Project management
Where can I access my version history?
Whenever you pause your writing, Novlr automatically saves a version of your work and syncs it with our servers to ensure your words stay safe. If you ever accidentally delete something or want to go back to something you've written in the past, you can do this by restoring a previous version. To access your versions, open the right-hand sidebar with your section open. Then, navigate to the Version tab, where you will see all currently active and previously created versions for that secFew readersHow do I import an existing project into Novlr?
To import a project, navigate to the Projects page and click on the import button you'll find on the top right of the page. Once clicked, you will see a pop-up modal where you can import from your device, or drag a file to, and then select **Import. ** We support .docx, .odt, .rft. and .scriv file types. You can import your file into an existing project or create a brand new one. ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/f/f/4/0/ff40014d419c4800/d8154f05-65fc-482d-9f09-a1Few readersHow do I export my Novlr project?
You can export your Novlr project from two places; the projects table and from inside the project itself. To export your project from the project table, hover over the entry and look for the three-dot menu. In list view, it will be on the far right. In grid view, it will be in the top right corner. From there, select export and choose your preferences in the pop-up modal. ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/f/b/9/e/fb9e2e8857b82800/197e1520-310d-448f-a8b4-4bcdd3_1j8saqr.pngFew readersHow do I add a new section?
To create a new section, click the + icon at the top of the menu, which will create a new section at the end of the list. To nest a section under the one above it, you can click on the three-dot menu that appears when you hover over a section title and select Add sub-section to created a nested section. ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/Few readersCan I archive and delete projects with a free Novlr account?
Yes, you can archive and delete projects with a free account. On a Novlr Free plan, you can only create two projects. If you have downgraded your account from a paid plan and have more than two projects, you can choose two projects that will remain actively editable while the rest will be safely archived. If you'd like to make more room for new projects, you can export your projects from the archive to back them up, and then permanently delete them from your Novlr archive.Few readersHow do I split a section?
To split a section, simply highlight where you would like to split it and click on the split button in the formatting toolbar. | This function will create a new section at the point of the highlighted text. All text below the highlighted text will be added to the new section.Few readersHow do I create a nested section?
Nested sections act like heading in Novlr. The first level will export with H1 formatting, the second level of nesting as H2, the third level as H3, etch. Novlr supports up to five levels of nested sections. To create a nested section, click on the three-dot menu icon that appears when you over over a section title in the menu. There, you will find the option to "+ Add nested" which will create a nested section under the original section you selected. You can also create new primary sections aFew readersWhy am I being asked to pick a live project?
If you're being asked to pick a live project, it means you've been moved from Novlr Studio or Novlr Starter to a Novlr Free plan and are logging in for the first time since you downgraded. This happens if: you've cancelled your Novlr Studio or Starter subscription; a payment for your Novlr Studio or Starter subscription has failed after three retries; you've reached the end of your Novlr Studio or Starter trial. | Novlr offers you two projects to write for free on our platform, forever,Few readersHow do I delete a section?
You can remove a section from your project by archiving it. In order to permanently delete a section, you must first add it to the archive; then you can permanently delete it from there. To permanently delete a section from the archive: Click the archive icon at the top of the section menu. Find which section in the archive you would like to delete. Hover over the section name and click on the three-dot menu that appears. Select Delete from the menu. You will be asked tFew readersHow do I archive a section?
You can archive a section from the section menu. To archive: click the three-dot menu on the section you want to archive Click "Archive" Your section will move to the archive that you can access through the icon at the top of the section menu. You can also restore an archived section at any time or delete it permanently.Few readers
Writing and editing
Can I use Novlr offline?
How to use the free Novlr novel writing software tool offlineFeaturedDoes Novlr have any AI integrated?
At Novlr we respect and value the privacy of our users. We are dedicated to maintaining the confidentiality of your work. | No part of your work will be shared without your explicit permission. We do not have AI built into our platform, meaning your work remains exclusively accessible and shareable by you, effectively keeping it safe from any AI scraping. While we have sharing options in place, these are optional and completely controlled by the individual writer. You can choose to use our bacFew readersDoes Novlr have a proofreader or a spell checker?
| Yes, Novlr has a grammar check and proofreader! You can access the grammar check and proofreader from the flow widget by clicking on its icon. It gives basic spelling and grammar suggestions. Once you have accepted changes, you will need to rerun the check to make further changes and suggestions.Few readersWhat is the flow widget?
The flow widget is a productivity widget that you can either move around your writing space or pin to the bottom of your screen. It's got lots of great features! You can set habits and goals and pin or unpin them from the widget to keep them visible or work distraction free. You can quickly check your analytics and track your favourite stats by pinning them. You'll findFew readersWhat is focus mode?
Focus mode is designed to give you a beautiful, distraction-free writing space to help you concentrate on the task at hand; the craft of writing. With Focus Mode, the toolbars and header fade away as soon as you start typing. When you stop typing, they reappear again. It’s an immersive experience that lets you lose yourself in your words without being distracted by anything else. To turn on focus mode, just click on the icon at the top right of your writing screen. As you type, everything willFew readersHow do I change the title of my project?
You can change the name of your project at any point by following these steps: Open your project from the project list or grid on the Projects page Once opened, click on the Overview tab at the top of your manuscript, which will take you to your project overview From there, you can click on the title and edit it directly.Few readersCan I add comments to my work?
If you need to make a comment or leave yourself a reminder about something in your writing, Novlr makes it easy for you to add comments. To add a comment to your work, highlight the word(s) you want to comment on and click the icon in the formatting toolbar that appears. You’ll then be able to add text. Once the comment has been created, it will open the right-hand sidebar of the writFew readers
Settings
Can I change the font in Novlr?
Novlr offers three preset font types and multiple size options. Our default font is a serif font, but you can also choose from a sans-serif and a monospace font, | We use Merriweather as our default typeset as it was designed to be highly readable on screens — essential for a web app like ours. We've chosen our font families because they contain a full set of weights and styles with matching italics to make formatting easy. They also have diverse character sets, making them usable across manyFew readersWhat keyboard or markdown shortcuts does Novlr support?
Novlr supports several markdown shortcuts used in most modern word processors and online writing apps. Below is a full list of supported shortcuts for symbols and formatting: | copy | Control + C | Cmd + C | | cut | Control + X | Cmd + X | | paste | Control + V | Cmd + V | | paste without formatting | Control + Shift + V | Cmd + Shift + V | | undo | Control + Z | Cmd + Z | | redo | Control + Shift + Z | Cmd + Shift + Z | | add a line break | Shift + Enter or Control + Enter | Shift + Enter orFew readers
Goals and habits
What are writing streaks?
| Writing streaks are a fantastic way to create habits. Creating a writing habit helps you increase your productivity, set aside time to get words on the page, and become the best writer you can be. By combining streaks with the ability to set your own writing goals, Novlr has created the perfect setup for building a writing habit. You can achieve a writing streak by hitting the targets you've set in your habit tracker. Your streak time resets at midnight wherever you are, based on the habit aFew readersHow do I set a writing goal?
You can create goals from two places in Novlr so it fits into your writing flow. From the Flow widget Open your writing project. Click the goals icon in the Flow widget at the bottom of the screen. Set your goal in the popup by clicking on the settings icon. You can also pin a goal to the flow widget to track your progress while you write. From the Goals aFew readers
Is there a Novlr phone app? (legacy)
Novlr is a free writing tool available on desktop, tablet and mobile - it can be used anywhere, on any device, online and offline.FeaturedCan I plot my novel in Novlr? (legacy)
You can create a plot outline using Novlr's planning page, which you can access from the manuscript menu. To create a plot outline, simply create a chapter using the Add section button in the card view. You can click and drag all the created sections to reorder them, add a synopsis to describe what the card is for, and drag and drop onto a card to nest a section. || EverythPopularHow do I set a writing goal? (legacy)
Writing goals are a great way to stay motivated and track your progress. In Novlr, you can set a daily or monthly writing goal for how many words you want to write. Once you’ve started writing, Novlr will keep track of your weekly streak so you can track your progress. To set a goal: Go to your Dashboard and open **Writing Studio **in the menu on the left-hand side of your screen. Scroll down to the Goals section On either the daily or monthly card, after Today I'll write, tyPopularI've accidentally deleted my words! How do I get them back? (legacy)
Writing is a delicate process, and it can be devastating to lose your words. Whether it’s through accidental deletion, regretting a purposeful deletion, or an unexpected device error, losing your words is still a terrifying prospect. | But there’s no need to worry! Novlr automatically saves versions of your chapters and uploads them to our servers. These saves are also shown as versions that you can access, view, and load from the Novlr desktop app at any time. In the top left-hand corner oPopularWhere can I access my version history? (legacy)
Whenever you pause your writing, Novlr automatically saves a version of your work and syncs it with our servers to ensure your words stay safe. If you ever accidentally delete something or want to go back to something you've written in the past, you can do this by restoring a previous version. To access your versions, click on the time stamp or tick icon in the top lPopularCan I add comments and notes to my work? (legacy)
If you need to make a note or leave yourself a reminder about something in your writing, Novlr makes it easy for you to add comments and notes. To add a comment to your work, highlight the word(s) you want to comment on and click the speech bubble in the formatting toolbar that appears. You’ll then be able to add text. By clicking on the comment bubble in the top right of your writing screen (it looks like a speech bubble), you'll be able to see where in the text you have left a comment, and sPopularWhat keyboard or markdown shortcuts does Novlr support? (legacy)
Novlr supports several markdown shortcuts used in most modern word processors and online writing apps. Below is a full list of supported shortcuts for symbols and formatting: Command Windows/Linux MacOS copy Control + C Cmd + C cut Control + X Cmd + X paste Control + V Cmd + V paste without formatting Control + Shift + V Cmd + Shift + V undo Control + Z Cmd + Z redo Control + Shift + Z Cmd + Shift + Z add a line break Shift +Some readersWhat are writing streaks? (legacy)
| Writing streaks are a fantastic way to create habits. Creating a writing habit helps you increase your productivity, set aside time to get words on the page, and become the best writer you can be. By combining streaks with the ability to set your own writing goals, Novlr has created the perfect setup for building a writing habit. You can achieve a writing streak simply by writing something every week. As soon as you write, Novlr records this and automatically adds this to your streak. YourSome readersWhat are integrated courses?
Courses that are tagged as "Integrated" in the Academy are courses that have an in-built writer so you can write as you learn. When you create a new course that is integrated, it will open a new course-specific project with new pages that correspond to the lesson you are on. You'll be able to easily navigate forward and backward through your notes to make reference to things you've learned in a previous lesson.  popularised the task of writing 50,000 words (the average length of the first draft of a novel) in the month of November, and writers the world over continue to band together to collectively work toward their goals in that month. While the official organisation that ran NaNoWriMo is no more, we've created a November Challenge goal that will allow you participate in the shared writing endeavour. IFew readersWhat is Focus Mode? (legacy)
Focus mode is designed to give you a beautiful, distraction-free writing space to help you concentrate on your writing. With Focus mode, the toolbars and header fade away as soon as you start typing. When you stop typing, they reappear again. It lets you immerse yourself in your words without being distracted by anything else. You don't need to do anything for focus mode other than start typing. The toolbars and header will automatically disappear. Use the full-screen toggle at the top of youFew readers