Explore the sample novel
The sample novel is a short invented book with a bible and four recorded passes already in it. It's the quickest way to see what the revision history looks like before your own book has one.
Make the sample
- Choose File ▸ New Sample Novel…. In a document with no manuscript folder yet, you can also click Create beside Open the sample novel.
- Choose a folder for it, then click Put it here.
Colophon writes two things into that folder: a document called The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter and a small folder of chapters called Lighthouse Manuscript. The sample opens on History, so you can see its passes straight away.
If the sample is already in the folder you chose, Colophon opens the one that's there rather than writing a second copy.
Things to try
- Open a pass in History to see exactly which words changed. See Look back through your history.
- Look at a character in Characters to see which scenes they're in and who they appear with.
- Open Continuity to see items the sample has filed.
- Search for a sentence that was cut in one of the passes. See Search your book.
- Edit one of the sample's chapter files in your own writing app, then come back and choose Manuscript ▸ Check for Changes (⌘R).
The sample's chapters are yours to edit — they exist to be practised on.