How to Get The Most Value Out of Storytell

Some people use Storytell and feel like superheroes. Others try it once and feel stuck. Why does it work so well for some but not others?

Storytell helps you think more clearly, organize information, and work faster with generative AI. But like any tool, it takes a little time to get used to.

That’s why we designed a clear product progression—to make it easier for you to find what’s useful, when you need it. Whether you're just starting or ready to go deeper, this guide will walk you through the steps most users take to get real value from Storytell.

Step 1: Try the basics

Start by exploring the core features. Most new users:

• Upload a file to see how Storytell interprets it
• Submit a prompt from the prompt page
• Install the Chrome Extension to summarize a webpage
• Use built-in tools like “Explain it like I’m five” or “Get More Detail on This”

These early actions help you test how Storytell handles content, whether you're simplifying, summarizing, or exploring. It’s a fast, low-pressure way to start building familiarity. 

Behind the scenes, we use these early signals to guide support and help you learn as you go.

Step 2: Create a Collection

Once you create a Collection, you shift from trying things out to getting organized. At this point, many users:

• Group files for a specific project or topic
  
• Upload several related documents
  
• Name the Collection based on what they’re working on
  

Collections give you a structured space where Storytell can help you work across everything at once. Instead of juggling separate tabs or folders, you’re building a centralized home for your research, writing, or planning.

Step 3: Interact with your content

As you continue, you start prompting Storytell in more targeted ways; not just to generate new content, but to reason through what you’ve already uploaded. You might:

• Ask follow-up questions about a file
• Reference two or more documents in a single prompt
• Return to earlier threads to go deeper

This is when Storytell becomes more than a content generator—it becomes a thinking companion. It helps you make connections, clarify ideas, and deepen your understanding.

Step 4: Personalize how you use Storytell

Over time, you begin to shape the product around how you work best. You might:

• Save prompts that gave you great results to your Prompt Library
• Adjust Knowledge Preferences to control what data Storytell uses
• Use the Dynamic LLM Router to switch models based on your task
• Reference specific files or Collections directly in prompts using the @mention feature to improve clarity

These actions help you get faster, more accurate answers. You’re not just using the product, you’re optimizing it to think the way you think.

Step 5: Take your work outside Storytell

Eventually, you start applying what you’ve created to real-world work. You might:

• Copy a response into a doc, slide deck, or draft
• Download a CSV after summarizing structured data
• Share a thread with a colleague for feedback

At this stage, Storytell isn’t just a place to explore ideas but it’s helping you finish projects and communicate clearly with others.

Step 6: Collaborate

Once you feel confident, you may start inviting others in. You might:

• Share a Collection with your team
• Invite someone to join a workspace or view your threads
• Use Storytell during meetings or live sessions

When you collaborate in Storytell, you create a shared space for aligned thinking, faster reviews, and better group decision-making. That’s when Storytell becomes a core part of your team’s workflow, not just your own.

Why it matters

We don’t expect anyone to become an expert on day one. Storytell has a lot to offer but it only becomes powerful when you know how to use it.

That’s why we built this progression. It’s not a funnel or a checklist. It’s a tool to make your experience smoother and to help you move from trying the product to actually getting things done with it.

The more familiar you become, the more Storytell supports your thinking, your writing, your planning—your work.

So whether you're just uploading your first file or starting to share work with a team: You're on the right path. And we’re here to help you every step of the way.