Once you understand your library structure, adding and arranging content becomes second nature. Almost everything you create in Author's Forge starts the same way: with a right-click in the sidebar. The app shows you only the options that make sense for whatever you've clicked on, so you're never hunting through menus full of choices that don't apply.
Adding New Content
Right-click anywhere in the sidebar to see what you can create. The options change depending on what you click:
- On a Bookshelf: Create series or notes
- On a Series: Add books or import from file
- On a Book: Add chapters
- On Front Matter or Back Matter folders: Add title pages, dedications, epilogues, and more
- On the Notes folder: Create notes for research and planning
This context-aware approach is worth getting used to early. If you're ever unsure how to add something, the answer is almost always "right-click the thing it belongs inside." Want a new chapter? Right-click the book. Want a character sheet? Right-click the bookshelf or its Notes folder.
Importing Existing Work
If you already have a manuscript started elsewhere, you don't have to retype it. Right-click a Series and choose to import from a file. This is the fastest way to move a work in progress into Author's Forge so you can take advantage of its organization and export tools.
Reordering Content
Stories rarely come out in a straight line. Chapters get shuffled, scenes move, and front matter gets rearranged right up until publication. You can reorder chapters and other content by dragging and dropping them in the sidebar. If you prefer the keyboard or a more deliberate approach, you can also right-click and select "Move Up" or "Move Down."
The order you see in the sidebar is the order your readers will experience—it's exactly how your chapters and matter will appear when you export your book.
Renaming and Deleting
Right-click any item to rename or delete it. Renaming is instant and updates everywhere. Deletions will ask for confirmation—we want to make sure you don't lose work accidentally.
Because your writing is stored as plain files on your own computer, deleting something inside the app removes it from your library, so treat deletions with the same care you would any file on your machine. If you tend to experiment, consider keeping a "Cut Scenes" or "Archive" note where you can paste material you might want back later.
A Suggested Workflow
A common way to start a new project: create a bookshelf for it, add a series, add your first book, and then add a handful of chapters as placeholders. You don't need to know your whole structure up front—add chapters as you go, and reorder them whenever the story demands it.