Novel Concepts
“Not 25 ingredients to juggle—5 stories ready to write.”
The Novel Concept Generator is where your research becomes a story. It takes your distilled ingredients (characters, worlds, themes, plots, voices) and synthesizes them into 5 complete novel concepts—each a coherent package ready for development.
This is the moment of transformation: from “interesting research” to “this is my novel.”
The Problem It Solves
Without the concept generator, you’d face this:
Your Research:
├── 5 CHARACTER variants
├── 5 WORLD variants
├── 5 THEME variants
├── 5 STRUCTURE TEMPLATE variants
└── 5 VOICE variants
= 25 documents to read
= Hundreds of possible combinations
= "Which character works with which world?"
= Massive cognitive overhead
The Concept Generator does the heavy lifting. It identifies which ingredients are compatible, synthesizes them into complete packages, and explains why they work together.
What You Get
Each novel concept is a complete package:
# Novel Concept 2: "The Garden of Silas"
## The Pitch
In a world where collective belief literally shapes reality,
a chameleonic enforcer who has lost all authentic self must
navigate the collapse of the regime he served—discovering that
his hollow identity is both his curse and his only weapon.
## Protagonist: Silas Morrow
- Fatal Flaw: Chameleonic Need for Authority
- The Lie: "I am whatever the strongest authority needs"
- Arc: From hollow enforcer → to ghost serving no one
## World: The Garden of Coherent Delusion
- Hard Rule: Belief shapes reality
- Key Location: Archive of Adjusted Truths
- Friction: Every authority Silas attaches to falls
## Theme: The Prophet's Burden
- Central Question: Can we sympathize with a villain?
- Silas Embodies: We inhabit his consciousness,
understanding his emptiness while judging his actions
## Structure Template (Fantasy/Literary Calibrated)
- Opening: Silas executing a narrative-heretic
- Catalyst: The regime's founding narrative fragments
- Midpoint (False Defeat): He switches sides, realizes he has no beliefs
- All Is Lost: The Archive reveals he never had a true self
- Finale: Becomes a "ghost" serving multiple factions
- **Template**: "Literary Descent Arc" (Save The Cat variant)
## Why This Works Together
The chameleonic protagonist NEEDS a world where identity is fluid.
The "coherent delusion" rule EXPLAINS why he can't find his true self.
The theme of sympathetic villainy REQUIRES his hollow perspective.
The literary/fantasy blend allows both world-building and interiority.
## Source Ingredients
- Character: Elias Thorne (Postliberal Analysis)
- World: Collective Reality (Harari Study)
- Theme: Unreliable Narrator (Catcher in the Rye Analysis)
Five of these. Each complete. Each coherent. Each ready to develop into a full Story Bible.
The Diversity Guarantee
The Generator doesn’t just pick random combinations. It explicitly ensures diversity across the 5 concepts:
- No Repeats: It strives to use every ingredient at least once.
- Varied Worlds: You won’t get 5 stories all set in the same world.
- Mix & Match: It intentionally tests unexpected pairings (e.g., Protagonist A + World B, then Protagonist A + World C).
This maximizes your creative options. You might find that the “Sci-Fi Protagonist” actually works better in the “Fantasy World” you researched.
The Complete Pipeline
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ Genre Calibration │
│ (5 min wizard) │
└───────────┬─────────────┘
│
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │
│ │ CHARACTER │ │ WORLD │ │ THEME │ │ STRUCTURE │ │ VOICE │ │
│ │ research │ │ research │ │ research │ │ TEMPLATE │ │ research │ │
│ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ └────────────────┴────────────────┼────────────────┴────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ RESEARCH GRAPH │ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ NOVEL CONCEPT GENERATOR │
│ │
│ 1. Load genre calibration │
│ 2. Identify compatible │
│ ingredient combos │
│ 3. Generate 5 complete │
│ novel concepts │
│ 4. Explain WHY each works │
└───────────────┬───────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ 5 NOVEL CONCEPTS │
│ │
│ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│
│ │ 1 │ │ 2 │ │ 3 │ │ 4 │ │ 5 ││
│ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│
└───────────────┬───────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ YOU SELECT OR HYBRIDIZE │
│ │
│ "I like Concept 2, but with │
│ the world from Concept 4" │
└───────────────┬───────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ STORY BIBLE │
│ │
│ Protagonist.md │
│ Rules.md │
│ Theme.md │
│ Beat_Sheet.md │
└───────────────────────────────┘
Two Ways to Concept Generation
Writers Factory offers two ways to generate novel concepts:
Option 1: Auto-Generate (5 Concepts)
The AI automatically:
- Selects compatible ingredients from your research
- Picks a Structure Template (or uses your genre’s default)
- Generates 5 complete novel concepts
- Explains why each combination works
Best for: Exploration, discovering unexpected combinations, when you’re not sure what you want.
Option 2: Concept Lab (Manual Selection)
You manually:
- Pick specific ingredients (characters, worlds, themes)
- Select a Structure Template (optional—defaults to your genre’s standard pacing)
- Generate 1 targeted concept from your exact selections
Best for: Execution, when you know what you want, when you’ve already identified the perfect combination.
How Plot is Generated (Critical Mental Model)
The Plot Reactor generates your story’s beats—it doesn’t copy them from research.
When you select (or the system selects) a Structure Template:
- The template provides pacing constraints (where beats should fall)
- Your other ingredients provide content (characters, worlds, themes)
- The AI generates unique plot beats that fit your specific story
Think of Structure Templates as molds, not content:
- “YA Descent Arc” tells the AI: Catalyst at 10%, Midpoint is a false defeat, etc.
- Your character’s flaw, your world’s rules, and your theme fill in the actual events
Example:
- Structure Template: “YA Descent Arc” (from Catcher in the Rye analysis)
- Character: Chameleonic enforcer with hollow identity
- World: Reality is shaped by collective belief
- Theme: Can we sympathize with a villain?
→ The generated Beat_Sheet.md contains original beats specific to this combination, not Holden Caulfield’s journey.
How to Use It
Step 1: Complete Prerequisites
Before generating concepts, you need:
- Research imported — At least 3 NotebookLM projects distilled and exported to
content/Research/ - Genre calibrated — The Calibration Wizard completed (ensures pacing matches genre)
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ARCHITECT MODE │
│ │
│ Research Status: ✓ 47 ingredients loaded │
│ Genre Calibration: ✓ Fantasy/Romance (60/40) │
│ │
│ [Generate Novel Concepts] │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Step 2: Generate Concepts
Click “Generate Novel Concepts” or tell the Foreman:
- “Generate concepts from my research”
- “Show me 5 novel concepts”
- “What stories can I make from this?”
Generation takes 2-3 minutes. The AI:
- Analyzes all your research ingredients
- Identifies compatible combinations
- Applies your genre calibration rules
- Synthesizes 5 complete concepts
- Writes “Why This Works Together” for each
Step 3: Review Concepts
The Concept Viewer shows all 5 concepts as cards:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ GENERATED CONCEPTS (5) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐ │
│ │ 1. The Catcher │ │ 2. The Garden │ │ 3. Voice of the │ │
│ │ in the │ │ of Silas │ │ Archive │ │
│ │ Algorithm │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ YA / Near-future │ │ Literary Fantasy │ │ Epic Fantasy │ │
│ │ Marcus: unreliable │ │ Silas: hollow man │ │ Lyra: chronicler │ │
│ │ narrator │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ [Expand] [Select] │ │ [Expand] [Select] │ │ [Expand] [Select] │ │
│ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐ │
│ │ 4. The Prophet's │ │ 5. Hollow │ │
│ │ Burden │ │ Authority │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ Dark Fantasy │ │ Political Thriller │ │
│ │ Elena: fallen │ │ Marcus: enforcer │ │
│ │ prophet │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ [Expand] [Select] │ │ [Expand] [Select] │ │
│ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Click [Expand] to see the full concept with all details.
Step 4: Select or Hybridize
You have three options:
Option A: Select One
“I want Concept 2 - The Garden of Silas”
The system generates your Story Bible from that concept.
Option B: Hybridize
“I like the protagonist from Concept 2, but I want the world from Concept 4”
The system checks compatibility and either:
- Generates a merged concept, or
- Warns you about incompatibilities and suggests fixes
Option C: Refine
“I like Concept 2, but can you make Silas younger? I want more YA energy.”
The system adjusts the concept and regenerates.
Step 5: Story Bible Generation
Once you approve a concept, the system generates your canonical Story Bible:
content/
├── Story Bible/
│ ├── Protagonist.md ← From your selected character
│ └── Structure/
│ └── Beat_Sheet.md ← From your calibrated plot
├── Themes_and_Philosophy/
│ └── Theme.md ← From your selected theme
└── World Bible/
└── Rules.md ← From your selected world
Your research remains in the Research Graph for future reference.
The “Why This Works Together” Section
This is what makes the Concept Generator special. It doesn’t just combine ingredients—it explains compatibility.
## Why This Works Together
1. **Character-World Fit**: Silas's chameleonic flaw REQUIRES a world
where identity is malleable. The "coherent delusion" rule provides this.
2. **Theme-Arc Alignment**: The theme asks "Can we sympathize with a villain?"
Silas's descent arc answers this by making us inhabit his perspective.
3. **Genre Calibration**: Your Fantasy/Literary blend (60/40) allows both
extensive world-building AND deep psychological interiority.
4. **Structural Timing**: The catalyst (regime fragmentation) naturally occurs
at 15%, matching your fantasy pacing preference.
This reasoning is required for every concept. If the AI can’t explain why ingredients work together, it doesn’t include that combination.
Compatibility Rules
The Concept Generator follows compatibility rules to avoid nonsensical combinations:
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Arc-World Fit | A redemption arc needs a world that allows redemption |
| Flaw-Theme Resonance | The flaw should test the thematic question |
| Pacing-Genre Match | YA protagonist can’t have a literary-paced arc |
| Voice-Setting Coherence | Hardboiled voice doesn’t fit pastoral fantasy |
| Conflict-Stakes Alignment | Internal journey needs internal stakes |
Incompatible combinations are excluded, not forced together.
Power User Mode: Variant Exploration
Most users take the default path: 5 concepts → select one → Story Bible.
Power users can dive deeper:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MODE: ○ Standard (5 Concepts) ● Power User (Full Variants)│
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Power User mode shows:
- 5 CHARACTER variants (different ways to use your character research)
- 5 WORLD variants (different world interpretations)
- 5 THEME variants (different thematic angles)
- 5 STRUCTURE TEMPLATE variants (different pacing approaches)
- 5 VOICE variants (different style calibrations)
Plus the 5 synthesized novel concepts.
This is useful when:
- You want to browse ingredients before seeing concepts
- You have very specific ideas about one category
- You want to manually mix-and-match before synthesis
Most users don’t need this. The standard 5 concepts are built from the best variants.
Regeneration
Not happy with your 5 concepts? You can regenerate with guidance:
- “More like Concept 2” — Generate 5 new concepts using similar ingredients
- “Darker themes” — Shift toward darker thematic combinations
- “Faster pacing” — Prioritize thriller/YA structural timing
- “Focus on [character name]” — Build concepts around a specific character
Each regeneration produces 5 fresh concepts. Your previous concepts aren’t deleted—they’re archived in case you want to return.
Concept Lab Matrix (Manual Selection)
For writers who want full control over ingredient selection, the Concept Lab Matrix provides a hands-on alternative to automatic generation.
When to Use Concept Lab
| Approach | Best For |
|---|---|
| Auto-Generate (5 Concepts) | Writers who want AI to propose combinations |
| Concept Lab Matrix | Writers who already know what they want to combine |
Use Concept Lab when:
- You researched specific characters/worlds and want to combine them deliberately
- You want to see exactly what ingredients came from each NotebookLM notebook
- You want to rename characters before generation (e.g., “Holden Caulfield” → “Marcus”)
- You want ONE targeted concept, not 5 exploratory options
The Three-Pane Interface
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CONCEPT LAB MATRIX │
├──────────────────┬────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┤
│ │ │ │
│ SOURCE NOTEBOOKS│ INGREDIENTS │ CUSTOMIZE │
│ ────────────────│ ───────────────── │ ───────────────────── │
│ │ │ │
│ 📓 Catcher │ [CHARACTER] │ Selected: 3 items │
│ Analysis │ ☑ The Reluctant Hero │ ──────────────────── │
│ │ ☐ The Mentor Figure │ │
│ 📓 Great Gatsby │ ☐ The Lost Love │ The Reluctant Hero │
│ Deep Dive │ │ Source: Catcher Analysis│
│ │ [WORLD] │ Rename to: [Marcus] │
│ 📓 1984 Study │ ☑ Decaying Empire │ │
│ │ ☐ Underground Society │ Decaying Empire │
│ 📓 My Childhood │ │ Source: 1984 Study │
│ Memories │ [THEME] │ Keep as: World Setting │
│ │ ☑ Loss of Innocence │ │
│ │ ☐ Power Corrupts │ Loss of Innocence │
│ │ │ Source: Catcher Analysis│
│ │ [STRUCTURE TEMPLATE] │ │
│ │ ☐ YA Descent Arc │ ──────────────────── │
│ │ │ Genre: Literary Fiction │
│ │ [VOICE] │ [Generate Concept →] │
│ │ ☐ First Person Intimate│ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [TEXTURE] │ │
│ │ ☐ Urban Decay │ │
│ │ │ │
└──────────────────┴────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┘
Left Pane: Source Notebooks
- Shows all NotebookLM notebooks you’ve imported
- Click a notebook to filter the middle pane to only its ingredients
- See exactly where each ingredient originated
Middle Pane: Ingredients
- All ingredients grouped by category (CHARACTER, WORLD, THEME, STRUCTURE TEMPLATE, VOICE, TEXTURE)
- Checkbox selection—pick exactly what you want
- Category tabs for quick navigation
- Search within categories
Right Pane: Customize
- Shows your selected ingredients
- Rename characters before generation (critical for originality)
- See source provenance for each selection
- Genre calibration applied automatically
How to Use Concept Lab
Step 1: Access Concept Lab
After completing genre calibration, you’ll see two options:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Research Status: ✓ 47 ingredients loaded │
│ Genre Calibration: ✓ Fantasy/Romance (60/40) │
│ │
│ [Generate 5 Concepts] or [Open Concept Lab] │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Click “Open Concept Lab” to enter manual selection mode.
Step 2: Browse Your Research
The left pane shows all your imported NotebookLM notebooks:
- Click a notebook name to filter ingredients from that source
- Click “All Sources” to see everything
- Note how ingredients link back to their research origins
Step 3: Select Ingredients
In the middle pane:
- Switch between category tabs (CHARACTER, WORLD, THEME, etc.)
- Check the boxes next to ingredients you want
- Your selections appear in the right pane immediately
Minimum requirement: At least 1 CHARACTER recommended.
Step 4: Rename Characters
In the right pane, you can rename CHARACTER ingredients:
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The Reluctant Hero │
│ Source: Catcher Analysis │
│ Original: Holden Caulfield │
│ Rename to: [Marcus____________] │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
This is where you transform source inspiration into original characters. The name “Holden Caulfield” becomes “Marcus”—preserving the archetype while creating something new.
Step 5: Generate Targeted Concept
Click “Generate Concept” to create ONE concept from your exact selections.
The generated concept will:
- Use only your selected ingredients (no surprises)
- Apply your genre calibration
- Include renamed characters
- Explain why these specific ingredients work together
Concept Lab vs Auto-Generation
| Feature | Auto-Generate | Concept Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Number of concepts | 5 | 1 (targeted) |
| Ingredient selection | AI chooses combinations | You choose exactly |
| Character naming | After generation | Before generation |
| Source visibility | Hidden | Explicit (3-pane view) |
| Best for | Exploration | Execution |
| Time to use | 2-3 minutes | 5-10 minutes |
Both approaches use the same underlying engine. Concept Lab just gives you manual control over the inputs.
Tips for Concept Lab
- Start with one notebook — Filter to your strongest research first
- Mix sources deliberately — Character from Book A + World from Book B often creates interesting friction
- Rename early — Don’t wait until Story Bible; rename characters now
- Less is more — You don’t need all 6 categories; 2-3 strong selections beat 6 weak ones
- Trust provenance — Seeing “Source: Catcher Analysis” helps you remember why you liked that ingredient
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip concept generation and write my own Story Bible?
Yes. Click “Manual Entry” and write your Story Bible files directly. The system will validate them against your genre calibration.
What if none of the 5 concepts feel right?
Regenerate with guidance, or use Power User mode to browse variants and hybridize manually. If nothing works, you may need more diverse research—the AI can only combine what you give it.
Can I use ingredients from multiple concepts?
Yes, use hybridization: “I want the protagonist from Concept 1, world from Concept 3, theme from Concept 2.” The system checks compatibility and merges them.
Do my research ingredients get deleted after concept selection?
No. Research stays in the Research Graph permanently. You can query it during writing for inspiration, secondary characters, unused world details, etc.
How long does generation take?
2-3 minutes for 5 concepts. The AI is doing substantial work: analyzing all ingredients, checking compatibility, applying genre rules, and writing compatibility reasoning.
Next Steps
Architect Mode
Build your Story Bible from the selected concept
Director Mode
Writing scenes with your Story Bible