Running Local LLMs for Fiction: A Practical Guide

Running AI locally means no subscriptions, no content filters, and complete privacy. But is it actually worth the setup headache?

Let's get honest about it.

Why Go Local

Privacy. Your prompts never leave your computer. No one knows what you're generating.

No filters. Write whatever you want without corporate content policies rejecting your requests or sanitizing your output.

No monthly fees. After hardware costs, it's free forever. Generate unlimited content.

Complete customization. Fine-tune models, adjust parameters endlessly, swap models for different projects.

No dependency. Services shut down. APIs change. Local runs as long as your hardware works.

The Hardware Reality

Let's be completely honest about requirements—this matters more than anything:

Minimum viable setup: 16GB RAM, decent modern CPU. You'll run small 7B models slowly via CPU inference. It works, but expect waiting.

Actually usable: 32GB RAM, RTX 3060 12GB or RTX 4060 Ti 16GB. Mid-sized models (13B-20B) at reasonable speeds. This is where local becomes practical.

Good experience: RTX 3090/4090 with 24GB VRAM. Run larger models (30B+) that approach or match commercial quality. Inference feels responsive.

Enthusiast tier: Multi-GPU setups or Apple Silicon with unified memory. Run the biggest models without compromise.

Real talk: If your computer cost under $1000 and wasn't specifically built for AI work, local will be painful. Possible, but painful.

Software Options

KoboldAI

The OG for local fiction writing. Clean interface specifically designed for creative writing with adventure mode and story continuation.

Good for: People who want to start generating fiction without deep technical knowledge. It just works for writing.

Limitation: Less flexibility than alternatives for advanced users.

Text Generation WebUI (Oobabooga)

More powerful, significantly more complex. Every single parameter is adjustable. Multiple model formats supported.

Good for: Tinkerers who want complete control over everything.

Limitation: Steeper learning curve. More things to configure (and break).

LM Studio

Polished newcomer with a clean interface. Easy one-click model downloads from Hugging Face.

Good for: Those who want something that "just works" with minimal configuration.

Limitation: Less customization than Oobabooga, though improving rapidly.

SillyTavern

Frontend that connects to various backends. Popular for character-based roleplay and conversation.

Good for: People who want character interactions and chat-based storytelling.

Model Recommendations

For fiction specifically, look for:

• Llama 3-based models fine-tuned on creative writing
• Mistral variants with creative/writing tuning
• Models from TheBloke's collection (quantized for consumer hardware)
• Community fine-tunes from r/LocalLLaMA specifically tagged for creative use

Avoid: Base models trained only on web text. They understand language but don't understand narrative structure, pacing, or fiction conventions.

The Honest Assessment

Local wins when you:

• Write content that commercial services block or filter
• Want complete privacy for sensitive projects
• Enjoy tinkering with tech as part of the hobby
• Write enough volume to justify hardware costs
• Want to experiment with different models

Local loses when you:

• Just want something that works immediately without setup
• Don't have suitable hardware and don't want to buy it
• Aren't comfortable with technical setup and troubleshooting
• Write casually and infrequently
• Value time over control

Realistic Setup Time

Expect to spend:

• 2-4 hours on initial software setup and first model download
• Another 2-4 hours experimenting with different models to find ones you like
• Ongoing time tweaking settings and exploring new models

This isn't criticism—it's honest expectation setting. Some people love this process. Others find it frustrating.

The Alternative Path

If you want AI-generated fiction without any of this complexity, narrator generates complete stories with zero setup. Describe what you want, receive your story. No hardware requirements, no configuration, no troubleshooting.

Local AI is for enthusiasts who enjoy the technical journey. narrator is for readers who want results immediately.

Both are valid. Know which you are.

Want to skip the setup? Browse our fiction collection to see what's possible, or create your own story with zero technical knowledge required. Check out LitRPG stories, romance novels, or any genre you prefer.

My Recommendation

Try local if:

• You already have the hardware sitting there
• You genuinely enjoy the technical side as a hobby
• You have specific content needs that commercial services don't meet

Skip local if:

• You just want to read custom stories without friction
• You'd rather spend time reading than configuring
• You don't have appropriate hardware

Both choices are completely valid. Be honest with yourself about what you actually want from the experience.