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kindling Documentation

kindling is a free, open-source story outlining and drafting tool for writers. Import your existing outlines from Plottr, Scrivener, Markdown, yWriter, Longform/Obsidian, or novelWriter, then export a manuscript, reading copy, web chapter, or project for another writing app.

These guides cover kindling v1.3. See what’s new in this release.

  • Introduction — What kindling is and how it works
  • Installation — Download and install kindling on macOS, Windows, or Linux
  • Importing Projects — How to import outlines from Plottr, Scrivener, Markdown, yWriter, Obsidian, or novelWriter
  • Scene Workflow — Beats, prose, rolling outline, and scene structure
  • Writing Goals & Statistics — Daily goals, sessions, streaks, and manuscript counts
  • Editorial Review — Exchange suggestions and comments with an editor using local files
  • References — Track characters, locations, and story elements
  • Exporting Projects — Export to DOCX, Scrivener, Markdown, Longform, novelWriter, or EPUB
  • Export Workspace — Save export profiles, customize formatting, and preview manuscripts, HTML, and plain text
  • Sync & Reimport — Keep source-backed projects up to date
  • Settings — Customizable shortcuts, appearance, and project preferences