH]
The AI will generate a 600-900 word synopsis. Most likely, it will need editing.
Add details where the AI was vague. Explain plot points that don't make sense. Most importantly, make sure the ending is clear. You need to know where your story is going before you create an outline. If your synopsis is more specific, your outline will be better in the next step.
Now, use a proven story framework to turn your synopsis into a structured outline.
ChatGPT knows most popular outlining templates:
Prompt:
Using the following synopsis, create a detailed summary of the story, fleshing out additional details, and breaking it into parts using the [OUTLINE METHOD OF CHOICE]: [PASTE YOUR SYNOPSIS]
Then, edit the outline that was created. Add your own details, fix the pacing issues, and ensure each section flows logically into the next. This outline will guide you.
After you have a solid high-level outline broken into major story points, you're ready to look at individual chapters.
Take a part of your outline — usually one big story step or section — and ask the AI to make chapter-by-chapter summaries. Don't try to outline the whole book at once. Work on 5 to 10 chapters at a time.
Prompt:
Using the following portion of an outline, write a detailed summary for [NUMBER] chapters of this [GENRE] novel: [INSERT OUTLINE SECTION HERE]
Before writing each chapter, create a detailed summary of the events in that chapter. This step makes the actual writing much smoother. If you include more details, your first draft will be better.
Prompt:
Take the following chapter description and flesh it out with more details and individual beats for the scene: [INSERT CHAPTER DESCRIPTION HERE]
You'll get a list of story beats, which makes it easy to work with. Describe the setting, the characters' feelings, and the specific actions. For each step in the story, make sure it's detailed enough to write about. If the writing is vague, the prose will be vague too.
Now you're ready to write the actual text.
Since AI can't generate a full chapter at once, work in sections. Feed it 3-4 beats from your detailed outline at a time.
Prompt:
Write 1000 words of a chapter using the following details:
Genre: [ENTER GENRE HERE]
Tone: [ENTER TONE HERE]
Point of View: [ENTER POV/TENSE HERE]
Setting: [ENTER SETTING HERE]
Key Characters: [ENTER CHARACTER DETAILS HERE]
Summary: [ENTER YOUR CHAPTER BEATS HERE]
Conflict: [ENTER MAIN SOURCE OF CONFLICT HERE]
You'll need to generate multiple sections to complete a chapter. The AI might produce 700-900 words per generation, so you'll run the prompt several times with different beats.
Sometimes, AI writing tools don't produce the best writing quality the first time, which is why you might need to edit the resulting text a couple of times. Use this prompt to edit the text:
Take this paragraph and expand it with more [description/dialogue/internal thoughts]: [PASTE PARAGRAPH]
Here's what you need to remember about writing a book with AI:
