Manage Your Bookshelf: Create New Books and Find Old Ones

In this article 6 sections

Many people only remember "how to get into the writing page" when they start, and forget that the page they really use every day is your bookshelf (the novel list). Every time you resume writing, switch premises, look for an old book or start a new one, you come back here first.

What This Page Is Actually For

You can think of /novels as your own study. It mainly helps you do 4 things:

1. See how many books you have in total
2. Search and filter to find the one you want to continue
3. Create a book, either to test the waters or for formal serialization
4. Click in and keep writing

If you are writing several books at once, this page matters as much as the writing page.

Recognize These Two Places First

"Create Novel" at the Top Right

This is the fastest way to create a book. When inspiration strikes, you don't need to go back to the home page; you can start a new book right here.

Search, Filter, Sort and Group in the Middle

Once you have more books, this row of tools is more useful than "Create". Otherwise you spend ages digging for an old book each time.

How Much to Fill In When Creating a Book

We suggest not filling in everything at once; put up the frame first:

1. Write a premise name or working title first
2. Add one line on the selling point or the main conflict
3. As long as it can be told apart from your other books, that is enough

For most people, creating the book first and filling in details later on the writing page works far better than agonizing in the dialog.

How People Who Really Write Books Use It

If you really want to write a book, we suggest this order:

1. On the shelf, tell your flagship books apart from your practice books
2. For a new premise, fill in the bare minimum and test the waters first
3. Find old books quickly by search or sorting
4. After entering the writing page, fill in volumes, chapters, outlines and settings little by little

That way your shelf doesn't turn into an "inspiration dump".

Three Pitfalls Beginners Hit Most

Creating a Pile of New Books Whenever an Idea Comes

The shelf gets messier and messier, and the book you actually want to write becomes hard to find. It is best to manage practice premises separately from books you are formally serializing.

Thinking the Shelf Page Is Used Only Once

You will come back here every day. Getting used to search, filters and grouping early will save you a lot of trouble.

Wanting to Fill in All the Material Right After Creating a Book

This keeps you from putting pen to paper for a long time. Much of that information should wait until you are on the writing page and be filled in gradually along with the prose.

What to Read Next

• To start writing straight from the shelf: read New to Maliang Writer? Start Here
• To produce a draft right after entering the writing page: read Your First Chapter in 10 Minutes: The Fastest Path to Results
• To see which book you are writing fastest: read See How Much You've Written: Word Count, Progress, Recent Updates