What is NX-Writer?

NX-Writer is a comprehensive Integrated Creative Environment (ICE) designed for storytellers who need more than just a word processor.

Who is NX-Writer For?

• Novelists & Authors – Craft long-form fiction with chapter organization and tracking
• Screenwriters – Write properly formatted screenplays with beat boards
• Game Designers – Build complex narratives and manage interactive story branches
• TTRPG Game Masters – Organize campaigns, NPCs, and session notes
• World-builders – Track relationships and lore across complex universes

Installation

Pre-built Binaries

Installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available on the official website and stores.

System Requirements

First Launch

When you first open NX-Writer, you'll see the Welcome Screen with options to:

• Create New Project – Start fresh with a blank project
• Open Project – Browse to an existing project folder or portable .nxs file
• Recent Projects – Quick access to your recent work
• Example Projects – Try a pre-built Book (Dracula) or Script (Macbeth) example

Creating Your First Project

Let's walk through creating a simple story project from scratch.

Manuscript Editor

The heart of NX-Writer is its distraction-free rich text editor, powered by TipTap.

Rich Text Formatting

Zen Mode

Press Ctrl+Shift+Z or go to View → Zen Mode to enter full-screen distraction-free writing:

• Hides the Ribbon and sidebars
• Only shows the editor
• Press Ctrl+Shift+Z again to exit

Focus Mode

Toggle Focus Mode from the editor toolbar to fade all paragraphs except the one you're currently writing. Focus Mode automatically disables when you exit Zen Mode.

Cast (Characters)

Build a comprehensive database of your characters with detailed profiles and visual elements.

Creating a Character

1. Open the Cast tab
2. Click "New Character"
3. Fill in the profile:

Mentioned In Tracking

NX-Writer automatically tracks where you reference each character. Type a character's name in a chapter, then open their Cast entry to see the "Mentioned In" section listing all chapters.

Atlas (Locations)

Map out your world with comprehensive location entries.

Creating a Location

1. Open the Atlas tab
2. Click "New Location"
3. Fill in the details:

Location Relationships

• Part of – Link to parent location
• Connected to – Neighboring locations
• Inhabitants – Link to Cast entries

Timeline

Master your story's chronology with a powerful drag-and-drop timeline system.

Use Cases

• Tracking story chronology
• Managing flashbacks and flash-forwards
• Coordinating multiple character storylines
• Planning story pacing

Creating Events

1. Open Tools → Timeline
2. Click "Add Event"
3. Set event title, date/time, and optionally link to a chapter
4. Drag events horizontally to adjust timing

Boards (Infinite Canvas)

An infinite canvas for brainstorming, like Miro or Obsidian Canvas.

Use Cases

• Brainstorming plot ideas
• Character relationship maps
• Scene planning
• Research organization

Using Boards

1. Open Tools → Boards
2. Double-click to create a sticky note
3. Drag notes around freely
4. Hold Shift and drag between notes to draw arrows
5. Right-click for color options

Navigation

• Click and drag background to pan
• Scroll to zoom
• Ctrl+0 to reset view

Matrix

A high-level outlining tool for tracking multiple plot threads.

Use Cases

• Tracking multiple plot threads
• Ensemble cast management
• Act/chapter structure planning

Setting Up a Matrix

1. Open Tools → Matrix
2. Define rows (e.g., character names or plot threads)
3. Define columns (e.g., chapter numbers or acts)
4. Fill in cells with plot beats
5. Color-code by importance or theme

Corkboard

Visualize your story structure with an intuitive index card interface.

What is Corkboard View?

The Corkboard provides a visual overview of your chapters (Manuscript) or scenes (Script) as index cards. Perfect for big-picture story planning and reorganization.

Key Features

• Index Card Visualization – Each chapter/scene displayed as a card with title and synopsis
• Drag-and-Drop Reordering – Easily rearrange your story structure by moving cards
• Synced with Beat Board – Changes in Corkboard reflect in your main manuscript/script
• Unified Access – Available from the top toolbar in both Script and Manuscript modes

Using Corkboard

1. Click the Corkboard icon in the toolbar
2. View all chapters/scenes as index cards
3. Drag cards to reorder your story
4. Click a card to edit its synopsis
5. Double-click to jump to that chapter/scene in the editor

Grammar & Style Tools

Built-in Harper.js style checker provides real-time writing assistance.

Features

• Real-time detection of passive voice, weak adjectives, and weasel words
• Click-to-apply auto-fixes for common issues
• Configurable rules (enable/disable specific grammar checks)
• Spell checking with custom dictionary support

Script Mode

Transform NX-Writer into a professional screenwriting environment with industry-standard formatting and production tools.

Screenplay Elements

• Scene Headings – Proper INT/EXT formatting with automatic numbering
• Action Lines – Standard screenplay action blocks
• Dialogue – Character names and speech with proper margins
• Parentheticals – Actor direction
• Dual Dialogue – Side-by-side dialogue columns for simultaneous conversations

FDX Import/Export

Full Final Draft compatibility for industry-standard workflow:

• Import – Seamlessly import .fdx files with scene splitting and formatting preservation
• Export – Export to Final Draft format with full scene and metadata support
• Round-Trip – Optimized for large scripts (TV/Feature length)

SmartType

Intelligent autocomplete that speeds up your writing:

• Scene Headings – Auto-suggest INT./EXT. and remembered locations
• Character Names – Autocomplete from your cast list

Revision Mode

Track changes with color-coded revision sets for production workflows:

• Color-coded revision sets (Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green)
• Text color visualization and margin asterisks
• Revision marks preserved in PDF export

Scene Management

• Automatic Numbering – Scenes numbered automatically in editor and sidebar
• Scene Locking – Lock scenes to prevent renumbering during production (inserts "1A" style scenes)
• Scene Properties – Edit synopsis, time of day, and metadata per scene
• Omitted Scenes – Preserve numbering when removing scenes

Production Tools

Additional Features

• Beat Board – Visual drag-and-drop beat sheet that syncs with timeline
• Title Page Editor – Dedicated modal for editing script title page metadata
• Daily Goal Tracker – Track writing progress with customizable targets
• Reading Time – Estimated performance time based on industry standards (~1 min/page)

Toggle freely between novel and script modes for hybrid projects.

Version Control & Snapshots

Never lose work with NX-Writer's built-in version control.

Snapshots

Snapshots are manual saves of individual chapters, allowing you to experiment freely without fear of losing your original draft.

• Create: Right-click a chapter in the Manuscript Explorer and select "Create Snapshot."
• Name: Give the snapshot a descriptive name (e.g., "Draft 1", "After Beta Reader Feedback").
• Restore: Right-click a chapter, select "Restore from Snapshot," and choose the version you want to revert to instantly.

Time Travel Compare

Want to see exactly what changed between two drafts? Use the Time Travel Compare tool.

• Right-click a chapter and select "Compare Snapshots."
• A side-by-side visual diff view will highlight what was added, modified, or removed between the two versions.

Automated Backups

NX-Writer automatically protects your entire project by creating a compressed .zip file backup every time you close the application.

• Location: By default, backups are saved in a backups folder inside your project directory. You can configure a custom, global backup folder in the app Settings under the General tab to store all your projects' backups in one place.
• Retention: By default, NX-Writer keeps your 50 most recent backups. You can also configure this number in the app Settings.
• Restoration: If your project file ever becomes corrupted, simply navigate to your backups folder, extract the contents of the latest .zip, and open the resulting directory via the Welcome Screen.

Inline Comments

Collaborate with editors and beta readers using non-destructive inline comments.

How It Works

The commenting system integrates directly with the TipTap editor, allowing you to add notes and feedback without modifying your actual manuscript text.

Adding Comments

1. Highlight the text you want to comment on
2. Right-click and select "Add Comment"
3. Type your note in the comment box
4. Click Save to attach the comment

Managing Comments

• Comment Sidebar – View and navigate all comments in a dedicated panel
• Reply Threads – Create threaded discussions on specific passages
• Resolve Comments – Mark comments as resolved when addressed
• Non-Destructive – Comments never modify your manuscript text

Storage

Comments are persisted in sidecar JSON files (e.g., scene.comments.json), keeping your main manuscript files clean while preserving all feedback.

Export Options

Export your work in multiple professional formats using our interactive Export Wizard.

Export Workflow

NX-Writer features an Interactive Export Wizard that lets you preview your document before saving.

1. Go to File → Export to open the Export Wizard
2. Choose your desired format (PDF, DOCX, HTML, EPUB, or NXS)
3. Adjust your export settings (fonts, margins, presets) in the options panel
4. Watch your document update in real-time within the Live Preview Pane
5. Choose which chapters to include
6. Click "Export"

Supported Formats

Screenplay Export

When in Script Mode, export to:

• Final Draft (.fdx) – Industry-standard professional format

EPUB Publishing

Create publication-ready eBooks with NX-Writer's visual EPUB editor.

Visual eBook Editor

Before exporting to EPUB, you can:

• Set book title, author name, and description
• Upload a custom cover image (recommended: 1600x2400px)
• Add ISBN and publisher information

Keyboard Shortcuts

Global

Editor

Navigation

Tips & Best Practices

Writing Workflow

1. Start with Structure – Outline chapters in the Matrix or Boards first. Create Cast/Atlas entries before deep writing.
2. Use Snapshots Regularly – Before major revisions, after completing each chapter, before risky changes.
3. Set Realistic Goals – 500-1000 words/day is sustainable for most writers. Use the Statistics Dashboard to track progress.
4. Leverage AI Wisely – Use Magic Polish for stuck sentences, not entire chapters. AI suggestions are starting points.
5. Organize with Tags – Tag characters by faction, role, or POV. Use tags to filter large projects.

Performance Tips

Troubleshooting

Getting Help

• Bug Reports: Contact us at contact@thenetherwatch.com with OS version, NX-Writer version, steps to reproduce, and expected vs. actual behavior
• Feature Requests: Contact us at contact@thenetherwatch.com
• Community: Join the Discord server (link coming soon)