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WriterDown

Transform VS Code into a professional writing environment for novelists and storytellers with character tracking, story structure, and novel export features.

TypeScript VSCode Extension TextMate Grammar YAML Markdown
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WriterDown

Transform VS Code into a professional writing environment for novelists and storytellers. WriterDown provides enhanced Markdown syntax with character tracking, story markers, and comprehensive novel management features.

What It Does

WriterDown turns Visual Studio Code into a powerful writing studio specifically designed for creative writers. It extends Markdown with writer-specific features while maintaining the flexibility and power of VSCode.

Key Features

Smart Writing Tools

  • Real-time Word Counter - Excludes markup syntax for accurate counts
  • Project Totals - Track total words, pages, and chapters across entire project
  • Configurable Page Counting - Customize words per page (250/300/400 standards)
  • Chapter Navigation - Metadata-driven chapter organization with decimal numbering

Character Management

  • Auto-detection - Intelligent @Character mention tracking
  • Character Cards - Automatically generated character profiles
  • Global Renaming - Rename characters across all project files
  • Intellisense Support - Type @ for character autocomplete with previews

Story Structure

  • Metadata Chapters - YAML frontmatter for chapter organization
  • Story Markers - Categorized plot points (#! [EVENT], #! [BATTLE], etc.)
  • Writer Tasks - Track {TODO}, {RESEARCH}, {EDIT} items
  • Smart Sorting - Proper chapter ordering (5.2 before 5.10)

Enhanced Syntax

  • Dialogue Highlighting - Visual distinction for character speech
  • Story Markers - Color-coded plot points and character moments
  • Writer-specific Markup - Custom syntax for creative writing needs
  • Optimized Layout - 70-character word wrap for comfortable writing

Technology Stack

  • TypeScript - Core extension development
  • TextMate Grammar - Custom syntax highlighting rules
  • VSCode Extension API - Tree views, status bar, and command integration
  • YAML - Chapter metadata and configuration
  • Markdown - Base document format with extensions

Writing Syntax

Characters

1@Elena walked into the room where @[Lady Catherine] was waiting.
2@[Lord Halven] greeted @Marcus at the door.

Story Markers

1#! [EVENT] Elena discovers the ancient map
2#! [BATTLE] First skirmish with bandits
3#! [CHARACTER] Marcus reveals his secret
4#! [PLOT] Major revelation about the villain

Writer Tasks

1{TODO: Add more character development}
2{RESEARCH: Historical accuracy needed}
3{EDIT: Fix pacing in this section}
4{DEADLINE: Finish chapter by Friday}

Chapter Organization

1---
2chapter: 5.2
3title: 'The Forest Encounter'
4status: draft
5---
6# The Forest Encounter
7
8Your chapter content here...

Project Structure

your-novel/
├── Book/                    # All story content
│   ├── Chapter-1.md
│   ├── Chapter-5-1.md
│   └── Part2/
│       └── Chapter-10.md
├── Characters/             # Character cards (optional)
└── Notes/                  # Research, outlines, etc.

Access via the WriterDown activity bar icon:

  • Story Structure - Chapter navigation with word counts and EVENT markers
  • Story Markers - Categorized plot points organized by type
  • Characters - Auto-generated character cards from Book/ folder
  • Writer Tasks - TODO/RESEARCH/EDIT tracking across project

Perfect For

  • Novel Writers - Multi-chapter projects with complex character arcs
  • Short Story Authors - Organized development workflow
  • Screenwriters - Character dialogue and scene tracking
  • Academic Writers - Structured document organization
  • Content Creators - Long-form narrative content

Installation

  1. Open Visual Studio Code
  2. Go to Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
  3. Search for “WriterDown”
  4. Click Install
  5. Activate WriterDown syntax: Click language selector → “WriterDown”

Quick Start

  1. Create a Book/ folder for your chapters
  2. Add YAML frontmatter to chapter files with chapter and title fields
  3. Use @Character mentions and #! [CATEGORY] story markers
  4. Click the 📚 WriterDown sidebar icon to access all panels

Current Status

  • ✅ Production-ready with comprehensive writing features
  • ✅ Full character tracking and story structure
  • ✅ Professional novel export capabilities
  • ✅ Optimized writing environment
  • 🔄 Active development with writer feedback integration

WriterDown bridges the gap between simple text editors and complex writing software, providing the power of VSCode with features specifically designed for creative writers.