Ask HN: How would you monetize an AI book-writing app?

I built an AI-powered desktop app that helps write complete books - from brainstorming to publishing. I've used it myself to write 2 books for my kids.

The app walks you through 5 phases: brainstorm with AI, generate outline, develop characters, write chapters (AI maintains consistency across 50k+ words), then export to PDF/EPUB or publish to a bookstore.

It's local-first (SQLite, your data stays on your machine) and uses Google Gemini for generation. Users bring their own API key.

I'm genuinely stuck on monetization:

1. One-time purchase ($49-99?) - user brings own Gemini key 2. Free app + platform fee to publish on our bookstore 3. Free app + transaction fee on book sales 4. Subscription with included AI credits

Context: I'm a 25-year dev who's shipped ~15 side projects in the last 2 years thanks to AI productivity gains. This one feels like it has legs, but I keep second-guessing the business model.

For those who've monetized creative tools: what worked? What didn't?

Uh, irrelevant to highlight sqlite and "local first" if it assumes talking to gemini. The data does not stay on the machine. Support llama.cpp, etc.

I do like the idea of a home made book workflow but no one needs a new bookstore. There are plenty of these.

I think a related area is incorporating tts for interviews esp of older family members. Support photos and audio and have some ai magic around those. Produce a family member history. That is a pdf or richer media artifact, and does not go into any bookstore. Absolutely needs local ai in that case too.

I would pay $50 for an oss fully local authoring tool (and I do pay for others like zettlr).

eibrahim · a day ago

I tried llama a few months back and the output was very disappointing. I don't think it will handle book writing well or produce good quality.

what do you mean tts for interviews? You mean use AI to interview grandpa and get his story and then use that to create "his story"?

jonahbenton · a day ago

To a first approximation, yes. You are young and don't have perspective on this, but this is what old people do. Recognize the value of stories and try to preserve them.