Articles on: Writing

Who can see what on shared projects?

When you share a project, each person's role decides what they can see and do. Co-authors and Editors see every comment on the project. Beta Readers only see their own comments and threads they're mentioned in. Feedback notes are only visible to the person who wrote them and the project's Co-authors after they've been submitted.

The three roles

Co-author: writes the project with you and shares ownership of it. Co-authors have full control of the project.
Editor: works on your manuscript with you but doesn't own it. Editors can write in the manuscript and comment, but can't change the project's settings or delete, move, and archive sections.
Beta Reader: reads your project and gives feedback through comments and feedback notes. Beta Readers can't change your writing.

Who can see what

	Co-authors	Editors	Beta Readers
The manuscript	Yes	Yes	Yes
Comment threads	All of them	All of them	Only threads they started or were @mentioned in
Comments marked Just for me	Only their own	Only their own	Only their own
Feedback notes	All of them	Only their own	Only their own
Notes (research, characters, planning)	Other Co-authors' notes, read-only	No	No

What each role can do

	Co-authors	Editors	Beta Readers
Write and edit in the manuscript	Yes	Yes	No
Add and reply to comments	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leave feedback notes	No (they read them)	Yes	Yes
Create, rename, reorder or split sections	Yes	No	No
Archive or delete sections	Yes	No	No
Change the title, cover, project type or settings	Yes	No	No
Restore an earlier version	Yes	No	No
Export the project	Yes	No	No
Invite people and manage share links	Yes	No	No
Remove Editors and Beta Readers	Yes	No	No
Leave the project	Yes	Yes	Yes
Counts toward your plan's project limit	Yes	No	No

Editors' changes appear live, so everyone working on the project sees them as they're typed. Projects you're an Editor on don't count toward your own writing analytics, goals, or streaks.

What is a feedback note?

A feedback note is general feedback about the whole project. A comment is attached to a specific word or passage. Use feedback notes for big-picture thoughts you feel are important for the author to know.

Who sees it: only the person who wrote it and the project's Co-authors. Editors and other Beta Readers can't see it.
Submit it to send it: saving a feedback note keeps it as your draft. The authors only see it once you press Submit.
Who can write them: Editors and Beta Readers.

Which role should I choose?

If you want to…	Invite them as
Write the book together and share ownership	Co-author
Have an editor work directly in your manuscript	Editor
Get independent feedback from beta readers or critique partners	Beta Reader
Let someone read without commenting	A reading link

Beta Readers can't see each other's feedback, so you can invite several and each starts with a blank slate. Editors can see each other's comments.

Notifications

You'll get an email when someone comments on your project or replies to your comment. To change how often, go to Preferences › Notifications and choose Every comment, Daily or Never.

Where to find shared projects

Projects other people share with you appear under Shared with me on your Desk and on the Projects page. Pending invitations are under Invitations in your account settings.

Updated on: 12/10/2026

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