Do I need to use AI?+
No. All AI features are completely optional. GrimoireScribe is a full manuscript
studio without them: character tracking, world building, manuscript hierarchy, and all export
formats work with no AI configured.
What AI providers does it support?+
Seven: Claude (Anthropic), GPT (OpenAI), Grok (xAI), Gemini (Google), Mistral,
DeepSeek, and MiMo (Xiaomi). You can configure a different model for each of the five AI modes
independently. For example: Claude Sonnet 4.6 for prose generation, Claude Haiku 4.5 for quick
character scans, and DeepSeek V4 Flash for cost-sensitive editing passes. MiMo can be used with
pay-as-you-go API billing or its own flat-rate token subscription.
How do I set up AI?+
Go to Settings AI Models, enter your API key
for your chosen provider, and select your preferred model. Your keys are stored locally in your
settings file and never transmitted to us. GrimoireScribe includes a guided model picker if you're
not sure which provider to choose.
Does GrimoireScribe have access to my API keys or conversations?+
No. Your API keys are stored on your machine. When you use an AI feature, your content
travels directly from your device to your chosen provider. GrimoireScribe is not in that
conversation. We never see your keys, your prompts, or the responses. Support will never ask for your
API keys. We may ask for diagnostic logs to help track down a bug, but your keys and your
conversations stay yours. Logs are used solely to fix issues and make the software better.
What context does the AI receive?+
Each AI request automatically includes your book summary, writing style guide,
character profiles, relevant world notes (retrieved semantically if you've indexed them), and the
prose from your prior scene for continuity. You don't have to paste any of this manually.
Does AI ever automatically add content to my manuscript?+
No. Every piece of AI-generated content is a proposal. You read it, revise it, and
explicitly accept it before it touches your manuscript. Nothing is ever auto-inserted.
What is BYOK (Bring Your Own Keys)?+
It means you sign up directly with your chosen AI provider, get your own API key, and
enter it in GrimoireScribe's settings. You pay those providers directly at their published per-token
rates. GrimoireScribe takes no cut and has no markup. This is privacy-preserving and typically far
cheaper than tools that resell AI access.
Can I see what my AI usage is costing me?+
Yes. GrimoireScribe has a built-in Usage & Costs modal that logs every API call
with estimated dollar costs, broken down by provider, model, and AI mode. Filter by date range,
drill into per-call logs, and export to CSV or JSON. If you're on a custom API rate, you can set
your own per-token prices per model. Provider prices change over time. We periodically ship updates
(included in your purchase) that refresh our internal price estimates, but the figures shown are
estimates only. We strongly recommend setting spending limits and thresholds directly with your
chosen provider. We cannot set those limits for you and are not responsible for differences between
our estimates and your provider's actual charges.
What is Series Chat?+
Series Chat lets you discuss multiple books simultaneously with an AI that has context
from every book in your series at once. Ask it to check for continuity errors across volumes, plan
the next book with full series context, or trace a character's arc across the entire story.