Story Stream FAQ
Do I need to label my manuscript âmade with AIâ or disclose AI usage to use Story Stream?
Short answer: No â we do not require you to label your work as AI-created, because Story Stream is an editorial and feedback service, not a rewriting or ghostwriting tool. You retain full authorship and control over your manuscript.
Long answer (and caveats): Story Stream provides developmental feedback, analysis, and suggestions. We do not rewrite your text automatically, and we do not offer line-editing services at this time. Because we arenât creating new text for you, thereâs no âAI authorshipâ to declare from our side. In that sense, we function like a human editor: we comment, critique, and propose ideas, but the core creative work remains yours.
However, when you publish your manuscript via platforms like KDP or IngramSpark, the question of AI disclosure depends on their policies, not ours. The summaries below reflect what we understand as of early 2025âalways verify on the platformsâ sites directly, because requirements evolve quickly.
What KDP currently says
- KDP requires authors to inform them if the published content includes AI-generated text, images, or translations. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
- KDP distinguishes between AI-generated and AI-assisted content. If you used AI only as a toolâfor brainstorming, grammar checks, or line-edit suggestionsâthat is AI-assisted and does not require disclosure.
- Even if you substantially edit AI-generated content, KDP may still treat it as AI-generated, so disclosure could still be required.
In short: if major portions of your manuscript were produced by AI, KDP expects disclosure. If you wrote the manuscript and simply used AI tools in supporting roles, you typically do not need to check a âmade with AIâ box.
What IngramSpark says
- IngramSparkâs catalog integrity policy allows them to remove content they deem harmful or deceptive and includes references to automated or AI-generated material. IngramSpark.
- Commentary from publishing experts notes that IngramSpark has explored restrictions on books created primarily with AI, but there is not yet a universal disclosure checkbox in their submission flow.
- Enforcement remains fluid. Authors should review the latest guidance before submitting their projects.
In other words, IngramSparkâs stance is more ambiguous. They reserve the right to decline AI-generated content, but we have not seen a standard âmade with AIâ declaration step in every submission.
Why we say you donât need to check an AI box with Story Stream:Story Stream operates after your draft is written, providing editorial insights rather than generating new chapters. If a publishing platform asks for AI disclosure, follow its rulesâthat requirement is independent of our service. We also recommend keeping a simple log of how you use AI tools so you can determine whether a platform considers your work AI-generated or merely AI-assisted.
Who is behind Story Stream?
Story Stream was founded by Will Frasier, a novelist, musician, and former Principal AI Researcher at Microsoft with expertise in emotion parsing and machine learning for sustainability. Connect with Will on LinkedIn. He is joined by a team who shares one goal: to help every writer turn a manuscript into a masterpiece at a price that respects your budget.
Learn more about our mission and philosophy in our manifesto: Story Stream: A Journey in Deep Narrative Understanding.
What will I receive in my developmental report?
- Executive summary highlighting strengths and priority fixes
- Publication Readiness Score across pacing, theme, character, plot coherence, and seven other dimensions
- Scene-by-scene heat-map that shows where readers may skim or get confused
- Target-market snapshot with comparable titles and current genre trends
- Action plan with next steps, resources, and recommended reading
How long does it take to receive feedback?
Most reports are ready within one hour of upload. Thatâs minutes instead of the days or weeks traditional editors need. Very occasionally a processing glitch causes delays; if that happens you can contact us and we'll investigate.
Can I resubmit revisions or multiple drafts?
Not at this time. Each purchase covers a single manuscript draft. Weâre exploring multiâdraft support. Let us know if it's important to you.
Which file formats do you accept?
We currently accept .docx and plainâtext .txt files. For full details on size limits and special cases, see our Supported Document Types.
Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee?
We donât have a formal guarantee yet, but we read every piece of feedback. If something feels off, please reach out through our Contact Us pageâyour input directly shapes future releases.
Will Story Stream preserve my voice?
Absolutely. Before you upload, Story Stream walks you through a short Author Intentions intakeâyour core themes, the plot threads you care about, what makes your protagonist compelling, and the tone you're aiming forâso our models calibrate to your goals instead of generic style guides. That context powers a developmental read and an Author Intentions report that double-check whether our suggestions reinforce the atmosphere you described. You'll receive plain-language guidance that spotlights where your voice already shines, offers targeted tweaks to strengthen it, and never overwrites your prose. Learn how that process works in detail.
Is there a human in the loop?
Literary professionals played a key role in training Story Streamâs models, and all source material was used with full consent from beta testers. However, the final reports you receive are generated endâtoâend by the software, with no live human intervention. That automation lets us deliver detailed developmental feedback in about an hour instead of the days or weeks traditional editors need.
How does Story Stream support diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Story Streamâs equity and inclusion work is led by Dr. Jessica Heaton, a graduate of the University of Washington who completed a dissertation titled Cultivating & Sustaining Systems for Diversity, Inclusion & Justice. Dr. Heaton is responsible for ensuring Story Streamâs editing process is attentive to identity and principles of diversity and inclusion. Additionally, she leads for DEI internally as the Business Operations Manager, ensuring DEI principles are infused across the organization. Story Stream is committed to using AI, and to building a company and community, in a way that advances equity and inclusion.
How will I feel when I review my developmental edit?
Expect to feel encouraged, informed, and in control. We start by celebrating strengths, then offer clear, actionable steps with examples so you know exactly how to level up.
How much does a professional developmental edit cost?
Market rates range from $1,500 to $5,000. Our Full Developmental Report starts at $99 for manuscripts up to 400,000 words, with our most professional tier at $199. See the full breakdown on our pricing page.
Compare Plans
| Plan | Cost | Best for | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blueprint | Free | Quick, highâlevel feedback | 3 reports (Plot Coherence, Theme, Pacing), Sequel Potential |
| First Edition | $99 | Deep but focused editorial analysis | Full Editorial Report, 7 core reports including Character, Style, Author Intent |
| Masterpiece (Best Value) | $199 | Fullâspectrum editing for publishâready manuscripts | All 17 reports, Roadmap to Published, Story Flow, Character Bundle, Full Editorial Overview |
Why pay for Story Stream instead of using ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a capable generalâpurpose model, but it is not an editorial specialist. Story Stream is built specifically for developmental editing, and the differences show in four areas:
- Purposeâbuilt models â Trained on annotated edits from literary professionals, Story Stream mirrors the workflows used in human editorial rooms rather than generic text completion.
- Multiâdimensional analysis â Every manuscript is evaluated across 17 craft dimensions such as plot coherence, pacing, character arc, dialogue, theme, tonal consistency, and market fit. These dimensions are then synthesised into a single report so that interâdependencies are easy to see.
- Actionable ranking system â Each observation is tagged with a level that tells you how urgently you should address it (see our scoring documentation):
| Level | Indicator | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| Wellâcrafted | Aligns with genre conventions and narrative intent | Needs little or no change |
| Consider revision | Generally solid but has inconsistencies or missed opportunities | Review and adjust as needed |
| Revision recommended | Diverges from best practice or causes confusion | Focused rework is likely beneficial. Deviation can still be a valid creative choice; the flag is a prompt to confirm intent |
- Prioritised roadmap â Recommendations are ordered by impact and effort so you leave with a clear nextâdraft checklist instead of a collection of disjointed comments.
A traditional developmental edit provides the same structure but takes weeks and costs thousands of dollars. ChatGPT can provide adâhoc insights, but you would have to create prompts for every dimension, aggregate the answers, and decide which points matter. Story Stream handles that analysis for you and delivers a structured report in about an hour.
How secure is my payment information?
Payments are processed through Stripe, a PCI DSS Level 1 provider. Story Stream never stores your card details.
How can I join the beta or contribute to the project?
Join the waitlist at storystreameditor.com/beta. If selected, youâll receive a free Masterpiece report in exchange for your feedbackâspots are limited and not guaranteed.
What if I disagree with the feedback?
You remain the author. Use what resonates and discard the rest. If something feels off, let us know; your comments help us improve the model.
Can I unsubscribe from emails?
Yes. You can manage your email preferences any time on the Notification Settings page. You can unsubscribe at any time.