Lis Novel
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Desktop Β· Local-First Β· Offline

The AI-assisted novel studio that stays on your computer.

Build worlds, wrangle structure, and co-write with AI - entirely on your machine. Pay once. Own forever. No subscriptions. No cloud drama.

Download for macOS See it in action
  • 100% Local & Offline
  • Pay Once, Own Forever
  • BYOK: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google…
  • Local LLMs via Ollama / LM Studio
Lis Novel editor with manuscript, lore, and storyboard panels

100% LOCAL & OFFLINE

Your novels, notes, and world bible all live on your device. No internet required.

PAY ONCE, OWN FOREVER

Professional tool, one-time license. Free updates within the major version.

YOUR AI, YOUR RULES

Keep everything on-device with local LLMs or BYOK for cloud providers you trust.

Immersive Writing Workspace

  • Block-based manuscript editor with slash commands.
  • Scene Beat Flow with streamed AI feedback right in place.
  • Comfort controls for typography, spacing and indents.

Story Structure & Planning

  • Acts β†’ Chapters β†’ Scenes, all hierarchical & navigable.
  • Drag-and-drop Storyboard for fast rearranging.
  • Scene-level labels for readiness (Draft, Revise, Final), mood, or chronology.

Living World-Building Lore

  • Linked characters, locations, and artifacts with cross-references.
  • Auto-match lore entries to scenes as you write, or manually attach any entry to a scene.
  • Choose what the AI sees - automatic, manual, or hidden.

AI Co-Authoring System

  • Prompt templates with autocomplete & validation checks.
  • Reusable prompt library with wide customization.
  • Local or Cloud LLMs: Ollama, LM Studio, OpenAI, Anthropic, you name it.

Who it's for & How AI fits

See if Lis Novel matches your process and writing philosophy.

Who it's for

Privacy-first authors
Keep drafts and keys on your machine. No cloud by default.
Series builders
Track canon in a living Lore and keep lore details consistent.
Outline-to-draft planners
Acts β†’ Chapters β†’ Scenes with a visual storyboard.
Own-it-once buyers
Pay once, use offline forever. No subscriptions.

How the AI fits your workflow

1
Choose your engine. Local model or your own API key - swap anytime.
2
Set the guardrails. Reusable prompts shape voice, style, and length.
3
Generate in place. Stream suggestions from your beats directly into scenes.

Publishing & Export

  • One-click exports: Markdown / HTML of the whole manuscript, by any act, chapter or scene.
  • Offline-first desktop control - drafts and AI keys stay local.

Why local-first?

The philosophy behind Lis Novel - and the practical benefits for your day-to-day.

Why local-first?

  • Own your words. Manuscripts, prompts, and keys live on your computer.
  • Work anywhere. Airplane-mode friendly; no logins or sync errors.
  • Predictable costs. Pay once, write forever.
  • Flexible AI. BYOK for cloud - or run local models for total privacy.

How we keep it private (at a glance)

  • Offline by default. Nothing leaves your device unless you choose it.
  • Local models first-class. Seamless with Ollama and LM Studio.
  • Direct connections. With BYOK, requests go straight from your desktop to the provider.
  • Simple sign-up. Activate your 30-day trial with your email.
  • Easy exit. Export anytime to Markdown or HTML.
  • Explicit control. You choose the model and when to send; nothing is transmitted unless you initiate a prompt.

Roadmap

What's coming next.

Coming soon
  • EPUB export alongside Markdown/HTML.
  • Custom keyboard shortcuts for drafting and navigation.
  • More local model presets and provider tests.
  • Storyboard refinements for multi-book series.
Plans may evolve based on feedback from release users.

Guarantees recap

  • βœ“ 30-day free trial - no auto-billing.
  • βœ“ Perpetual license for this major version.
  • βœ“ Works fully offline; BYOK optional.
  • βœ“ Export anytime to Markdown/HTML.

Download Lis Novel

Release build for macOS. Offline by default with a 30-day trial.

  • βœ“ Signed and notarized builds for Apple Silicon and Intel.
  • βœ“ 30-day trial included; pay once to unlock.
  • βœ“ Offline-first with BYOK/local LLM support.
Requirements
  • Mac with Apple Silicon or Intel (x64)
  • macOS 13 Ventura or newer
  • Internet required for license or trial activation
Windows build is coming soon; we'll post it here.
macOS Β· Apple Silicon
Download for Apple Silicon
macOS Β· Intel
Download for Intel
Unzip the download, then drag Lis Novel to Applications. First launch may prompt macOS to confirm.
Need help installing? Reply to your purchase email or message us from the app.

FAQ

Is the app fully offline?

Yes. All manuscripts, lore data, and keys are stored locally. If you connect a cloud model via BYOK, requests go directly from your machine to that provider. Or use local LLMs for total isolation.

What does 'Pay once' include?

Your license is perpetual for the purchased major version and includes all minor updates. No subscriptions.

Which AI providers are supported?

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, plus local backends (Ollama, LM Studio).

Do you have a refund policy?

There's no charge during the 30-day trial. You only purchase after the trial if you choose to continue.