> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.inkwell.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using Quill AI

> Your AI co-writer for brainstorming, editing, and screenplay development.

Quill AI is Inkwell's integrated AI assistant designed specifically for screenwriters. This guide covers everything you need to know to use Quill effectively.

## Open Quill AI

Access Quill from anywhere in Inkwell:

**Keyboard shortcut** (fastest):

* macOS: `Cmd+]` (or `Cmd+0`)

**Menu**:

* Go to **View → Toggle Quill Panel**

**First time**: The Quill panel slides in from the right side of your screen.

## The Quill Interface

The Quill panel includes:

**Top section**:

* **Thread selector**: Switch between conversations.
* **New thread button** (`+`): Start a fresh conversation.
* **Close button** (`×`): Hide the panel.

**Middle section**:

* **Conversation history**: Your messages and Quill's responses.
* Auto-scrolls to the latest message.

**Bottom section**:

* **Text input**: Type your prompts here.
* **Credit counter**: Shows remaining credits.
* **Send button** (or press **Enter**): Submit your message.

<Tip>
  Press `Shift+Enter` to add a line break in your message. Press `Enter` alone to send.
</Tip>

## Start a Conversation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Quill">
    Press `Cmd+]` to open the Quill panel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Type your request">
    Enter what you need help with in plain language:

    * "Help me brainstorm a cold open for a thriller"
    * "Rewrite this dialogue to be more tense"
    * "Suggest three ways this scene could end"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send">
    Press **Enter** to send. Quill responds in seconds.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue the conversation">
    Ask follow-ups, request changes, or explore alternatives. Quill remembers the conversation context.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What Quill Can Do

### Brainstorming & Ideation

Ask Quill to help generate ideas:

* **Plot developments**: "What if Alice discovers Bob is lying? Give me 5 directions this could go."
* **Character arcs**: "How could I develop Alice's character over three acts?"
* **Scene concepts**: "I need a tense confrontation scene between Alice and Bob in a coffee shop."
* **Loglines**: "Help me write a logline for a sci-fi thriller about AI consciousness."

### Dialogue Improvement

Get help refining dialogue:

* **Rewrite for tone**: "Make this dialogue more sarcastic"
* **Sharpen exchanges**: "Tighten this conversation to under 5 lines"
* **Add subtext**: "Rewrite this so Bob's hiding something"
* **Character voice**: "Make Alice sound more confident here"

### Scene Editing

Improve existing scenes:

* **Pacing**: "This scene feels slow. Suggest cuts."
* **Conflict**: "Add more tension to this argument"
* **Description**: "Rewrite this action to be more visual and cinematic"
* **Structure**: "Should I split this into two scenes?"

### Story Development

Work through story problems:

* **Plot holes**: "Alice gets to the warehouse too quickly. How can I fix the timeline?"
* **Character motivation**: "Why would Bob risk everything here?"
* **Theme**: "How can I strengthen the theme of betrayal in this act?"
* **Beats**: "What's missing between the midpoint and the climax?"

### Format & Craft

Get technical help:

* **Formatting questions**: "How do I format a phone conversation?"
* **Industry standards**: "Should I include camera directions?"
* **Page count**: "This scene is 8 pages. Too long?"
* **Structure advice**: "Does this follow standard three-act structure?"

## Conversations & Threads

Quill organizes your conversations into **threads**. Each thread is a separate conversation with its own history.

### Why Use Threads

**Keep topics separate**:

* Thread 1: Brainstorming Act 2
* Thread 2: Fixing dialogue in Scene 12
* Thread 3: Character development for Bob

**Context matters**:

* Quill remembers the conversation within each thread
* Earlier messages inform later responses
* Switching threads starts fresh context

### Manage Threads

**Create a new thread**:

1. Click the **+** button at the top of the Quill panel
2. Start typing in the fresh conversation

**Switch threads**:

1. Click the **thread selector** dropdown
2. Choose from your recent conversations
3. The conversation history loads

**Thread naming**:

* Quill automatically names threads based on your first message
* Example: "Help me with Act 2" becomes "Act 2 assistance"

<Note>
  Threads are saved locally in your `.ink` file. They persist across sessions.
</Note>

## Context Awareness

Quill has access to your script's context and current state to provide relevant, informed help.

### What Quill Knows

**Your complete script**:

* Full script content in Fountain format
* All scenes, dialogue, and action
* Scene headings and structure
* Character names and dialogue patterns

**Script statistics**:

* Scene count
* Total elements (lines)
* Estimated page count
* Word count
* Whether script changed since last request

**Character information** (from Sidebar → Characters):

* Character names and aliases
* Bios and descriptions
* Gender and age
* Dialogue count per character

**Project metadata**:

* Script title (from Sidebar → Script Info)
* Logline (from Sidebar → Project)

**Your current editor state**:

* Currently selected text (if any)
* Line numbers of selection
* Cursor position

**Conversation history**:

* All messages in the active thread
* Your previous requests and Quill's responses
* Context updates (script changes, statistics)

**Temporal context**:

* Current date and time
* Time zone information

### What Quill Doesn't Know

❌ **Content from other scripts**: Quill only sees the currently open script
❌ **Internet data**: No web searches or real-time information
❌ **Your files**: Can't access files outside Inkwell
❌ **Other threads**: Each thread is isolated
❌ **Version history**: Only sees current state, not past versions

### How to Leverage Context

**Reference your script**:

* "Look at Scene 5. How can I foreshadow the twist?"
* "Based on Alice's character bio, how would she react here?"
* "Given my logline, does this scene fit the story?"

**Be specific**:

* ✅ "Rewrite the dialogue between Alice and Bob in Scene 12"
* ❌ "Rewrite this" (Quill doesn't know which scene you mean)

**Build on conversation**:

* First: "Help me brainstorm endings"
* Then: "I like option 2. Expand on that"
* Then: "Now make it more ambiguous"

<Tip>
  Set your logline in **Sidebar → Project** before using Quill. It helps Quill understand your story's premise.
</Tip>

## Inline Collaboration

When Quill suggests changes to your script, it shows them inline with **accept** and **reject** options.

### How It Works

1. **You ask for changes**: "Rewrite Scene 12's dialogue to be more tense"
2. **Quill proposes edits**: Changes appear highlighted in your script.
3. **You review**: Read the proposed changes.
4. **You decide**: Click **Accept** (✓) or **Reject** (✗) for each change.

<Warning>
  Quill never modifies your script without your approval. You are always in control.
</Warning>

### Review Changes Carefully

Before accepting:

* **Read the full change**: Don't just accept blindly.
* **Check character voice**: Does it sound like your characters?
* **Verify continuity**: Does it match earlier scenes?
* **Test the tone**: Is it right for your story?

**You can**:

* Accept some changes and reject others.
* Edit Quill's suggestions manually before accepting.
* Ask Quill to revise: "Make it less dramatic"

## Effective Prompting Tips

### Be Specific

❌ **Vague**: "Make this better"
✅ **Specific**: "Make this dialogue sharper by cutting unnecessary words"

❌ **Vague**: "Help with my script"
✅ **Specific**: "The midpoint feels weak. How can I raise the stakes?"

### Provide Context

If Quill doesn't have the context, give it:

```
"Alice just discovered Bob's secret. She's angry but trying to hide it. 
Rewrite this confrontation to show her restraint breaking."
```

### Iterate

Don't expect perfection on the first try:

1. "Give me 3 scene ending options"
2. "I like #2 but make it less obvious"
3. "Perfect, now write it in full"

### Ask for Options

Get variety before committing:

* "Give me 5 different openings for this scene"
* "Suggest 3 ways this could go wrong"
* "Show me both a hopeful and dark version"

## Quill's Philosophy

Quill is designed with core principles:

### You're in Control

* **Quill suggests, you decide**: Every change requires your approval.
* **Non-intrusive**: Appears when you call it, never interrupts.
* **Your voice, your story**: Quill assists, but you're the writer.

### Collaboration, Not Replacement

* **Brainstorming partner**: Bounces ideas back and forth.
* **Second pair of eyes**: Spots issues you might miss.
* **Craft assistant**: Handles technical details so you focus on story.

### Transparent

* **Credit costs are clear**: You always know what each request costs.
* **No hidden changes**: All edits are visible and reviewable.
* **Your data stays yours**: Scripts are stored locally, not on cloud servers.

<Note>
  Quill is a tool, not a substitute for your creative judgment. Use it to amplify your skills, not replace them.
</Note>

## Privacy & Data

**Your scripts stay local**:

* Scripts are stored on your computer in `.ink` files.
* Quill conversations are saved locally with your script.
* Nothing is automatically uploaded to cloud storage.

**What gets sent to AI providers**:

* Your prompt and conversation history (within the thread).
* Relevant script content (if Quill needs it for context).
* Project metadata (logline, character info) when relevant.

**What doesn't get sent**:

* Your entire script (only relevant portions).
* Other scripts you've written.
* Personal information beyond what's in your script.

<Tip>
  If you're working on sensitive material, avoid including real names or confidential details in your prompts.
</Tip>

## Common Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can Quill write my entire script?">
    Technically yes, but that's not what it's designed for. Quill works best as a **collaborative partner** for specific tasks—brainstorming, editing, problem-solving. Writing a full script requires your unique voice, vision, and creative decisions.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Quill learn from my writing style?">
    Not permanently. Quill uses context from your current script and conversation to inform responses, but doesn't retain learning across sessions or scripts. Each conversation starts fresh.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I undo an accepted change?">
    Yes! Use `Cmd+Z` immediately after accepting to undo. Or restore from version history if you accepted and kept writing.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why did Quill give a weird response?">
    Common reasons:

    * Vague prompt (be more specific)
    * Lacks context (provide background)
    * Model limitation (try a higher-reasoning model)
    * Random AI variation (try rephrasing your request)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use Quill offline?">
    No. Quill requires an internet connection to access AI models. Your scripts work offline, but Quill features require connectivity.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does using Quill mean I didn't write my script?">
    No more than using spell-check, a thesaurus, or getting feedback from a writing partner. **You** conceive the story, make creative decisions, and choose what to keep or discard. Quill is a tool that assists your process.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Model Selection" icon="brain" href="/quill-ai/model-selection">
    Choose the right AI model for different tasks
  </Card>

  <Card title="Credits & Billing" icon="credit-card" href="/quill-ai/credits-billing">
    Understand how credits work and manage costs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Keyboard Shortcuts" icon="keyboard" href="/reference/keyboard-shortcuts">
    Learn all Inkwell shortcuts including Quill
  </Card>
</CardGroup>