Getting started

Vespers is a desktop writing app for long-form work. It gives you one place to set an intention, shape the project, draft sections, review progress, and export a manuscript.

The Vespers welcome screen with a Start a new project button.

Your project stays on your Mac as ordinary text files. Vespers does not require a cloud account or subscription.

Start a Project

Open Vespers and choose Start a new project.

The project wizard has three short steps.

The New Project wizard asking for a project name.

Give the project a working title. You can rename the manuscript later.

The New Project wizard showing structure templates, with Hero's Journey selected.

Choose a starting structure. Blank starts empty. The other templates give you beats you can rename, move, or delete.

The New Project wizard showing focus session defaults, with 30 flow selected.

Choose a focus session default. This controls the first timer mode on the Focus panel. You can change it later.

Click Create project when you are ready.

Learn the Four Panels

Vespers is organized around four panels.

  • Focus keeps today's intentions and writing sessions.
  • Editor is where you write scenes, compendium entries, and project documents.
  • Planner holds the project structure.
  • Dashboard shows progress, revision signals, and writing history.

You can move between panels at any time. The panels describe different ways of looking at the same project.

Add Your First Scene

Open Planner.

Create or select a chapter, then add a scene. Give the scene a working title and a purpose. Purpose is a short note about why the scene belongs in the project.

The Planner can show columns such as Purpose, Setting, Conflict, Stakes, and Outcome. Use only the columns that help you think clearly.

Write the Scene

Open the scene in Editor.

Start typing. Vespers saves as you go.

Markdown shortcuts stay available when you want them:

  • **bold** and *italic* format emphasis.
  • # Heading creates a heading.
  • * * * on its own line creates a scene break.

Use comments, highlights, and strikethrough when you want to leave editorial marks for later.

Track a Session

Open Focus when you want to work with a clear intention.

Choose a session mode, add or select an intention, and begin. Vespers tracks active and idle time so the record reflects how the session actually went.

Focus sessions can be attached to scenes, compendium entries, documents, or freeform work.

Check Progress

Open Dashboard when you want to review the project.

Dashboard shows recent writing, manuscript progress, prose signals, open editorial marks, and long-term contribution patterns. Use it to decide what needs attention next, then return to the manuscript.

Export the Manuscript

Open Settings, then choose Project.

Export the manuscript as a Shunn-formatted .docx when you are ready to share it. You can also export the project folder if you want a readable copy of the scenes and compendium entries outside Vespers.