# LiteStep — Writers Studio: Complete Product Reference

> Writers Studio is an AI-native fiction writing application for macOS, built by a solo developer. It uses AI to read manuscripts and extract structured data — not generate text. The app combines manuscript editing, AI entity extraction, continuity checking, a 12-category worldbuilding dashboard, and 8-format export in a single native macOS application.

## What Writers Studio Does

Writers Studio is designed for fiction writers — novelists, screenwriters, and anyone writing long-form narrative fiction. It solves three problems that other writing tools don't:

1. **AI Entity Extraction**: The AI reads your manuscript and proposes structured character profiles, location entries, and timeline events. You review each proposal and accept, edit, or dismiss it. Over time, this builds a complete worldbuilding bible from your actual prose — without manual data entry.

2. **Continuity Checking**: The AI cross-references your manuscript against your worldbuilding database and flags contradictions — eye color changes between chapters, dead characters reappearing, timeline contradictions, magic system rule violations, and name spelling inconsistencies.

3. **Worldbuilding Dashboard**: 12 structured categories with genre-specific templates: Characters, Locations, Items, Events, Organizations, Races/Species, Magic Systems, Religions, Languages, Technology, Cultural Traditions, and Political Structures. Templates for fantasy, sci-fi, historical, and general fiction.

## Key Features

### AI Assistant
- Reads your manuscript and proposes structured entity profiles (characters, locations, events)
- Continuity analysis across chapters
- Structured JSON schema outputs — not free-text chat
- Relationship detection between entities
- All proposals require human review before acceptance

### AI Providers (4 supported)
- **OpenAI**, **Anthropic**, and **Google Gemini**: The hosted-model catalog is kept current as provider availability changes.
- **Ollama**: Local AI, free, 100% private, works offline — manuscripts never leave the user's Mac

### Export (8 formats)
- ePUB — self-publishing (KDP, Kobo, Draft2Digital)
- PDF — print review, print-on-demand
- DOCX — editors, agents, traditional submission
- Final Draft (.fdx) — screenwriting
- Markdown — developer-friendly, version control
- HTML — web publishing
- RTF — universal compatibility
- Plain Text — maximum portability

### Manuscript Management
- Full lifecycle tracking: Planning → Draft → Revision → Final → Archived
- Series support — group related manuscripts, share worldbuilding data across books
- Word count tracking and progress goals
- Rich text editing with chapter management

### Privacy and Security
- Manuscripts stored locally on the user's Mac
- iCloud sync (optional)
- Limited operational telemetry excludes manuscript content, titles, and AI prompts; it is not used for tracking
- Hardened Runtime + App Sandbox
- Local AI via Ollama keeps everything on-device
- Direct Edition: user's own API keys — LiteStep never sees manuscripts

## Technical Architecture

- **Framework**: SwiftUI + SwiftData (native macOS, no Electron, no web wrappers)
- **Minimum OS**: macOS 15 (Sequoia)
- **AI Integration**: Multi-provider abstraction layer supporting 4 providers
- **AI Proposal System**: Structured JSON schemas — the LLM returns typed proposals (character profile, timeline event, relationship, etc.)
- **Cloud Proxy (App Store edition)**: Cloudflare Workers + KV for AI request proxying
- **License Activation (Direct edition)**: Cloudflare Workers + KV
- **Payments**: LemonSqueezy (merchant of record, global VAT handling)
- **Website**: Next.js, deployed on Heroku

## Pricing

### Direct Edition (sold via website)
One-time lifetime license (per major version). User brings their own API keys (BYOK) for cloud AI, or uses Ollama for free local AI.

Current price: $59 for a lifetime v1.x license.

Direct buyers receive immediate beta access and a 30-day refund guarantee.

### Mac App Store Edition
Free download. Hosted AI is available via optional monthly AI-allowance subscriptions:

| Plan | Price | Credits | Models |
|------|-------|---------|--------|
| Basic | $9.99/mo | 400 | Current hosted catalog |
| Pro | $29.99/mo | 800 | Current hosted catalog |

Basic and Pro differ by monthly allowance, not model eligibility. Credit top-ups: $2.99 / $5.99 / $9.99. Free trial available (3 days Basic, 7 days Pro).

Free features without subscription: Full editor, manuscript management, worldbuilding dashboard (all 12 categories), 8-format export, local AI via Ollama.

## Competitive Positioning

| Product | Price | AI Features |
|---------|-------|------------|
| **Writers Studio Direct** | **$59 lifetime** | **Yes — 4 providers + local Ollama** |
| Scrivener 3 | $49 one-time | No |
| LivingWriter Lifetime | $699 | Yes (bundled, no provider choice) |
| Final Draft | $250 one-time | No |
| Campfire (all modules) | ~$144/year | No |

Key differentiators:
1. AI entity extraction — no other writing app does this
2. Continuity checking — catches plot holes automatically
3. 4 AI providers + local Ollama — privacy-first, no vendor lock-in
4. 8-format export — broadest in the category
5. $59 lifetime — significantly cheaper than alternatives with AI
6. Native macOS — SwiftUI, not Electron

## About

Writers Studio is built by a solo developer. Development started approximately 18 months ago. The app is live for Mac through both Direct purchase and the Mac App Store.

- Website: https://litestep.com
- Product page: https://litestep.com/writers-studio
- Mac App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/writers-studio/id6758063563?mt=12
- Support: support@litestep.com
- License management: https://activate.litestep.com
- Mac App Store edition live as a free download with optional AI subscriptions