NovelAI: The Uncensored AI Writing Tool Explained

NovelAI is the AI writing tool that doesn't tell you "I can't write that."

For some writers, that's everything. Here's what you need to know.

What Makes NovelAI Different

The main selling point: no content restrictions.

Claude and ChatGPT have content policies. They'll refuse certain requests, sanitize violence, fade-to-black romantic scenes. NovelAI doesn't do that.

This makes it the go-to for:

• Adult/erotic fiction
• Extreme violence and horror
• Dark themes and taboo content
• Anything mainstream AI refuses

The freedom is the feature. Everything else follows from that core difference.

How It Works

NovelAI runs its own models trained specifically for fiction. You're not using GPT or Claude under the hood—it's custom models.

The interface is designed for storytelling:

• Story mode: Write and the AI continues
• Lorebook: Store world details the AI references
• Memory: Keep important context active
• Author's Note: Guide the AI's style and focus
• Generation settings: Fine-tune output parameters

It's less "chat with AI" and more "collaborative writing tool." The paradigm is different.

The Quality Question

Here's the honest truth: NovelAI's prose quality has improved significantly with the Erato model. The gap between NovelAI and Claude/GPT-5.2 is narrower than it used to be.

Erato handles "show don't tell" better than previous models. Output still benefits from editing, and you'll do more steering than with mainstream AI, but the quality is now genuinely competitive for fiction specifically.

The trade-off remains: uncensored freedom versus mainstream polish. But it's less of a sacrifice than before.

Lorebook: The Killer Feature

NovelAI's Lorebook system is genuinely excellent.

You create entries for characters, locations, items, concepts. When those keywords appear in the story, the AI references your Lorebook entries.

This helps maintain consistency across long stories. The AI "remembers" that your protagonist has green eyes because you told it once in the Lorebook.

Other platforms are now copying this feature, but NovelAI did it first and does it well.

Pricing

NovelAI uses a subscription model:

• Tablet: $10/month - Basic access, older models
• Scroll: $15/month - Better models, more features
• Opus: $25/month - Best models, unlimited generations

For serious use, you want Scroll or Opus. The Tablet tier is too limited for real projects.

Who Should Use NovelAI

Good fit if:

• You write adult/erotic content
• You want zero content restrictions
• You value the Lorebook feature
• You're willing to edit more for quality
• You need specific content mainstream AI won't produce

Not a good fit if:

• Prose quality is your top priority
• You mainly do brainstorming/planning
• You need the latest AI capabilities
• You're on a tight budget
• You don't need the uncensored angle

The Community

NovelAI has a passionate community that shares:

• Custom modules (fine-tuned for specific genres)
• Lorebook templates
• Writing tips and techniques
• Example stories and settings
• Prompt strategies

This community knowledge helps overcome the tool's limitations. The Discord is active and helpful.

My Experience

I use NovelAI specifically for content that mainstream AI won't touch. For everything else, I use Claude.

The workflow: Draft with Claude for quality, switch to NovelAI for scenes that need freedom.

It's not elegant, but it works. Know which tool serves which purpose.

Alternatives

If you want uncensored AI writing:

• Local LLMs: Run models on your own hardware
• KoboldAI: Free, community-driven, runs locally
• SillyTavern: Interface for various uncensored models
• Oobabooga: Text generation web UI for local models

These require more technical setup but are free or cheaper. More power, more complexity.

Where narrator Fits

narrator generates complete stories based on your preferences. We handle the AI complexity so you can focus on reading.

If you want to write with AI, NovelAI is solid for certain content. If you want to read AI-generated fiction tailored to your tastes, that's what we built narrator for.

Different use cases, different solutions.

Ready to read instead of write? Browse our fiction collection to see what's possible, or create your own personalized story. Whether you want uncensored content, LitRPG adventures, or romance stories, narrator generates stories optimized for reading.

The Models

Quick note on NovelAI's model options:

• Erato: Newly released flagship model based on Llama 3 70B, significantly improved prose quality
• Kayra: Previous flagship, still solid and faster for some use cases
• Clio: Older but faster, less resource-intensive
• Euterpe/Krake: Legacy models, mostly outdated

Try Erato first for serious work—the quality improvement over Kayra is noticeable, especially for "showing vs telling."

The Bottom Line

NovelAI is the tool for writers who need creative freedom above all else. The quality trade-off is real, but for its specific use case, nothing else quite compares.

Know what you're getting: Freedom over polish. If that trade-off works for you, NovelAI delivers on its promise.