6 creative uses for NotebookLM you'll actually want to try
NotebookLM looks simple on the surface. Feed it your documents, and it responds using only that material, which keeps details straight and ideas consistent. That makes it ideal for creative work where continuity matters. It's free to start, so spin up a notebook and test a few of these workflows.
D&D campaigns: a living lore keeper
Keeping a long-term campaign straight is hard work. NotebookLM can centralize your session notes, maps, NPCs, timelines, and house rules into a single, searchable brain that never forgets.
- Set up: Upload session summaries, NPC bios, locations, quest logs, item lists, and rules. Add your homebrew docs and maps.
- Ask: "Summarize the last three sessions," "List unresolved plot hooks by region," "Propose three twists that fit existing lore," "Generate an NPC cheat sheet for tonight's session."
- Tip: End each game with a short recap doc. The cleaner your sources, the better the answers.
The fusion sous chef
Turn static recipes into an idea engine. With enough recipes and pantry lists, NotebookLM can suggest mashups, substitutes, and menu plans that match your style and dietary needs.
- Set up: Upload your favorite recipes, technique notes, kitchen inventories, and dietary rules. Organize by cuisine or course.
- Ask: "Use the technique from my French source with the flavor profile from my Japanese notes to make a dessert," "Create a weeknight menu around tofu and mushrooms," "Offer dairy-free swaps for this panna cotta."
- Tip: Tag recipes with methods (roast, confit, sous vide) and constraints (vegan, gluten-free) for better filtering.
A "series bible" manager for writers
Characters, settings, timelines, and rules of your universe-tracked without mental overhead. NotebookLM becomes your continuity safeguard and research assistant for long-form work.
- Set up: Upload drafts, outlines, character sheets, location notes, timelines, and theme statements. Add a style guide for voice and tone.
- Ask: "Summarize character arcs by chapter," "Find timeline conflicts," "List recurring motifs and how they evolve," "Suggest a chapter beat that resolves this subplot without breaking continuity."
- Tip: Keep a single 'canon' timeline doc that you update after each draft pass.
Design a local scavenger hunt or mystery tour
Use local history, maps, and quirky lore to build an interactive experience. NotebookLM can turn your sources into clues, routes, and story beats.
- Set up: Upload PDFs on local history, legends, event flyers, park maps, transit info, and landmark descriptions.
- Ask: "Create a 90-minute scavenger hunt with 8 clues for teens," "Write a date-night mystery tour starting at the library and ending near the river," "Draft riddles based on these three landmarks."
- Tip: Add walking times and accessibility notes so the route fits real-world constraints.
A "what if" episode generator for fan theories
Build a sandbox for alternate storylines that still respect canon. By limiting the model to scripts and wiki entries, you get ideas that stay consistent with the source material.
- Set up: Upload scripts, transcripts, official timelines, wiki pages, and character bios for a specific show or universe.
- Ask: "Write a 'what if' outline where Character A never meets Character B," "Propose three cold opens that fit season 3 tone," "Generate conflicts that honor these canon constraints."
- Tip: Keep a separate doc that defines non-negotiable rules of the universe to avoid drift.
The personalized trivia night generator
Build custom trivia from your team's interests, family history, or a niche topic. Because it pulls from your documents, the questions feel surprisingly fresh.
- Set up: Upload bios, event notes, photo captions, newsletters, or curated articles on the chosen theme.
- Ask: "Generate 20 questions across easy, medium, hard," "Write Jeopardy-style clues from the most obscure details," "Create a lightning round from these two PDFs."
- Tip: Separate answer keys into their own doc for quick hosting.
Make NotebookLM your creative sandbox
NotebookLM isn't just for summaries. It's a place to store your material, ask smarter questions, and build with fewer hallucinations because it stays grounded in your sources.
Pick one project from above, upload 5-10 strong documents, and run three prompts. You'll know in a session whether it fits your workflow.
If you want structured training on practical AI workflows for creatives, browse the latest picks at Complete AI Training.
Your membership also unlocks:
