Skip to main content
A project holds every file of one story, so you can follow all of them together. Use one for a novel, a screenplay, an essay collection, or any multi-part work. Split it into sections, set one word goal across every file, and share or publish it when you’re ready.
Where to find it: Left sidebar → Writing → Projects tab Open in 4TW ↗

​
Your project views

Just like Files, Projects has four views: All, Favorites, Shared, and Archive.

​
Creating a project

Click the New Project tile at the start of your list, or New project on Writing Home. Your project starts as New Project. Double-click the name to give it a title.

​
The project card

Each card shows the project’s cover, its publish status (Private, Unlisted, or Public), how many files and sections it has, its tags, and its words and time. Click the goal icon to Add goal.
Drag a file onto a project card to drop it straight into that project.

​
Inside a project

Open a project to see its details page. Click the name or description at the top to edit them, and click Edit tags to label the project. Stat cards show its total Words, Time, Files, and Sections.

​
Sections and files

Files can sit at the top level of a project or inside sections. Use sections for chapters, acts, or parts.
  1. Add a section. Click the New section tile, then click its name to rename it.
  2. Add files. Click the New File tile at the top level or inside any section. Or open Section options and choose New file.
  3. Arrange everything. Drag files between sections or to the top level. Drag a section by its handle to reorder it, or use Move up and Move down in Section options.
A project holds sections, and sections hold files. Sections don’t go inside other sections. To delete a section, open Section options and choose Delete section. You decide whether its files move out of the section or go to the archive with it.
Tidy up a long project with Expand all sections and Collapse all sections. The View options menu can also hide stats or switch between grid and list.

​
The project panel

The panel on the right of a project’s page shows:
  • Project goal. Click Set a goal to give the whole project a word target. See Writing Goals.
  • Recent activity. What’s happened in this project lately.
  • Words per section. How your words spread across sections.
  • Publishing. Your publish status, with Continue setup or Manage publishing.
  • Collaborators. Who you share the project with. Click Invite to add friends.

​
Project settings

Open ⋯ on a project’s card, or Settings on its details page, for:
  • Rename, tags, and favorites. Rename, Add tag, and Add to favorites.
  • Share project. Give friends access to every file inside. See Sharing & Collaboration.
  • Publish Settings. See Publishing your project.
  • Change Cover. Upload your own image (JPG, PNG, or WebP, ideally 280 × 400 px) or pick one from the Gallery.
  • Select Color. Give the project a color that shows on its files in your lists.
  • File Icon. Set the default icon for the project’s files. Files already in the project get it too.
  • Export. Download the whole project as a ZIP, organized by its sections and files.
  • Archive. Put the project away without deleting it.

​
Publishing your project

Share your writing with fellow Dust Warriors in the community Read section. Choose Publish Settings and pick who can read it: Your project needs at least 100 words to go Public. For the full walkthrough, see Reading & Publishing.

​
Archiving and deleting

When you archive a project, you decide what happens to its files: keep them (they become unassigned) or archive them with the project. In Projects → Archive:
  • Restore. Bring a project back, along with the files archived with it, or just the project on its own.
  • Permanently delete. Remove a project for good. You decide whether to keep its files as unassigned or delete them too.
Permanently deleting a project can’t be undone. If you choose to delete its files too, they’re gone for good.

​
Finding your projects

Search with Search for a project, and use # for tags, like #fantasy. Sorting works just like Files. Open Filters to narrow down by Tags, Category, Goal, Phase (Idea, Work in progress, Draft), or Visibility (Private, Unlisted, Public). Choose Select projects from the ⋮ options menu to favorite, tag, or archive several at once.

​
Frequently Asked Questions

Open Publish Settings and pick a phase badge in the Access & Phase step. Phases are labels for you and your readers. They don’t affect gameplay.
No. A project holds sections, and sections hold files. For more structure, split your files into pages.
Yes. Drag it in the file tree or onto a project card, or choose Assign to project from the file’s ⋯ menu.
That depends on your plan. See Plans & Pricing.
Only files inside the project count toward its goal. Open the project and check that the file you’re writing in is there.
If a friend shared the project with you, only they can change its settings, cover, or publish status.
Your writing, organized

Files

Create, find, filter, archive, and export your files.

Writing Goals

Set word targets with deadlines for projects and files.

Reading & Publishing

Publish your project and share your writing with the world.