Getting Started With Your AutoCrit Journey

Step 1 - Create a new Project

Click the + Project button in your Writer's Desk to create a new project folder. Give it a name and click save to store it in your Writer's Desk.

Step 2 - Upload or add a new document

Uploading

Click the Upload button to add your manuscript to AutoCrit. AutoCrit supports .docx, .rtf, and .txt file types. If you have any trouble uploading, there are a few additional formatting elements that might need to be removed, such as page numbers, unique fonts, MS Word inline comments, and numerous images. There are no word count limits for new files.

See this support post if you get any errors uploading your file.

Adding a New File

Click the Add button and then click the Red File option to create a new Document.

Once you have added your file, click the arrow in the top left to return to your projects area.

Now you're ready to set up your AutoCrit Journey.

Step 3 - Click the Add option at the top of your new Project folder on the right here, and then click on the blue Journey option:

The Journey progress tracker will open a setup screen.

In the Roadmap Setup section, you can choose between pre-built AutoCrit Journey templates. Our Novel90 Challenge templates were designed for writing 50,000-word books in 90 days. You can choose the plan that best fits your writing style, or create your own custom journey.

Novel90 Planner Template - for writers who plan significantly before any writing begins.

Novel90 Plantser Template - for writers who plan as they write.

Novel90 Pantser Template - for writers who plan minimally, let the story unfold in their writing, and reverse-outline after.

If you'd like to set up your own Journey roadmap, you can click the Create My Own Tasks option on the right. We'll talk about that more in a moment.

Writing Goals

Once you've selected the prebuilt or custom option, you can follow these steps.

1. Add your expected overall project word count goal. You can use the default 50,000 word count if you are unsure. All of these values are adjustable later on.

2. Your daily word goal is the number of words you'll commit to adding daily.

3. Set your project start and end dates.

Then click Start Your Journey to begin.

While on your Projects Dashboard (click here to return there) follow these steps.
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Step 1 - Click the Add option at the top of your new Project folder on the right here, and then click on the blue Journey option:

The Journey progress tracker will open a setup screen.

Step 2 - Choose the Create My Own Tasks option on the right.

Then fill out your estimated Journey goals (you can adjust these later, or use the default values if you're unsure).

Overall Word Count Goal - total word count goal for the entire project (calculated based on the total words of all files in the same project folder).

Daily Word Count Goal - total words typed in the AutoCrit program in any of the files in this project folder.

Start and End Dates - helps to calculate the pace and endpoint for your project.

Once done, click the Start Your Journey button:

Step 3 - As soon as your Journey has been created, click the Guide button at the top here:

In the instruction box, you can ask the AI to generate an action plan with steps for planning your book, then click Run.

Step 4 - accept the steps you want to keep, and reject the ones you'd like to remove from your plan.

You can modify these steps by clicking on them and changing their dates, titles, and short descriptions. You can also add additional information if you prefer by clicking on them to open their details sections on the right.

If you have any trouble typing there, try checking if the details section is in viewing or editing mode.

Phases are the larger containers in the Journey on the left that encapsulate the Steps.

You can add steps by clicking the Add Step button at the bottom of the Phase.

You can add Phases by clicking the Add Phase button, under your existing Phases.

You can duplicate or delete Phases and Steps by clicking the 3 vertical dots on the right-hand side of each.

They can also be dragged and dropped into different positions by clicking and holding the 6 dots on the left.

Phases also allow you to customize their icons. You can do that by clicking the icon and switching it to one that better fits the Phase in progress.

When steps are overdue and are not marked completed, their dates will turn red. If they have been completed, they will not.

The progress of your Phases will reflect in the Journey Progress tracking section on the right.

If you're building a custom journey and need some help building steps, you can use the Journey AI guide tool.
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Click Guide at the top of any Phase to begin.

There are a few quick options you can click on to get started, or you can add custom instructions for steps in the input field provided. Click Run when you're ready to create your custom steps.

Quick-Start Options

Suggest Next Steps - will provide additional steps based on the existing ones and your project data.
Expand This Phase - will add additional steps in smaller tasks.

Reorganize Steps - will rearrange your steps into a smoother workflow.
Adjust Timeline - will adjust the timeline based on your outstanding tasks and remaining time.
Simplify Roadmap - will simplify the process.
Add Missing Tasks - will add additional steps that might be missing in your phase.
Help Me Catch Up - helps you adjust steps to reach your target completion date.

Custom Journey Instructions

Type your text into the input field here, then click Run:

In a few seconds, your steps will appear:

Click the Accept or Reject options to choose which steps you want to keep and remove.

These are fully editable, and you can use the Guide button to make changes to them as well.

On the right-hand side of your Journey file, you'll see tracking options.

Journey Progress

This section shows the progress of your phases and steps. The Phase icons will display in gray if none of the steps in them have been switched to "In Progress". If one or more steps are set to In Progress, they will switch to blue. If all steps have been switched to the Completed status, they will switch to green in the Journey Progress tracker.

This also tracks your overall project word count progress.

​Journey Coach

The Journey Coach can be updated by clicking the Update button. Your coach will provide insights, encouragement, and more. You can click the downward arrow, next to the Update button, to ask your Coach for personal advice based on your project.

Word Count Tracking

This section tracks your overall word count goal, your project start and end dates, and provides a timer and progress tracker to monitor your progress over time.

You can edit your totals at any time by clicking the Overall Goal, Start Date, and End Date options, or by clicking any of the gear icons to edit them.

Daily Word Count

This section shows you your daily word count goal progress and the amount of time you have left to accomplish it.

You can edit your daily word count target by clicking the settings cogwheel icon next to Total Progress as well.

If you need further help, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or by messaging us in the support chat. We're always happy to help!

We look forward to being a part of your Writing Journey!

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