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Pick a Studio and create your first book
Last updated May 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Five minutes from "I just signed up" to "I have a first chapter."
0 · Pick a Studio
After you sign in, Slima opens on a "Choose your creative space" start screen:
- Writing Studio — novels, essays, memoirs, long-form prose
- Script Studio — screenplays, TV series
- AI Beta Readers — import a manuscript and have AI readers give feedback
Open the Writing Studio your first time — it's the most flexible. To switch Studios later, click the Slima starburst at the top of the left bar and a switcher opens (Writing Studio / Script Studio / AI Beta Reader).
See: The 3 Studios + Slima MCP, in one read
1 · You land on "My Works"
Picking a Studio drops you on My Works — your shelf, where every book lives from now on. The thin activity bar on the far left runs, top to bottom: the Slima starburst (switch Studio), the current Studio, and your writing stats.
2 · Create your first book
On "My Works" hit "+ New work." A "Create New Work" dialog opens with four ways to start:
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Use AI Coach | First time in Slima, want to talk the idea through before writing |
| Blank Workspace | You know what you want, just open the editor |
| Import Existing Content | You have a Word / Markdown draft to bring in |
| Restore Backup | You exported a .slima backup and want to restore it |
3 · The two starters you'll use most
Blank Workspace — clicking it instantly creates an "Untitled Work" (type set to General, with Chapters and Notes folders), no form to fill, straight into the editor. Rename it, set the genre and word-count goals later in the book's edit settings.
Use AI Coach — first you get a short "Work Settings" form:
- Give your content a name
- What type is this (Fiction / Biography / Business / Technical / Self-Help / General)
- What is this about (a sentence, a scene, or just an idea — anything works)
- ☐ I already have an outline
Hit "Start" and the AI Coach talks your concept through with you, asks questions, and nudges you to begin — it does not auto-generate chapters or write the draft for you.
4 · Inside the editor
You'll see:
- Left file tree — chapters, notes, references
- Centre editor — where you write
- Right AI Coach — chat, revise, continue
Open the Chapters folder, click "+ Add content", start typing.
See: Editor overview
5 · Write your first 50 words
Don't think too much — drop in 50 words. Slima will:
- Create the first version automatically (always restorable)
- Stamp your first writing session (the motivation system picks it up)
- Start counting today's words (the motivation card on the home page updates)
You're a Slima writer now.