Skribane

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Quick Start ​

Get started with Skribane in 5 minutes. This guide takes you from installation to writing your first scene with AI assistance.

1. Install Skribane ​

Download the installer from www.skribane.com and run it. The wizard will guide you step by step. Skribane installs on your computer like any other application — your data is stored locally, never in the cloud.

Windows SmartScreen Note

If Windows shows an "unrecognized app" warning, click More info and then Run anyway. This happens because the installer doesn't have a code signature yet — your novel is completely safe.

2. Create Your First Project ​

When you open Skribane for the first time, you'll see a welcome screen. Click New project in the left sidebar, type the name of your novel, and press Enter.

Skribane will automatically create an empty Act 1 ready for you to start building your story structure.

3. Build the Structure (Plan Mode) ​

Plan mode is your narrative workbench. Here you organize your novel into three levels:

  • Acts — The major divisions of your story (e.g., setup, confrontation, resolution).
  • Chapters — The sections within each act.
  • Scenes — The writing units. Each scene is a block of text you can write and edit.

To create a chapter, click New chapter in the upper right corner of the act. Then click + New scene inside the chapter.

You can drag and drop acts, chapters, and scenes to reorganize your story at any time.

4. Write Your First Scene ​

Double-click any scene card to open the editor. The editor works like a word processor: write freely and use the toolbar above for formatting (bold, italic, headings, lists, etc.).

Everything you write is auto-saved every half second. No need to press Ctrl+S.

At the bottom of the editor you'll see a real-time word and character count.

5. Set Up AI (Optional but Recommended) ​

Skribane uses AI to help you write, but you control when and how it's used. To enable it, you need an API key from at least one of these providers:

To set it up:

  1. Click Config in the left sidebar (bottom).
  2. Enter your API key for your preferred provider.
  3. Select the model you want to use by default.

How Much Does the AI Cost?

You pay the AI provider directly for your usage. The typical cost for novel writing is €5-15 per month, depending on the model and frequency of use. Skribane doesn't charge anything extra for AI usage.

Free Local AI

If you prefer not to pay for AI, you can use free local models with LM Studio or Ollama. In Skribane's settings, enable "Local AI" and enter your server URL (remember to add /v1 at the end, e.g., http://localhost:1234/v1).

6. Generate Text with AI ​

With AI configured, you have several ways to use it:

  • Generate scene — Write a synopsis on the scene card (Plan mode), open the editor, and click "Generate." The AI will write a draft based on your synopsis, the novel's context, and your Codex.
  • Continue — If you already have text written, click "Continue" and the AI will add more text where you left off.
  • Improve — Select a text fragment and use the "Improve" menu to refine it (more detail, more emotion, more concise, etc.).

7. The Codex: Your Universe Bible ​

The Codex is where you define everything that exists in your narrative universe: characters, locations, objects, factions, power systems, and timeline. The more complete your Codex, the better the AI assistance.

To create an entry, click + New entry in the sidebar or press Ctrl+N.

Next Steps ​

You have the basics to get started. Explore the rest of the documentation to get the most out of Skribane: