Writing a series means every new book needs the same cast, the same world, and the same look, but not the previous book's actual chapters. Deckle's Project Templates are built for exactly this split.
What You'll Need
- A finished (or far enough along) book in the series, with its styling, Codex, and binder structure the way you want future books to start.
Step-by-Step
- Decide what should carry over. For a series, that's usually your Codex (the same characters, locations, and world), your style/theme setup, and your binder's chapter/section structure, but not Book 1's actual manuscript text.
- Replace Book 1's chapter and scene text with placeholder or scaffolding content before exporting. This is the one step Deckle can't do for you. It has no way to tell your real prose from intentional placeholder text, so skipping this step means your actual manuscript ends up in the template file.
- Export as Template (File menu), with a name and description that make it clear this is your series template, not a general-purpose one.
- Start Book 2 from it via New Project → From Template File. Your Codex, styling, and structure are already there, ready for new chapters.
- Keep Book 1 as your real, unmodified project. Exporting as a template works from a copy. Your original project isn't touched, so there's no risk to your finished manuscript from this process.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to replace real manuscript text with placeholders before exporting. Deckle automatically clears writing history, trash, and the book's title/author, but chapter and scene content isn't touched, since it can't distinguish placeholder text from your actual writing.
- Assuming this modifies your original project. It doesn't. Export works from a temporary copy, so Book 1 itself is completely unaffected either way.
- Building a series template without your Codex. If continuity across books matters, make sure your characters and locations are actually filled out in Codex before exporting. That's what makes a series template genuinely useful versus just a styling preset.
FAQ
Will Book 2 start with Book 1's actual chapters if I use this?
Only if you didn't replace them with placeholder text first. Deckle doesn't clear chapter/scene content automatically, since it has no way to tell your real manuscript from intentional scaffolding.
Do my characters and world details carry over to the new book?
Yes, if they're in Codex. Codex entries are part of what a Project Template packages, which is exactly what makes it useful for a series.
Is my original Book 1 project affected by exporting it as a template?
No. Exporting works from a copy of your project, never the live one you're actively writing in.