Books

A book holds a set of chapters, and it is what you publish: a reader in the library reads a book, not a project. Books let you write a book series in one project, with one cast, one map and one calendar behind every volume.

Do I need the Books module for a single novel? #

No. Every project has a book from the moment it is created. While the Books module is off, that single book carries the project's name and every chapter you write belongs to it. The chapter list, the editor and the manuscript work the same either way.

Can I write a book series in one project? #

Yes. Switch on the Books module in Settings → Modules. Books then appears in the sidebar with a list of the books in the project, and Create Book adds a new one. A book selector appears above the chapter list, the Lens reports, the plotlines list and the publication screen, so each of them works on the book you choose.

Books needs the Chapters module.

What a book carries #

A name and a description. The name is what the chapter list and the book selectors show.
A cover. It appears on the book's page and, once published, as the story's poster in the library.
Its own publication settings — Book title, Description, Age Category, Genre, Languages and Creators. Edit them on the book's own page, under Public Data. Two books in one project can be published separately, under different titles, with different ratings.
Its own chapter numbering. Chapter 1 of the second book is Chapter 1, not Chapter 24.

Adding chapters to a book #

A chapter belongs to the book it was created in. Pick the book in the selector above the chapter list, or open the book, and create the chapter there.

Can I move a chapter to another book? #

No. Chapters cannot be moved between books, so choose the book before you write the chapter.

What happens to chapters when I delete a book? #

They go to the archive with it, along with the book's plotlines. They are not listed separately there: restoring the book brings them all back together. Deleting the book again from the archive removes it and its chapters for good. Otherwise the archive keeps them for thirty days.

Turning Books off again #

Switching the module off hides Books and shows only the chapters of the first book. Your other books and their chapters are kept exactly as they were and come back when you switch the module on again; nothing is deleted. When a project has more than one book, the app asks you to confirm and names the book that stays visible, so hidden chapters are not mistaken for lost ones.

Tips #

Keep a series in one project so every book shares the same characters, places and timeline.
Set each book's publication settings before you publish it; the title readers see comes from there, not from the project name.
Check the book selector before you create a chapter, since a chapter cannot change books later.
Run Lens reports book by book to check each volume's continuity on its own.

Chapters — write and organise the chapters inside a book.
Publishing — publish each book as its own story.
Lens — check one book at a time for continuity errors.
Modules — switch Books and other modules on and off.
Deleting and restoring — get a deleted book back.