Understanding Book Template Types

When you click "Create New Book," you'll see several ready-made templates to choose from. Each template is designed for different types of writing projects, providing specialized custom traits (lists you choose from that you can add to every character, like Role or Alignment), item categories (the types you can assign to items, like Weapons or Clothing), location types, and tags (labels you can attach to characters, locations, or chapters).

Templates give you a head start by filling in your book with commonly-used fields and structures. You can fully customize everything after creating your book, so no template choice is permanent.

Want to reuse a single note, like a character questionnaire, rather than a whole book's setup? See Note Templates.

Tip: All templates can be customized after creation. You can add, remove, or modify traits, item categories, location types, tags, and character sections to fit your specific needs.

Note: Trait dropdowns let you pick more than one option when it fits: a character's Demeanor might be both Confident and Charming, not just one. Choose as many, or as few, as you like.

Standard Template

The Standard Template provides a comprehensive, balanced starting point suitable for most novels, series, and creative writing projects.

What's Included

2 custom traits: Role (Protagonist, Antagonist, Major, Minor, Love Interest, Mentor, Narrator, Foil, Other) and Demeanor (Friendly, Reserved, Confident, Mysterious, and more)
7 item categories: Personal Items, Documents, Clothing & Accessories, Vehicles, Technology, Keepsakes & Mementos, and Miscellaneous
10 location types: City, Town, Village, Building, Room, Landmark, Nature, Region, Country, and Other
9 thematic tags: POV Character, Conflict, Romance, Family, Backstory, Secret, Turning Point, Comic Relief, and Tragic
14 character sections (the individual sections on a character's page, like Name, Age, or Bio): Name, Age, Role, Demeanor, Appearance, Bio, and Notes, plus the standard Character Arc, Events, Chapters, Relationships, Locations, Items, and Tags

Best For

General fiction, contemporary novels, literary fiction, or any project that doesn't require genre-specific elements. If you're unsure which template to choose, Standard is a safe, flexible choice.

Empty Template

The Empty Template provides a completely blank slate with only the bare essentials, giving you maximum customization freedom.

What's Included

0 custom traits: No predefined character traits: build your own from scratch
0 item categories: Add exactly the categories your story needs
0 location types: Define your own from scratch
0 tags: No predefined tags: create exactly what you need
1 character section: Only the name & importance field

Best For

Writers who want complete control over their book's structure, experimental projects, or unique genres that don't fit standard categories. This template requires the most manual setup but offers unlimited flexibility.

Minimal Template

The Minimal Template provides quick-start essentials (name, appearance, details, relationships, and tags) so you can begin writing immediately without complex setup.

What's Included

0 custom traits: No trait fields to manage
3 item categories: Personal Items, Documents, and Miscellaneous
6 location types: City, Town, Building, Room, Outdoors / Nature, and Other
3 essential tags: Main Cast, Supporting, and Mentioned
8 character sections: Name & importance, appearance, background, character arc, chapters, relationships, locations, and tags

Best For

Writers who prefer simplicity over detailed tracking, short stories, writers who prefer to dive in without a detailed outline, or projects where you'll primarily use the free-form background field.

Fantasy Template

The Fantasy Template is built for fantasy novelists, with room for magic systems, peoples, and worlds, flexible enough for any setting you can imagine.

What's Included

2 custom traits: Role and Demeanor
10 fantasy item categories: Weapons & Armor, Magical Objects, Documents & Books, Clothing & Accessories, Symbols & Tokens, Creatures & Companions, Tools & Equipment, Substances, Treasure & Currency, and Miscellaneous
14 fantasy location types: Kingdom, City, Village, Castle, Tower, Temple, Stronghold, Underground, Port / Harbor, Ruins, Forest, Mountain, Realm, and Other
11 thematic tags: POV Character, Magical, Royal, Prophecy, Cursed, Ancient, Exile, Oath-Bound, Alive, Dead, and Missing
17 character sections: Free-text Species / People and Abilities / Powers, plus Backstory and Secrets, and the standard Bio, Character Arc, Chapters, Relationships, Locations, Items, and Tags

Best For

Epic fantasy, sword & sorcery, urban fantasy, high fantasy, or any world-building project with magic systems, diverse peoples, and layered lore. The Species / People and Abilities / Powers fields are free-form, so you can describe your world in your own words rather than fitting it into a fixed list.

Sci-Fi Template

The Sci-Fi Template is built for science fiction with space for your own species, factions, and technology, plus numeric tools for tech levels and clearance.

What's Included

2 custom traits: Role and Demeanor
10 sci-fi item categories: Weapons & Armor, Technology & Devices, Tools & Equipment, Medical Supplies, Data & Storage, Clothing & Accessories, Vehicles & Ships, Augmentations, Credits & Currency, and Miscellaneous
10 futuristic location types: Planet, Space Station, Starship, City, Colony, Facility, Sector, Star System, Nebula / Anomaly, and Other
12 thematic tags: POV Character, Military, Scientific, Alien, Exploration, Augmented, AI / Synthetic, Classified, Colonial, Alive, Dead, and Missing
19 character sections: Free-text Species / Origin and Affiliation, numeric Tech Level and Clearance Level, plus Background and Mission Log, and the standard Bio, Character Arc, Relationships, Locations, Items, and Tags

Best For

Space opera, cyberpunk, hard sci-fi, dystopian futures, first contact stories, or any science fiction project dealing with advanced technology, alien species, or interstellar settings. The numeric Tech Level and Clearance Level fields are handy for tracking capability and access across a large cast.

D&D 5e Template

The D&D 5e Template is built for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition campaigns with complete stat blocks (a set of number fields for things like Strength or Hit Points), Hit Points (HP) tracking, Armor Class (AC), ability scores, and session notes.

What's Included

5 custom traits: Race, Class, Alignment, Background, and Demeanor
10 item categories: Weapons, Armor & Shields, Magic Items, Potions & Consumables, Scrolls & Books, Tools & Kits, Adventuring Gear, Treasure & Currency, Quest Items, and Miscellaneous
12 adventure location types: Dungeon, Tavern, City, Town, Wilderness, Castle / Fortress, Temple / Shrine, Kingdom, Lair, Ruins, Plane of Existence, and Other
13 gameplay tags: Playable, NPC, Boss, Friendly, Hostile, Commerce, Quest, Companion, Leadership, Monstrous, Recurring, Alive, and Dead
29 character sections: A full D&D stat block (Level, Challenge Rating, Hit Points / Max HP, Armor Class, Speed, and all six ability scores), plus Faction, Personality & Traits, and character & session notes, alongside the standard Character Arc, Relationships, Locations, Items, and Tags

Best For

Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, tabletop RPG world-building, game master prep, NPC tracking for campaigns, or fantasy stories with detailed mechanical character progression. Game masters can use this to track party members, NPCs, and monsters with complete stat blocks.

Tip: The session notes section is perfect for recording what happened during your last gaming session, tracking character development across gameplay, or noting important plot hooks for future sessions.

Historical / Non-fiction Template

The Historical / Non-fiction Template is designed for historical fiction and non-fiction with social class hierarchy, biographical data, and source documentation.

What's Included

5 custom traits: Social Class, Historical Basis, Status, Religion, and Demeanor
12 period-specific item categories: Documents & Letters, Personal Effects, Clothing & Accessories, Historical Artifacts, Books & Manuscripts, Art & Paintings, Maps & Charts, Currency & Coins, Religious Items, Tools & Equipment, Weapons, and Miscellaneous
16 historical location types: City, Town / Village, Palace, Estate, Church / Temple, University, Theater, Market, Harbor / Port, Prison, Building, Landmark, Battlefield, Farm, Region, and Country
11 research tags: Factual, Fictional, POV Character, Leadership, Artistic, Military, Civilian, Political, Religious, Revolutionary, and Tragic
25 character sections: Birth Name / Historical Name, Born, Died, Occupation, Nationality, Education, Biography, Historical Context, Role in Events, and a Primary Source ID (archive reference), plus the standard Character Arc, Relationships, Locations, Items, and Tags

Best For

Historical fiction, biographical novels, historical non-fiction, period dramas, alternative history, or research-heavy projects requiring source documentation. The Primary Source ID field helps track archival references, and the Historical Basis trait distinguishes between documented historical figures and fictionalized characters.

Note: The Born and Died fields accept free-form text, allowing you to enter specific dates like "March 15, 1850, London, England" or approximate dates like "circa 1420" for characters with uncertain historical records.

Horror Template

The Horror Template is crafted for horror fiction and psychological thrillers with psychological profiles, dark secrets, and atmospheric settings, focused on dread, not monsters.

What's Included

3 custom traits: Role (Protagonist, Antagonist, Victim, Survivor, Investigator, and more), Psychological Profile (Stable, Anxious, Paranoid, Obsessive, Traumatized, and more), and Demeanor
10 horror item categories: Keys & Locks, Documents & Letters, Potions & Substances, Occult Objects, Light Sources, Weapons, Protective Items, Medical Supplies, Evidence & Records, and Miscellaneous
10 atmospheric location types: House, Building, Room, Town, Forest, Cemetery, Underground, Ruins, Wilderness, and Other
14 thematic tags: Survivor, Victim, Threat, Cursed, Innocent, Corrupted, Supernatural, Mysterious, Possessed, Missing, Dead, Investigator, Cult, and Red Herring
18 character sections: Alias / Known As, Deepest Fear, and What They're Hiding, plus the standard Appearance, Bio, Character Arc, Relationships, Locations, Items, and Tags

Best For

Horror fiction, psychological thrillers, gothic novels, supernatural mysteries, or any story built around fear and suspense. The Psychological Profile trait, plus the Deepest Fear and What They're Hiding fields, help you track each character's mental state and the secrets driving the dread.

Tip: The Red Herring tag is great for marking characters who seem suspicious but are ultimately innocent, perfect for mystery-horror plots where misdirection is key.

Romance Template

The Romance Template is designed for romance writers, with emotional wound tracking, attachment styles, and relationship-centered character building.

What's Included

3 custom traits: Role (Love Interest, Rival, Ex, and more), Attachment Style (Secure, Anxious, Avoidant, Disorganized), and Demeanor
8 item categories: Personal Items, Letters & Messages, Clothing & Accessories, Gifts & Tokens, Photographs & Mementos, Technology, Keepsakes, and Miscellaneous
12 location types: Home / Apartment, Office / Workplace, Restaurant / Cafe, Bar / Club, Park / Outdoors, Hotel, School / University, Shop / Store, Neighborhood, City, Travel Destination, and Other
20 relationship tags: Central Couple, Secondary Couple, Found Family, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance, Forbidden, Friends to Lovers, Fake Dating, Grumpy / Sunshine, Meet Cute, and more
18 character sections: Emotional Wound, Core Fear / False Belief, and What They Need, plus the standard Appearance, Bio, Character Arc, Relationships, Locations, Items, and Tags

Best For

Contemporary romance, romantic subplots, women's fiction, or any story where the emotional arc between characters is the heart of the book. The Emotional Wound, Core Fear, and What They Need fields help you build the internal journey behind each romance.

Tip: The relationship tags (Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, and more) double as trope labels: handy for planning beats or keeping a series consistent.

How to Choose a Template

Selecting the right template depends on your project's genre, complexity, and tracking needs:

Not sure? Start with Standard: it's versatile and works for most projects
Want complete control? Choose Empty and build exactly what you need
Want to start writing fast? Pick Minimal for quick, simple tracking
Fantasy world-building? Use Fantasy for magic, peoples, and lore
Sci-fi universe? Select Sci-Fi for species, factions, and tech
Running a campaign? Choose D&D 5e for full stat blocks
Historical accuracy or non-fiction? Pick Historical / Non-fiction for period research and source documentation
Writing horror or thrillers? Use Horror for psychological profiles and dark secrets
Writing romance? Use Romance for attachment styles, emotional wounds, and trope tags

What You Can Customize

Remember: templates are starting points, not limitations. After creating your book, you can modify everything:

Traits: Add new custom fields, remove unused ones, or modify the options you choose from
Items: Create new item categories, rename existing ones, or change icons
Locations: Add specialized location types unique to your world
Tags: Create unlimited thematic tags with custom colors
Layout: Rearrange character sections, resize fields, or add new information types

Note: Removing a trait deletes the trait definition, its options, and any values you have entered for your characters. The deletion is permanent. Make sure you no longer need the data before removing a trait.

Templates simply save you time by providing genre-appropriate defaults. Your book grows and evolves as your project develops.

Tip: You can always check which template you used by viewing your book's trait and item configurations in the Settings page (the gear icon in the sidebar). From there, you can modify anything to better fit your evolving needs.