Step by step on Windows
- Click + at the bottom of the sidebar (Add New Project) or press Ctrl+Shift+N. Give your book a name, and if you like, a word goal, a deadline and a template. Click Create. A project holds every chapter, note and research sheet for one book.
- Hover over the Groups header in the project sidebar and click + to add groups, for example Manuscript, Characters, Places and Notes.
- Click Add New Sheet (the page icon at the top of the sheet list) or press Ctrl+N. Every chapter or scene is its own sheet.
- Write. QuillSpace saves as you type, so there is no Save button, and everything stays on your computer.
- Switch layouts with the View Mode button at the top of the sidebar: All Panes to organize, Editor + List, Editor Only to write, or Fullscreen.
Tips for Windows
- Right-click the title bar above the editor for the same layouts. Press Esc to leave Fullscreen.
- Click the left arrow at the top of the project sidebar (Back to All) to return to your Library and the list of projects.
- New to the app? The projects under Introduction in the sidebar walk you through the basics.
Step by step on Mac
- Choose File › New Project… (⇧⌘N) or click the new project button at the bottom of the sidebar. Name your book, pick a Template (Blank, Novel, Short Story or Non-Fiction) and, if you like, a word goal and a deadline. Click Create.
- Right-click the project and choose New Group, or press ⌥⌘N, to add groups such as Manuscript, Characters, Places and Notes.
- Choose File › New Sheet (⌘N), or click + New at the bottom of the middle column and choose New Sheet. Every chapter or scene is its own sheet.
- Write. QuillSpace saves as you type. ⌘S does something extra: it keeps a version of the sheet you can go back to.
- Switch layouts from the View menu: All Columns (⌘1), List and Editor (⌘2) or Editor Only (⌘3). For the whole screen, use View › Enter Full Screen.
Tips for Mac
- The Getting Started project in the sidebar is a short, read-only tour of the app.
- Choose View › Index Cards (⌥⌘2) to see a project or group as cards you can drag into order.
- Your projects live in the QuillSpace folder in Documents, one folder per project, so they are easy to back up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account?
No. QuillSpace has no sign-in on Windows or Mac. You install it and start writing, and your work is saved on your computer.
Is QuillSpace free?
You can start for free on both. On Windows, the paid plans remove the limits of the free plan. On Mac, the app is a free download and a one-time QuillSpace Pro purchase removes its limits. See Pricing for the current plans.
Where are my files saved?
On your own computer, in a QuillSpace folder inside your Documents folder. Each sheet is saved as its own file. Nothing is uploaded to our servers.
Related guides
Free to start. Windows and Mac are separate apps, purchased separately.
Last updated: October 3, 2026