Writing
Workbench
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The field guide

Begin with one sentence.

You don’t need the whole story figured out. Start small, then give it room to grow.

Getting started

  1. Try the sample story. Open the built-in sample and the Help page’s quick start tutorial. The sample includes deliberate continuity mistakes, so you can learn by fixing them. The tutorial checks your progress.
  2. Start your own seed. Begin a new story and write its one-sentence seed. Expand it into setup, three disasters and an ending, then build out synopses and character charts.
  3. Put scenes on the board. Arrange cards in the five part-columns. Set cast, point of view, location and time; add beats and record their state changes.
  4. Follow the timeline. Step through beats and watch the stage. Check who is present, how their meters change and who holds the important items.
  5. Write, then check. Draft in Write, use prose rails as you revise, and visit Checks for continuity. Fix issues or dismiss intentional choices. Track setups and payoffs in Threads.
The Seed page with the sample story’s one-sentence seed, five-part paragraph and guided Snowflake Method progress.
A sentence becomes a structure on the Seed page.

Files & backups

Use File → Save as… to choose where your story lives. Stories are plain JSON .storystate files. Autosave keeps work on disk; Ctrl+S saves immediately.

Each save keeps a rotating backup in a .storystate-backups folder beside the story. Set how many backups to retain in Settings → Appearance. The top bar shows whether your latest changes are saved.

Use File → Open or Ctrl+O to reopen a story. You can copy and back up your files yourself; no account or cloud service is required.

Bring a draft. Take a manuscript.

File → Import manuscript accepts Markdown, plain text and Fountain. It splits the manuscript into scenes at headings, scene breaks or screenplay scene headings. Script imports create characters and locations automatically.

Import

  • Markdown
  • Plain text
  • Fountain screenplay

Export

  • Markdown
  • Plain text
  • Fountain
  • HTML manuscript
  • Full outline

Export from File → Export or Settings → Project. The outline includes your seed, parts, scenes and beats without the prose. The HTML manuscript opens in a browser or word processor.

Connect an AI, if you want one.

Open Settings → AI, choose a provider, fill in the requested fields and press Test connection. The rest of the app works without AI.

Claude Code or Codex

Install the chosen CLI and log in to it first. Select it in AI settings. Writing Workbench uses that existing login; no API key is needed or stored by the app.

Ollama or LM Studio

Run your local model service, then select the matching provider and configure its endpoint and model in AI settings. Keep the local service running while you use it. Local models can work fully offline.

Anthropic, OpenAI, Venice AI or OpenRouter

Select the provider and enter your own API key and model. Keys are stored in the OS credential store. Your chosen provider handles requests when you invoke AI.

A custom endpoint

Choose the OpenAI-compatible option and supply the endpoint, model and credentials it requires.

Turn off Send full scene text to send summaries and beats without your prose. Review each proposal before accepting it. Ctrl+Z can undo an accepted change.

If the connection test fails, check that the CLI is installed and logged in, the API key is correct, or your local model service is running.

A little help, right where you are.

Press F1 for help about the current page. The built-in manual is searchable, includes a self-checking quick start, and links feature mentions directly to the corresponding tools.

F1
Help for the current page
Ctrl+S / Ctrl+O
Save / open a story
Ctrl+Z
Undo
Ctrl+Y / Ctrl+Shift+Z
Redo
F11
Toggle Write focus mode
Space
Play or pause the timeline
← / →
Previous / next beat
Home / End
Start / end of the story
Ctrl + scroll
Zoom the timeline

Timeline shortcuts apply when you are not typing in a text box. Inside a text box, undo and redo apply to text first.

The built-in Help page with a searchable topic list and self-checking quick start tutorial for the sample story.
The in-app manual stays close to the work.

Windows, Linux & Steam Deck

Writing Workbench is a native desktop app for Windows and Linux, including Steam Deck. It is designed around a mouse and keyboard; a keyboard is useful for sustained writing on Deck. Text entry uses the system keyboard.

Steam Deck compatibility certification has not been announced. The app works offline, and the Steam build continues working when Steam is not running. Writing achievements are kept locally and sync to Steam on Steam builds.