(AI translated by a process involving NotebookLM)
1. Introduction: Embracing a New Creative Partner
I recently began using NotebookLM in my creative activities. NotebookLM is one of Google’s AI tools, designed to analyze a user’s own documents rather than rely on the general knowledge base of a typical chatbot. While similar tools have existed before, they often required specialized tools and knowledge. NotebookLM is far more user-friendly.
It is important to note that the field of AI is evolving at an extremely rapid pace; therefore, the content of this article is current only as of November 12, 2025. Furthermore, while NotebookLM has a wide range of applications, including language learning, this article will focus specifically on its use in novel writing.
2. Why I Decided to Use AI for Novel Writing
Despite writing science fiction in which AI often plays a central role, I previously had little interest in using AI for my own novel writing. One reason was a resistance to incorporating what felt like “other people’s ideas” into my work. Even for my submission to the Nikkei Hoshi Awards, which permits the use of AI, I did not use AI in the writing process, though this was also due to the inconvenience of having to log its usage.
My perspective changed with NotebookLM, which is a tool based on a technique called Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). I primarily allow NotebookLM to reference only text that I have written myself. By doing so, the process feels less like relying on external ideas and more like working with content I have already created (though this is less the case when generating final images). This is the reason I now feel comfortable using an AI like NotebookLM in my novel writing.
3. NotebookLM’s Affinity with Science Fiction
NotebookLM is a good match for SF, especially hard SF. I have found that because the plot development in hard science fiction is highly logical, content analysis tends to work very well. This is not limited to real-world science; the tool has no problem handling concepts like the “buddhics” (佛理学), a fusion of Buddhism and physics in my novel “Tenku-seyo Hossho-ji (Chohen-ban)“. The tool’s affinity is strong with any meticulously constructed worldview.
Furthermore, NotebookLM can be a valuable tool in Sci-Fi Prototyping and even in SF education for middle and high school students, a topic I may elaborate on at a later time.
4. When to Use NotebookLM in the Writing Process
NotebookLM can be useful at any stage of the writing process. This includes the initial idea-generation phase, the drafting and revision stages, and even post-completion promotional activities. However, because NotebookLM operates based on the data you provide, it is less suited for the task of “generating entirely new ideas.” It can certainly help brainstorm concepts for a sequel or prequel, but it’s probably more enjoyable to think of those yourself.
5. How to Use NotebookLM
The fundamental process involves uploading text-based information, called “sources,” to NotebookLM. The AI then analyzes these sources to interact with the user and generate new information. To use NotebookLM as a writing assistant, the initial source would likely be the novel itself. Any new text (such as reports) generated by analyzing the novel can also be added as a new source.
You can use a work-in-progress, but you must remain mindful when your source material is incomplete. If you mix completed text with drafts in the source, the results may not turn out as expected. In such cases, you can choose only the sources you want to use before outputting.
6. What Can NotebookLM Be Used For?
Depending on your ideas, NotebookLM can be used for a wide variety of tasks, from writing support to illustration assistance and novel promotion. The following are a few examples.
Creating Timelines and Checking for Contradictions
You can have NotebookLM generate a timeline based on your novel to check for inconsistencies. In fact, it has already helped me identify several issues in my current work-in-progress, “Tenku-seyo Hossho-ji (Chohen-ban)”.
Creating a Glossary
The tool can be instructed to create a glossary with definitions based on the terminology within your novel. I tested this by having it create a glossary for “Tenku-seyo Hossho-ji (Chohen-ban)”. Although I had already created a glossary by hand, this exercise yielded several new insights. If an important term is missing from the AI-generated glossary, it may indicate that the term is not adequately defined within the source text.
Assisting with Translation
A potential workflow for translation assistance would be to first have NotebookLM create a bilingual glossary. You would then manually check and improve this glossary, add the refined version as a new source, and finally instruct the AI to translate the work.
I tested translations from Japanese to English, and it worked very well. The translation was done with a good understanding of not only the glossary but also the character settings and the surrounding context. However, the results (such as the phrasing/wording) differ significantly with each translation attempt.
(As stated at the beginning, this article is also a result of NotebookLM translation process.)
Assisting with Illustration Creation
While NotebookLM cannot generate images directly, it can be used to create prompts for image generation AI to produce illustrations of characters, important gadgets, or scenery. Because these prompts are derived from the novel’s actual content, they are more precise.
For example, the promotional image for “Final Anchors“ was composited from individually generated images of the logo, the car, and the character Ruriha. The poster for “Smart Hako Otoko” [Smart Box Man] was made in a similar way, using content analysis from NotebookLM to build the image prompts. This was a time-consuming process that required numerous adjustments to achieve the final images.
Of course, this technique can be used not only for completed works but also for visualizing characters and scenery in a work-in-progress.
This is also where a translation process shines, because chatbots understand English better than Japanese.
Generating Videos and Audio Based on a Novel
NotebookLM can generate videos and audio based on a novel. The videos take the form of a narrated presentation created by the tool, using AI-generated images as visuals. While there are ways to exert some control over the output, the quality and success of the results can be inconsistent.
The following is an example of a video generated using NotebookLM. No adjustments or corrections have been made.
Below is an example of a video output with a heavy editing.
I used the video editing application DaVinci Resolve to replace the aforementioned images along with separately generated images, and also added a separately created soundtrack. Generally, the narration (audio) is quite natural and good, but since the generated images lack consistency, it is difficult to use them as they are.
I also noticed that the English audio narration seemed even more natural than the Japanese.
7. Tips for Getting the Most Out of NotebookLM
There are a few tips for using NotebookLM effectively. First is the use of Markdown format. This is a method of formatting text using simple symbols. While plain text works for exchanging information, Markdown allows for a more effective exchange of long and complex information with the AI. This means you can have NotebookLM output information in Markdown or provide it with Markdown-formatted input.
Another tip concerns source selection. If you want to achieve a specific result, the quality of the source itself is critical. I recommend that when first learning the tool, you start by using a completed novel as your source rather than a work-in-progress.
8. Security and Privacy
Google’s official policy states that uploaded content is not used to train its AI models. However, if this remains a point of concern, it is probably best to refrain from using the service.
9. Known Bugs
As of November 5, 2025, text files encoded in Shift_JIS become garbled when added as a source. These files must be converted to UTF-8 before uploading.
10. Feature Requests (more to come)
- Because Google Docs, which is used for source uploads, does not support furigana (ruby text), one must take steps, such as converting Word documents containing furigana into a plain text format.
- Report and video creation cannot be canceled halfway through. (If you wish to customize them, make sure to click the pencil icon in NotebookLM Studio.)
11. AI Challenges and Limitations
This is less an issue with NotebookLM itself and more a general limitation of image generation AI, but at present, text within images—especially Japanese text—is not rendered properly. (Consequently, images included in videos generated by NotebookLM suffer from the same problem). This is not an unsolvable issue, and I anticipate that it will be improved or resolved sometime in 2026.
12. Conclusion: AI as an Enabler, Not the Author
NotebookLM is not designed to generate a novel for you. While doing so may not be impossible, it would be difficult with this tool alone. However, NotebookLM can be used as a powerful assistant to improve a novel’s quality and embellish it with supplementary content like illustrations and videos.