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Novela does not use your writing for AI training.
Novela uses already-trained AI models like ChatGPT. We do not use your manuscripts or creative work for additional AI training. At Novela, AI is a tool to support your writing — not to replace it or write for you.
“Hey ChatGPT, write me a fantasy novel.” Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever tried that and ended up with something that reads like a middle schooler’s book report, you’re not alone.
When it comes to using AI tools like ChatGPT or Novela for creative writing, the single most important skill isn’t knowing which model to use — it’s knowing how to ask. The same AI can produce lifeless filler or a genuinely usable first draft, and the difference comes down to one thing: the prompt.
This guide walks you through a practical, step-by-step approach to writing prompts that actually produce good fiction — whether you’re working on a novel, a screenplay, a web serial, or any kind of narrative storytelling.
Every great prompt contains four essential ingredients. Think of it like giving directions to a very talented but very literal assistant — you need to spell everything out.
(1) Role
: Give the AI an identity. Instead of talking to a generic chatbot, tell it who it is.
“You are a bestselling thriller novelist with 15 years of experience” immediately changes the quality and style of the output. When the AI adopts a role, it draws on patterns consistent with that expertise.
(2) Context
: Tell the AI what you’re working on and who it’s for.
“I’m writing a YA dystopian novel aimed at readers who loved The Hunger Games and Divergent” gives the AI a target to aim at. The more specific your context, the more relevant the output.
(3) Instruction
: Be precise about what you want. “Write a story” is vague.
“Write the opening scene of Chapter 1 — 500 words — where the protagonist discovers she can hear other people’s thoughts for the first time” is actionable. Swap vague requests for specific, scene-level instructions.
(4) Constraints
: Set the boundaries. Word count, point of view, tone, things to avoid — these guardrails prevent the AI from going off the rails.
“First-person POV, under 800 words, conversational tone, no purple prose” keeps the output focused and usable.
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Bad prompt
: “Write me a romance novel.”
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Good prompt
: “You are a bestselling romance novelist who writes smart, witty contemporary fiction. I’m writing a enemies-to-lovers romance for readers who enjoy Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood. Write the scene where the female lead (a sharp-tongued literary agent) and the male lead (a cocky debut author) meet for the first time at a publishing industry mixer. — Length: 800 words — POV: First person, female lead — Tone: Tension + dry humor — Avoid: Over-the-top physical descriptions, love-at-first-sight clichés”
The same AI will produce dramatically different output from these two prompts. The second one works because it tells the AI exactly who to be, what you’re building, what scene to write, and what rules to follow.
Here are three ready-to-use templates you can copy, paste, and customize. Fill in the brackets with your own details.
You are a [genre] fiction writer. Create a detailed character profile for the [protagonist/supporting character] of a novel I’m writing for [platform/audience].
Character basics:
Name: [name]
Age/Gender: [info]
Occupation: [info]
Three defining traits: [traits]
Please develop the following:
1) Personality (3 strengths and 3 flaws),
2) External goal (what they visibly pursue),
3) Internal goal (what they truly need),
4) Wound or trauma,
5) Speech patterns or habits,
6) Key relationships with other characters.
Guidelines: Avoid tired clichés, balance strengths with genuine flaws, and make this character feel real to [genre] readers.You are a [genre] fiction writer. Using the following setup, create a complete plot outline for a [length]-chapter novel.
Core setup: Protagonist: [brief description]
Central conflict: [what are they fighting against?]
Unique premise: [what makes this story different?]
Ending direction: [happy ending / tragic / ambiguous]
Please structure the outline as:
1) Four-act breakdown (Setup, Rising Action, Crisis, Resolution),
2) Three key events per act,
3) Protagonist’s internal arc throughout,
4) A detailed climax scene,
5) At least two plot twists.
Format as a table: Act | Chapters | Key Events | Protagonist’s Emotional State | NotesYou are a [genre] fiction writer. Write the following scene in [POV type] point of view.
Scene setup:
Time/Place: [info]
Characters present: [who’s in the scene]
What just happened: [preceding context]
Purpose of this scene: [what it should accomplish]
Requirements: Word count: [number]
Voice/Style: [e.g., spare and tense / lyrical and reflective]
Balance of elements: [e.g., 40% dialogue, 30% action, 30% interiority]
Must include: [specific line, gesture, or reveal]
Do not: Use excessive exposition, rely on clichéd metaphors, or [other things to avoid].
This scene should transition naturally into [next plot point], so end on a moment that pulls the reader forward.Knowing the formula is one thing — applying it efficiently is another. Here’s the workflow that gets the best results when using AI as a creative writing partner.
Step 1: Brainstorm and refine your concept.
Start by having an open conversation with the AI. You don’t need a fully formed idea yet — that’s the point. Use AI to brainstorm. Try something like: “You are a story development consultant. I have an idea for a sci-fi thriller where the protagonist can rewind time, but only by 30 seconds. Suggest 5 interesting plot directions for this premise, and for each one, predict what would hook readers most.” This kind of exploratory prompt generates raw material you can react to.
Step 2: Build your characters. Once you have a concept, flesh out your characters using the character creation template above.
Characters drive stories — not plots — so invest time here. A well-defined character will make every subsequent prompt produce better, more consistent output.
Step 3: Outline the plot. Use the plot outline template to map the big picture.
Think of this like an architect’s blueprint — you need to see the whole building before you start laying bricks. Whether you prefer the three-act structure, the Save the Cat! beat sheet, or Dan Harmon’s Story Circle, feed that framework into your prompt so the AI organizes its output accordingly.
Step 4: Create chapter-by-chapter outlines. With the big picture in place, zoom in.
For each chapter, generate a detailed outline that covers the opening hook (connecting to the previous chapter), the central event, the emotional climax of the chapter, and the cliffhanger or thread that pulls into the next one. Paste your overall plot into the prompt so the AI keeps the larger arc in mind.
Step 5: Draft scene by scene. This is where you write — or co-write — the actual prose.
The key principle: never ask AI to write an entire chapter at once. Break it into individual scenes and use the scene writing template for each one. Smaller units give you more control over voice, pacing, and continuity.
Step 6: Revise and make it yours. AI output is raw material, not a finished product.
The real writing happens in revision — reshaping the AI’s draft until it sounds like you. Cut what doesn’t work, rewrite dialogue that feels flat, and add the emotional nuance that only a human writer can bring. As Stephen King famously put it: writing is rewriting.
If you’re writing fiction and want AI that’s built specifically for storytelling, Novela is worth trying. Unlike general-purpose chatbots, Novela’s AI was developed in collaboration with professional fiction writers and editors. That means the prompts are already tuned for narrative work — you don’t have to build every prompt from scratch.
Novela includes built-in templates for character development, worldbuilding, and plot structure across multiple genres and formats. Whether you’re outlining a fantasy epic or drafting a contemporary romance, the tool already knows what questions to ask and how to structure the output. It’s like having a writing partner who’s read every craft book so you don’t have to.
Some writers try AI once, type “write me the next chapter” or “come up with a clever metaphor,” get mediocre results, and walk away disappointed. The problem isn’t the technology — it’s that they handed AI the one job it can’t do: be creative on your behalf.
AI is an excellent assistant. It can automate the mechanical parts of writing — generating options, organizing structure, producing rough drafts at speed. But the soul of a story, the authenticity of a character, the distinctive rhythm of your prose — those are still yours. No algorithm can replace that.
Writing a good prompt is ultimately an act of self-knowledge. It forces you to articulate what you want, how you want it, and why. Many writers find that the process of crafting prompts actually clarifies their own creative vision — helping them see what they’re really trying to say.
AI doesn’t replace your creativity — it amplifies it. The better you understand your craft, the more powerful AI becomes in your hands. So learn the formula, use the templates, build the workflow — and then write the story only you can tell.
Novela Studio Co., Ltd.