Six book types and folder templates
When you create a book in Slima you pick a type. Looks like metadata, but it actually decides the starter folder skeleton + template files the book gets — and shapes what the AI Coach reads going forward.
Six types
| Type | For |
|---|---|
| Fiction | Novels, novellas, short-story collections |
| Biography | Autobiography, memoir, biography |
| Business | Business books, case studies, industry reads |
| Technical | Technical books, manuals, how-tos |
| Self-Help | Self-help, mindfulness, habit-building |
| General | Unsure / cross-genre / freeform |
The type chip appears in the Use AI Coach wizard, the Blank Workspace dialog, and the Edit Work modal — and can be changed any time.
Two template files every book gets
No matter which type you pick, Slima drops two files in the book root:
Writing Spec.md— what the AI Coach reads first for analysis and chat. Includes prompts for "work overview", "writing style preferences", "character notes" (template hint: "keep content under ~500 words for best results")Writing Plan.md— your note to future-you (chapter order, goals, research needed first)
These files don't count toward word counts but they shape AI behaviour. See Writing Spec.md.
Default folder templates
The names below are pulled from the actual i18n (book.defaultFolders). Localised names differ across locales but the structure is the same.
Fiction
Chapters
├── Chapter 1
├── Chapter 2
└── …
Notes
├── Characters
├── Worldbuilding
└── References
Core axes: chapters + characters. The AI Coach reads these first when it needs context.
Biography
Chapters (by time or theme)
Notes
├── People (family / friends / key figures)
├── Timeline
└── Sources (interviews / source material)
Extra Timeline + Sources — memoir needs to cross-check real events.
Business
Chapters
├── Introduction
├── Part 1
├── Part 2
└── Appendix
Notes
├── Case studies
└── References
Extra Case studies — the backbone of business books.
Technical
Chapters
├── Concepts
├── Tutorials
└── …
Notes
├── Reference
└── Images
Tutorials + Reference + Images — technical books accumulate screenshots and snippets.
Self-Help
Chapters
├── Intro
├── Part 1: Problem
├── Part 2: Method
└── Part 3: Practice
Notes
├── Exercises
├── Case studies
└── Resources
Extra Exercises — self-help often has worksheets.
General
Chapters
Notes
Cleanest. Pick this if you're not sure; add folders later.
Can I change it later?
Yes. The folder structure isn't a schema — it's just the starting point. You can:
- Add or delete any folder
- Drag files between folders
- Change the book type via Edit Work (but existing folders won't auto-reorganise)
See: Manage files and folders.
What else does the type affect?
Beyond starter folders + template files:
- AI Coach defaults — writing fiction vs writing a technical book, the Coach approaches differently (fiction → pacing / character arcs; technical → clarity / examples)
- AI chapter analysis lens — type decides the dimensions emphasised
- Default export template — different types get different export layouts
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