WriterSolo

If you prefer the file-based system of writing and aren't in need of the collaborative or multi-device features of WriterDuet, you can use WriterSolo!

WriterSolo is a free version of WriterDuet that is not synced to any servers.


How It Works

  • All of the same tools and functions as WriterDuet, including Plus and Pro features.
  • Files are fully compatible with WriterDuet.
  • Save all content to your device or email. Does not connect to the WriterDuet servers.
  • Work online in the browser app or offline in the desktop app.

Work in the Browser Version

Go to www.WriterSolo.com



Download the WriterSolo Desktop App

  1. Go to www.WriterSolo.com
  2. Select the Account icon
    1. Depending on your layout, the Account icon will be in the bottom lefthand or upper righthand corner of your screen
  3. Select Download Desktop App
  4. Select the appropriate Operating System from the drop-down
  5. Select Download
    1. Follow your device's instructions for installing the app

Update the Desktop App

  1. Select Help > Check for Updates
  2. Select Check for Updates
    1. If an update is available, it will automatically download
    2. Close the Check for Desktop App Updates window
    3. Close the app and reopen it

Save Your Project in WriterSolo

All of your work must be saved to your device or email. Saving to an external cloud is only available on our cloud-based service, WriterDuet.

  • You will be able to choose between saving to your device or email. You can select both options.
  • When saving to your device, you will be asked to choose a file path. 
  • Closing the app without saving will result in lost content.
    • If you see a yellow "Not saved offline this session" indicator, that means your changes have not yet been saved and you need to manually save them before closing the app.
  • Each new save with the same filename will write over the existing file. 

We recommend saving WriterDuet (.wdz) or Final Draft (.fdx) files for ease of opening and their compatibility with WriterDuet.

  1. Select File > Save As or Cmd/Ctrl + S
  2. As needed, change the Filename
  3. Select the desired file format
  4. Select the desired save location(s)
    1. Download to device
    2. Email a copy
  5. As needed, select Auto-save after 1 minute of inactivity
  6. Select Save

You can also set up project backups to automatically backup while you are working. See Set External Project Backups for more information.


Set up Auto-Saves in WriterSolo

Automatically back up your work to your Hard Drive, Email, Dropbox or Google Drive. 

  1. Select File > Set External Backups or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + S
  2. As needed, change the file name
  3. Select the Save Frequency
    1. Daily
    2. Hourly
    3. Every 30 minutes
    4. Every 5 minutes
    5. Only when I press 'Save'
    6. Do not set backups
  4. Select the desired File Type(s)
    1. You can backup up to 12 file types in one save.
  5. Choose Storage option(s)
    1. Hard Drive (available in both the WriterSolo desktop and browser apps)
      1. In the browser app, Hard Drive backups save to your computer's downloads folder (or your browser’s designated download location).
      2. In the desktop app, you will see the designated file path just below this option
        • Select Change hard drive folder to modify the file path
          • A folder with the Filename will be created, and all backups for that file will go into this folder under the name and with timestamps
            • For example: Finder/My Computer > Documents > [Project Name] > [MM-DD-YY] > [HH-MM].pdf
            • Each new save will create a new [HH-MM] file in the appropriate [MM-DD-YYY] folder.
    2. Dropbox or Google Drive (available only in the WriterSolo browser app)
      1. Currently, the only direct external cloud backup options are Google Drive and Dropbox.
      2. You’ll need to authenticate and link your external cloud account.
        • You can change which cloud accounts you back up to at any time.
      3. As needed, designate a cloud folder path
        • Without a folder path, backups will save to the main folder in your cloud drive.
        • Example (Google Drive): WriterDuet/[Project Name] will create a folder named "[Project Name]" within a "WriterDuet" folder.
    3. Email (available in both the WriterSolo desktop and browser apps)
      1. Enter the recipient email(s), separated by commas.
      2. By default, the backup will be sent to your own email.
  6. Select Close
    1. Select Backup Now to generate a backup immediately

Turn Off Auto-Saves in WriterSolo

This will stop backups from periodically auto-saving.

  1. Select File > Set External Backups or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + S
  2. Under the Save Frequency drop-down, select Do NOT set backups - backups DISABLED

Enable Locally Saved/In-App Backups in WriterSolo

This will ensure that as you are writing your work is being saved to the browser or app's cache/memory periodically. These backups can be used to recover lost content through Help > Locally Saved Backups. If the browser has been closed recently or history has been cleared, the local cache/memory has most likely been cleared and these backups cannot be recovered. See Locally Saved Backups for more information. To create backups you can access no matter what, see Set External Project Backups.

  1. Select File > Save As or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + S
  2. Check the box next to Save in-app backups (for non-shared computers)
  3. Select Save

OR

  1. Select File > Open Project or press Cmd/Ctrl + O
  2. Check the box next to Save backups under Help > Locally Saved Backups (recommended for non-shared computers)
  3. Select the X to close the Open Project window

Open a Project in WriterSolo

The best files to open in WriterSolo are WriterDuet (.wdz) and Final Draft (.fdx).

Open a New Project
  1. Select File > New Project
  2. Name the project
  3. Begin the exhilarating process of writing!

Open an Existing Project
  1. Select File > Open Project
    1. Shortcut: Cmd/Ctrl+O
  2. Select Your computer
  3. Select the file you wish to open
  4. Select Open


Upload Your WriterSolo Work to WriterDuet

  1. In WriterSolo, export or save your project as WriterDuet (.wdz) or Final Draft (.fdx)
  2. Go to WriterDuet
  3. Open a New Project
  4. Import the project
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