# Writing Novels with Plain Text: Why I Built manuSCRIPT
I write novels one chapter per file. Each chapter is a plain `.txt` or `.md` file. No formatting. No bold, no italic, no layout. Just words and line breaks.
This approach has advantages. I can write on any device—laptop, phone, tablet—without worrying about software compatibility. Files sync via any basic cloud service. Version control works. I can use diff tools to see exactly what changed between drafts. Merge conflicts are manageable. The files are small, fast, and future-proof.
But turning 50 plain text files into a PDF or EPUB is tedious. Copy-paste into Word? Manually format each chapter? Export, troubleshoot: tedium that breaks the flow or adds an hour at the end of a session when my eyes are aching and I need to get out the chair!
## manuSCRIPT
So I built manuSCRIPT. A desktop app that takes chapter files and generates manuscripts in seconds.
### How It Works
1. **Select your chapter files** – Drag and drop, or browse. The app handles `.txt`, `.md`, and `.rtf` files.
2. **Automatic organization** – Extracts chapter numbers and titles from filenames. Sorts chapters automatically.
3. **Configure once** – Set your title, author, fonts, margins, line spacing. All settings persist between sessions.
4. **Generate** – Click once to create PDF, EPUB, and ZIP archive of source files.
The app recognizes standard chapter naming patterns:
– `1_chapter_title.txt`
– `Chapter 2 – Title.md`
– `03_1972_title.txt` (supports dates in filenames)
### Features
**PDF output** includes a cover page with title, author, word count, and page estimates. Configurable fonts (Georgia, Arial, Courier), page sizes (A4/A5), margins, and spacing.
**EPUB output** creates e-reader compatible files with a proper table of contents.
**ZIP archive** backs up your source files alongside the formatted manuscripts.
The app remembers your preferences. Output location, manuscript details, formatting choices—everything persists. Versioning is automatic: if `Novel_Title` exists, it creates `Novel_Title_v2` instead of overwriting.
Write in plain text. Keep it simple. When you’re ready to share, let manuSCRIPT handle the formatting.
The app is open source and available on GitHub. Built with Electron, PDFKit, and epub-gen. MIT licensed.
Plain text for writing. Professional output when you need it. That’s the workflow.
Drop me a DM or Tweet at me on Twitter if you don’t want to build it yourself and want the exe or app.