Core Concepts & Glossary
The handful of terms — projects, articles, materials, inspirations, memory, star power, and more — and how they fit together.
Last updated: September 12, 2026
When you first open Muses you'll meet a few names — projects, articles, materials, inspirations, memory, star power, plans, and work modes. None of them are complicated. This page puts them in one place so the rest of the docs make sense.
How it fits together in one minute
- A project is a folder for related articles. Creating a project from the home page also creates its first blank article; add further articles inside that project.
- Folders help you sort articles and materials when you have a lot of them.
- Materials, inspirations, and memory are what you give the AI to work from — your sources, your saved ideas, and the things it should remember about you and your piece.
- Star power is the credit each AI action spends. Your plan (Free, Plus, Pro, Ultra) decides how much you get and which AI models you can use.
- You reach the AI through three entry points — Tab completion, the AI chat, and work modes — covered at the bottom of this page.
The model choices are Default and Prime, with availability depending on your plan. Star power includes a monthly allowance and extra credit. Use mind maps to organize ideas and project import to bring in existing documents.
Glossary
| Term | What it is | What it does for you | Where you use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | A container for related articles | Keeps one piece of work together | Home / Projects |
| Article | A single document you write | The thing you actually draft and export | Editor |
| Folder | A way to group articles or materials | Keeps a large workspace tidy | Home / Projects / Materials |
| Materials | Sources you collect — files, web links, images, mind maps | Gives the AI facts and references to draw on | Materials library |
| Inspiration | Short ideas and snippets you save (each up to 2,000 characters; you can star favorites) | Catches a thought now so you can use it later | Inspiration library |
| Memory | Notes the AI keeps, scoped to your account, a project, or one article (each up to 2,000 characters) | Lets the AI remember your preferences and facts so you don't repeat yourself | Memory manager |
| Star power | The credit an AI action spends | Powers chat, rewrites, search, and image generation | Balance & account pages |
| Plan | Your membership tier: Free, Plus, Pro, Ultra | Sets your monthly star power and which models you can pick | Subscription page |
| Work mode | A preset that points the AI at one writing stage | Gets you a better result for that specific task | AI chat |
The three AI entry points, at a glance
You'll use these throughout Muses. Here's just enough to tell them apart:
- Tab completion — press
Tabin the editor and the AI continues your text in place. Best for keeping your flow while drafting. See Drafting Your First Draft. - AI chat — a conversation panel beside your draft, for asking the AI to outline, expand, or rewrite. See Using the AI Chat.
- Work modes — six presets covering different stages of writing (brainstorming, researching sources, outlining, reviewing, proofreading, and refreshing memory). Pick one in the chat when you want the AI focused on that stage. See Work Modes.
Not sure which to reach for? See Which AI to Use.
Turn your first idea into an article
Where to go next
- Getting Started — put these pieces together and make your first finished piece.