How it works

Six answers, one whole book.

A book starts with a short brief. Here is every question it asks and what each answer controls. Then the book is planned in full, criticised, refined and written in one sitting.

  1. Question 1 of 6

    What shape should it take?

    • A love story
    • A mystery
    • A thriller
    • Somewhere else entirely
    • A life, closely watched
    • Humor / Comedy
    • Horror
    • Crime
    What this shapes

    The genre sets how the book is built: where the tension comes from, how clues or feelings are paced, and what the last chapters have to deliver.

  2. Question 2 of 6

    How do you want to start?

    • I have my own idea
    • Show me some ideas
    What this shapes

    Write your own premise, or start from a shelf of premises refreshed daily. A premise from the shelf comes with its own ending and feel.

  3. Question 3 of 6

    How should it end?

    • Let it hurt
    • Let them have it
    • Both at once
    • Leave it open
    • You decide
    What this shapes

    The ending is fixed before the first chapter is written, so the whole book is planned to arrive there.

  4. Question 4 of 6

    What should it feel like?

    • Tender
    • Tense
    • Melancholy
    • Wry
    • Something else
    What this shapes

    The feel sets the voice of every chapter. "Something else" lets you describe it in your own words, like "reverent, like a hymn".

  5. Question 5 of 6

    What language should your book be written in?

    • English
    • Spanish
    • Portuguese (Brazil)
    • Italian
    What this shapes

    The book is written natively in that language, not translated.

  6. Question 6 of 6

    Who is it about?

    For example: “A translator who takes a job she knows she shouldn’t…”

    What this shapes

    A sentence or two about who the book follows and what they are up against. The plan, the cast and every chapter grow from it.

Prefer a story that arrives a chapter at a time? See how a living story works →

Ready for your book?

Answer the six questions for real. The book is ready within the hour.

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