Importing Work
Bring your existing manuscripts into StorytellerOS. Import from Word documents, Scrivener projects, or plain text files.
Why Import?
If you have existing manuscripts written elsewhere, you can import them into StorytellerOS to:
- Manage all your books in one place
- Track characters and story details
- Use StorytellerOS features for editing and revision
- Connect to your sales and marketing data
Supported Formats
| Format | Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | .docx | Recommended, preserves formatting |
| Word (Legacy) | .doc | Older format, may lose some formatting |
| Plain Text | .txt | No formatting preserved |
| Rich Text | .rtf | Basic formatting preserved |
How to Import
- Go to Dashboard → Import
- Click + Import Manuscript
- Drag and drop your file or click to browse
- Wait for processing
- Review the import preview
- Configure import options
- Click Import
Import Options
Book Details
- Title — Detected from document or enter manually
- Pen Name — Which author identity
- Series — Optionally assign to a series
- Status — Drafting, Editing, Published, etc.
Chapter Detection
StorytellerOS tries to detect chapters automatically:
- By heading style — Looks for Heading 1 or Heading 2
- By text pattern — "Chapter 1", "Chapter One", etc.
- Manual markers — You can specify a marker
- No detection — Import as single chapter
Tip
For best results, format your document with Heading styles for chapter titles before importing.
Scene Detection
Optionally detect scenes within chapters:
- By scene break markers — ### or *** or blank lines
- No detection — Each chapter as one scene
Import Preview
Before finalizing, review:
- Detected chapters and their titles
- Word count per chapter
- Formatting preview
- Any import warnings
You can adjust chapter breaks in the preview before importing.
After Import
Once imported:
- Review each chapter for formatting issues
- Adjust scene breaks if needed
- Add character entries
- Fill in metadata (blurb, keywords, etc.)
- Link to series if applicable
Note
Import is non-destructive. Your original file is unchanged. You can delete the imported book and re-import if needed.
Importing from Scrivener
Scrivener projects need to be exported first:
- In Scrivener, select File → Compile
- Choose Word (.docx) as the output format
- Compile to create the .docx file
- Import the .docx into StorytellerOS
Importing from Google Docs
- In Google Docs, select File → Download
- Choose Microsoft Word (.docx)
- Import the downloaded file into StorytellerOS
Formatting Considerations
What Imports Well
- Bold and italic text
- Paragraph breaks
- Chapter headings (with heading styles)
- Scene breaks (standard markers)
What May Not Import
- Complex tables
- Images embedded in text
- Headers and footers
- Page breaks (converted to scene breaks)
- Comments and tracked changes
Accept All Changes First
If your document has tracked changes, accept or reject them all before importing. Tracked changes may not import correctly.
Troubleshooting
Chapters Not Detected
- Check that chapter titles use Heading styles
- Try different detection method
- Import as single chapter and split manually
Formatting Lost
- Plain text files have no formatting
- Try importing as .docx instead
- Some special formatting may not be supported
Import Failed
- Check file is not corrupted
- Try a different file format
- File may be too large (check size limits)
Bulk Import
To import multiple books:
- Import each book separately
- One file per book
- Each becomes a separate title
Take Your Time
Import is the first step. Take time after importing to clean up formatting, add character profiles, and fill in metadata. A well- organized import saves time later.
Best Practices
- Prepare your document — Use heading styles for chapters
- Accept tracked changes — Before importing
- Use .docx format — Best formatting preservation
- Review after import — Check each chapter
- Keep original file — As a backup