Quick Start
Writer Studio helps you write a book without losing control of the story. It is a local-first desktop app: your work lives in a normal folder on your disk, and nothing cloud is required to write. AI is optional and off by default — the app is fully useful without it.
First launch
On first launch Writer Studio shows a start screen. From here you can:
- Create a new project — start a fresh book.
- Open an existing project — point at a project folder you already have.
- Recent projects — reopen a project you worked on before.
Project selection happens before the workspace opens. See Projects for the full lifecycle.
Create your first project
Creating a project is a single step. In the create dialog you set:
| Field | What it is |
|---|---|
| Project name | The name shown in the app and used for the folder on disk |
| Book name | The first book inside the project |
| Location | Where the project folder is created — change it to pick another place |
You can also choose a start structure:
- Blank scene (default) — a single writable scene directly under the book.
- Chapter + scene — a first chapter with one scene inside it.
- A structure template — a starting shape pre-built for you: story-structure frameworks (three-act, hero's journey, Save the Cat, and more) or RU genre templates (ЛитРПГ, попаданцы, боярка, романтическое фэнтези). See Structure.
Confirm, and you land directly in a writable first scene — no setup screen. You can change the structure later at any time.
Build your structure
The scene is the only required unit; it holds your text. Chapters, and parts (or acts), are optional containers you add when they help — never forced on you.
To add structure, use the structure tree on the left (the Explorer):
- Right-click an item in the tree.
- Choose New scene, New chapter, or New part / act.
Or use the command palette (see below) and type the action you want, e.g. New scene.
Write
- Click a scene in the tree — it opens in the editor.
- Start typing.
- Your text saves automatically. The save state shows in the status bar.
There is no toolbar above the prose — the writing surface stays calm. Basic formatting and operations come from shortcuts, the Edit menu, and the command palette:
| Action | Mac | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | Cmd+Z |
Ctrl+Z |
| Redo | Cmd+Shift+Z |
Ctrl+Shift+Z |
| Bold | Cmd+B |
Ctrl+B |
| Italic | Cmd+I |
Ctrl+I |
| Find in editor | Cmd+F |
Ctrl+F |
The command palette
Press Cmd+P / Ctrl+P to open it. By default it is quick open — type a scene, chapter, part, or entity name to jump straight to it. Type > to switch to command mode and run any command. Anything you can do is reachable here without the mouse.
Export
When your manuscript is ready, export it to a usable file. Core formats are DOCX, EPUB, and FB2; print-ready PDF and Markdown are best-effort. Export preserves chapter and scene order and uses your book metadata. See Export.
What's next
- Interface — panels, tabs, splits, focus mode, and the command palette.
- Projects — manage local projects and books.
- Settings — editor, typography, theme, and more.
- AI Assistant — the optional assistant, if you choose to enable it.