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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about using Inkwren.

Account & Setup​

What's the difference between Author and Publisher accounts?​

Author accounts are optimized for individual writers - tracking your stories, submissions, pen names, and publication history.

Publisher accounts are designed for small presses and editors - managing publications with multiple contributors, editorial workflows, and publication catalogs.

Both account types have access to all features. The choice just sets different defaults during onboarding.

Can I change my account type later?​

Yes. Your account type only affects initial settings. You can adjust all features in your workspace settings at any time.

Can I have multiple workspaces?​

Yes. You can create additional workspaces for different purposes - for example, one for your writing and another for a press you edit.

How do I invite team members?​

Click your workspace name in the sidebar, then Manage Workspace → Members and send an invitation by email. They'll receive a link to join your workspace.

Stories & Publications​

What's the difference between a Story and a Publication?​

A Story is an individual piece of writing (short story, novella, article, poem).

A Publication is a finished product (book, anthology, magazine issue) that may contain one or more stories.

Stories can appear in multiple publications (original + reprints), and publications can contain multiple stories.

How do I track reprints?​

When adding a story to a publication, mark whether it's an Original (first publication) or Reprint. Inkwren automatically tracks first publication rights and reprint history.

What are Command Centers?​

Command Centers are management hubs for stories and publications. Click any story or publication title to open its Command Center.

  • Stories: Overview tab with publications, plus Submissions tab (if enabled)
  • Publications: Overview tab with contents, plus Formats, Editing Pipeline, Submissions, Contracts, and Settings tabs (availability depends on your workspace settings)

How do I link a story to a publication?​

  1. Click a publication's title to open it
  2. On the Overview tab, click Link Existing Story
  3. Select the story and fill in appearance details

Submissions​

How do I track submissions?​

  1. Go to a story's Command Center
  2. Click the Submissions tab
  3. Click + Add Submission to record where you've submitted

Track status changes as submissions progress: Submitted → Under Review → Accepted/Rejected.

What submission statuses are available?​

  • Draft: Not yet submitted
  • Submitted: Sent to publisher
  • Under Review: Being considered
  • Accepted: Accepted for publication
  • Rejected: Not accepted
  • Withdrawn: You withdrew the submission
  • Published: Story has been published

Data Management​

Can I import existing data?​

Yes. Go to Import in the sidebar (under Manage) to upload a CSV file with your existing catalog. See CSV Import for format details.

How do I export my data?​

Click your workspace name in the sidebar, then Manage Workspace → Data to download your workspace data. You can export as CSV (for spreadsheets) or JSON (for programmatic use). See Exporting Your Data for details.

Is my data secure?​

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Each workspace is isolated - you can only see data in workspaces you're a member of.

Features​

What keyboard shortcuts are available?​

Press Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+/ (Windows/Linux) to open the command palette, which shows available shortcuts. See Keyboard Shortcuts for the full list.

How do I change themes?​

Click your workspace name in the sidebar, then Manage Workspace → General to find the Appearance section. Choose from 5 themes, each with light and dark modes.

Does Inkwren work offline?​

No. Inkwren requires an internet connection. Your data is stored securely in the cloud and synced across devices.

Troubleshooting​

I can't find a story/publication I created​

Try these steps:

  1. Use the command palette (Cmd+K) to search
  2. Check if you're in the correct workspace (see workspace selector in sidebar)
  3. Clear any active filters on the list view

Changes aren't saving​

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Look for error messages at the bottom of the screen
  3. Try refreshing the page
  4. If the problem persists, contact support

I'm seeing an error message​

See our Troubleshooting Guide for common errors and solutions.

Getting Help​

How do I report a bug or request a feature?​

Join the Inkwren Discord to report issues and suggest features. You can also email support@inkwren.com.

Where can I get help?​

Don't see your question? Ask in Discord and we'll add it here.