Focus Mode and Writing Tools: A Step-by-Step Guide
A tour of the writing environment itself: the editor, The Pad, Chapter Variants, connected resources, and the analysis tools sitting right alongside your manuscript.
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1
Open the editor
Your manuscript is front and centre. Click Focus Mode to dismiss sidebars and distractions and get down to writing.
Screenshot needed: The editor in Focus Mode with sidebars hidden -
2
Use The Pad
The Pad, on the left, holds your chapter and scene notes alongside your manuscript, organised by chapter.
Screenshot needed: The Pad open beside the manuscript -
3
Navigate your chapters
Quickly move between chapters from the left-hand sidebar.
Screenshot needed: The chapter navigation list in the sidebar -
4
Create a Chapter Variant
Create a new Chapter Variant to experiment with ideas freely, without ever losing your original work.
Screenshot needed: Creating a new Chapter Variant -
5
Connect your resources
Bottom left, above the word counter, add structured character sheets, locations, lore, magic, and relationships, with images attached for quick reference.
Screenshot needed: The connected resources panel with a character sheet -
6
Open Story Plotter
Story Plotter also lives on the left, for planning your story's structure.
Screenshot needed: The Story Plotter link in the left-hand sidebar -
7
Run the analysis tools
On the right, Proofreader, AI Editor, and Prose Analysis give you grammar, style, and structural feedback, including filter words, weak intensifiers, overused adverbs, and repetition.
Screenshot needed: The analysis tools panel on the right
Want to see it in motion?
Watch the full walkthrough video on the Getting Started help page.