The Manuscript Editor is where you write your book, one section at a time. It opens inside your project workspace, with your book's structure on the left, the page in the middle, and an optional Notes Panel on the right.
Layout at a glance
Sidebar (left): your workspace. The Manuscript section lists your chapters and other sections; click one to open it. Planning tools and Worldbuilding live here too.
Header: the section's title, its save status, its Type, whether it Counts toward your word count, what beta readers can do with it (Beta), its Status, and a Rename or delete this section button. On smaller screens and phones, these controls sit on their own row under the title.
Toolbar: formatting, export, view and version controls. See Manuscript Editor Toolbar Reference.
Page: where you write. A title page, copyright page or contents page shows a form or a preview here instead.
Notes Panel (right): your outline, notes, worldbuilding and beta feedback for the section you're writing. See Notes Panel Guide.
Word count widget: a floating counter for your words, goals and pace. See Word Count Widget.
Saving
Your work saves automatically a moment after you stop typing, and again if you switch tabs or close the window. There is no save button. The badge next to the section title shows where things stand, for example Synced once everything is saved.
Section type and status
Type tells Writing Crucible what a section is, so it can place it in the right part of your book and give it the right look on the page:
Front matter: Title page, Copyright, Dedication, Epigraph, Contents, Front matter
Story: Prologue, Chapter, Section, Interlude, Epilogue, Part
Back matter: Back matter
A book can have only one Title page, one Contents and one Prologue. Some types also change the page: a title page opens as a form, a copyright page as a template, and a contents page as a list made from your sections, instead of the editor. A dedication or epigraph is centred in italics. See Sections: Chapters, Front Matter and Back Matter.
Counts decides whether the section's words count toward your book's word count. The story counts by default; front and back matter don't. Tick or untick Counts to change that for one section. Your plan's word limit counts every section either way.
Beta decides what beta readers can do with the section: Feedback, Read only or Hidden. The story starts as Feedback; front and back matter start as Hidden.
Status tracks where a section is in your process (for example, Draft). It shows up across your project dashboard and planning tools.
To rename or delete the section, click the Rename or delete this section button (⋯) next to Status. See Sections: Chapters, Front Matter and Back Matter.
AI writing tools
On the Professional plan, with your own AI provider key, you can type / on the page to continue writing (in the story, not in front or back matter), or select text to revise it. See Continue Writing with AI and AI Editing & Revision Tools.
Word limit on the Free plan
The Free plan includes up to 50,000 words. Every section counts toward it, front and back matter included, whether or not Counts is ticked. When you reach the limit, the editor shows a Word limit reached message and stops accepting new text until you upgrade or trim your manuscript. Changes to the title page and copyright page forms that would add words aren't saved either. Nothing you've written is removed.