TL;DR
Open any book card on Books to enter the Storyloft manuscript editor. Use the left Contents / Bookmarks nav, write in the center canvas, and work in right Book Controls (Eddy, Format, Themes, Publish). Switch Creative or Page under View, and use Focus Mode or Dark Mode from the toolbar when you need fewer distractions.
Table of contents
- What the Storyloft manuscript editor is
- What the editor layout includes
- Step-by-step: find your way around
- Tips
- FAQ
- Related help
User summary
The Storyloft manuscript editor is where authors draft, format, and refine their books—with AI help from Eddy, themes, export tools, and editorial review in one workspace. If you are searching for a Storyloft editor overview, you need the map: how to open a manuscript from Books, what the sidebars do, how Creative differs from Page, and where Focus Mode and Book Controls live. This guide orients you before deep dives into formatting, headings, Eddy, and Editorial Review.
What it does
The editor (/manuscripts/[id]/editor) is a three-column writing environment:
- Top bar — editable book title (placeholder Untitled Manuscript) and toolbar actions
- Left sidebar — Navigation with Contents and Bookmarks
- Center — TipTap manuscript canvas
- Right sidebar — Book Controls with tabs Eddy, Format, Themes, and Publish
Toolbar actions can open notes, comments, spell check, versions, collaborators, and—when enabled—World Builder. Focus Mode hides chrome so only the page remains. Dark Mode applies on editor routes for low-light drafting.
Steps
Step 1 — Open a manuscript from Books
In the left app sidebar, click Books. Click a book card (or create one with Add Book). Storyloft opens the manuscript editor for that book.
Step 2 — Orient to title, left nav, and the canvas
At the top, click the title to rename your book. On the left, open Contents to jump between headings, or Bookmarks for saved positions. Type in the center canvas—body placeholder text is Start writing…
Step 3 — Use Book Controls on the right
Open the right sidebar labeled Book Controls (expand it if collapsed). Switch tabs:
- Eddy — AI writing assistant (default)
- Format — text styles, alignment, headings
- Themes — fonts and manuscript theme
- Publish — Editorial Review entry and export cards
Collapse either sidebar with Collapse sidebar / Expand sidebar when you need more canvas width.
Step 4 — Switch between Creative and Page under View
In the toolbar, open the View menu. Under View Mode, choose:
- Creative — fluid drafting layout
- Page — paginated layout with Page size, optional Custom Size, Dimensions / Margin, and Estimated Pages
Step 5 — Enter Focus Mode when you need quiet
Click the toolbar control for Focus Mode (or use Cmd/Ctrl + F as prompted). Storyloft hides the toolbar, sidebars, and most panels. A toast may say Focus Mode Enabled. Click Exit Focus Mode (or toggle the shortcut again) to return.
Step 6 — Toggle Dark Mode and other toolbar tools
Use the toolbar Dark Mode control for editor-only dark styling. From related toolbar icons you can open Notes, Comments, Spell Checker, Book Versions, Add Collaborator, or World Builder (globe) when that feature is available for your account/build.
Tips
- Stay in Creative while drafting; switch to Page when print size and estimated pages matter.
- Keep Eddy open while brainstorming, then move to Format / Themes before export.
- Editorial Review launches from Book Controls → Publish, not from a separate top-level tab.
- Prefer a desktop screen—Storyloft’s editor is designed for a full writing layout.
FAQ
How do I open the Storyloft manuscript editor?
Go to Books and click a book card. New blank books created with Add Book open the editor automatically.
What is Book Controls in Storyloft?
Book Controls is the right sidebar with Eddy, Format, Themes, and Publish—your hub for AI help, styling, themes, review, and export entry points.
What’s the difference between Creative and Page?
Creative is the default continuous writing view. Page shows a paginated preview with page size, margins, and estimated page count—useful before print export or Publish.
How do I turn off Focus Mode?
Click Exit Focus Mode on the floating control, or press Cmd/Ctrl + F again to toggle Focus Mode off.
Where did my sidebars go?
You may be in Focus Mode, or a sidebar may be collapsed—use Expand sidebar on the left or right edge. Editorial Review mode also replaces the normal chrome until you leave it via Edit Mode.
Can I open World Builder from the editor?
Yes, when World Builder is enabled: click the toolbar World Builder (globe) control to open the loreboard for that manuscript.