Frequently Asked

Questions & Answers

Everything you might want to know before signing up, buying a package, or committing to a membership.

About the Platform
What is Storycosm Systems?

Storycosm Systems is a creative infrastructure platform for serious fiction writers. It combines four things that normally live in separate tools:

  • Storycosm Author — a web app to track pen names, storycosms, series, stories, characters, scenes, and publishing data all in one place
  • Fiction Frameworks — production-ready worldbuilding bibles, plot architectures, and character systems for entire fictional universes
  • Plot and Story Systems — complete beat breakdowns for every major methodology, from Save the Cat to Story Grid
  • Interactive Universe Maps — explorable worlds (Nova Drift, The Arena) that you can build inside

It's built by a working writer who needed more than spreadsheets could handle. Read the about page for the longer story.

What's the difference between the app and the framework packages?

They serve different purposes and can be used separately or together.

The app (Storycosm Author) is ongoing creative infrastructure — a tool you use to organize your own fiction career. You add your own pen names, storycosms, series, characters. The app tracks what you create.

The Fiction Frameworks (Maple Creek, The Prometheus Protocol, Shattered Throne, Veilbound, and every new framework as it launches) are complete worldbuilding bibles — self-contained fictional universes you can write in. Each package includes character bibles, plot architectures, scene prompts, worldbuilding details, and visual references ready to inspire novels and series.

You can use the app with zero packages. You can buy a package and never touch the app. Or you can import a framework package into the app to get started faster.

Do I need any of the frameworks to use the app?

No. The app stands on its own. You can build an entirely original universe from scratch using Storycosm Author — the packages are optional creative starting points, not required infrastructure.

That said, many writers find the packages useful as templates or inspiration, even if they end up customizing everything into their own world.

Memberships & Pricing
What's the difference between the membership tiers?

We have five tiers, each tuned to a different kind of writer:

  • Free — newsletter, every Fiction Framework sampler, and the story structure quick-start guide
  • Explorer ($9/month) — read-only tour of the platform: the Forge demo, the complete Structure Library, and the maps
  • Navigator ($27/month) — full create and edit with unlimited records, the Beat Comparison Tool, map bookmarks and notes
  • Architect ($47/month) — everything in Navigator plus galaxy and region creation, character relationship mapping, RPG character sheets, and 25% off every Fiction Framework package
  • Master Cartographer ($97/month) — everything plus premium lore layers, publishing and earnings dashboards, priority access to new features, 50% off the framework catalog, and every new framework free at launch

Full feature-by-feature breakdown is on the pricing page.

Is there a free trial?

There's no traditional "free 14-day trial" — instead, we offer two ways to try the platform before committing:

Free tier. Create a free account for the newsletter, every Fiction Framework sampler, and the story structure quick-start guide — a real sense of what the platform offers before you pay anything.

30-day money-back guarantee. If you sign up for any paid tier and decide within 30 days that it's not for you, email us for a full refund. Details in the Refund Policy.

Framework packages have a 14-day money-back guarantee — buy one, read it, keep it or return it.

How do I cancel my membership?

You can cancel at any time from your member dashboard. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle — you keep access through the end of the month you already paid for, then billing stops.

No partial-month refunds, but no surprise renewals either. See the Refund Policy for the full details.

What's the Master Cartographer tier?

Master Cartographer is our top tier, designed for professional writers running multiple pen names, managing complex publishing schedules, and working with advanced worldbuilding.

It includes everything in Architect plus: premium lore layer editing, publishing and earnings dashboards, advanced creation and export tools, priority access to new features as they launch, 50% off every Fiction Framework package, and every new framework free at launch with two-week early access.

Ownership & Licensing
Do I own what I create in the app?

Yes, completely. Every character, story, world, scene, note, and piece of content you create using Storycosm Author is yours. We never claim ownership of your fiction or your creative work.

We host and store your content to make the app work, but the intellectual property stays with you. If you delete your account, we delete your data within 90 days.

Full terms are in our Terms of Service, Section 7.

Can I use the frameworks for commercial publishing?

Yes. When you buy a framework package, you get a worldwide, non-exclusive license to use the materials to create and publish your own original fiction — on Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, audiobook platforms, traditional publishers, anywhere.

What you can do: write novels, short stories, and series using the structural frameworks, plot architectures, and worldbuilding concepts. Change names, settings, and details to make the work your own. Publish and sell the fiction commercially. Use the visual prompts to generate AI imagery for your covers.

What you can't do: resell or redistribute the package materials themselves, publish the package materials as your own work, or use characters and place names exactly as-provided without customization.

Full licensing terms are in our Terms of Service, Section 6. The Welcome Guide inside each package walks through customization.

Can I publish AI-generated fiction using your tools?

Our tools don't generate prose for you — the app organizes, the packages inspire. Whether and how you use AI tools alongside our system is up to you.

Many writers use AI for character portraits, cover art, and brainstorming. Our packages include AI visual prompts specifically for that purpose.

Where you publish (Amazon, Kindle, Apple Books) may have their own AI disclosure requirements — those are rules for the publishing platform, not us. Our Acceptable Use Policy covers the basics of what's off-limits, including AI-generated imagery of real people in sexual or harassing contexts.

Account & Data
Do you offer refunds?

Yes, depending on what you bought:

  • Framework packages and starter kits: 14-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked
  • Memberships: 30-day money-back guarantee from your initial charge
  • Service failures: if we can't deliver what we promised technically, we refund in full

Full details in the Refund Policy. To request a refund, email jdavis@storycosmsystems.com with your order details.

What happens to my data if I cancel?

If you cancel your membership, your account and data remain active at the Free tier (or you can request deletion). Everything you created is preserved and unlocks again when you resubscribe.

If you request full account deletion, we remove your personal information and user content within 90 days. Backups are purged within that window too. Some data is retained longer where required by law (payment records for 7 years, for example).

You can request an export of your data before canceling — email us and we'll send you a copy. Full retention policy is in our Privacy Policy, Section 8.

Didn't Find Your Answer?

We're happy to help with anything not covered here. Send us a message and we'll get back to you within 1–2 business days.

Contact Us