File tree: default folders + how to organize

The left file tree is the book's table of contents — chapters, characters, notes all live here. A book might end with 30–100 files; the organisation decides whether you can find anything.

Default folders

When you create a book, Slima sets up a starter folder structure that depends on the genre you picked in the wizard. Every layout includes a Chapters folder for your manuscript, plus one or more reference folders:

• Fiction (the default) — Chapters, Characters, World Building, Notes
• Biography — Chapters, People, Timeline, Sources
• Business — Introduction, Chapters, Case Studies, Appendix
• General — just Chapters and Notes

Whatever the layout, files split into two roles:

• Manuscript folders (e.g. Chapters, Introduction) — your actual book. Counts toward word totals, the AI Coach reads them as the primary text
• Reference folders (e.g. Characters, Notes, World Building) — supporting material. Doesn't count, the AI Coach reads them as supporting context

This distinction matters — see Manuscript vs Reference.

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A recommended layout

Varies by book type, but common patterns:

Novel

Chapters
├── Chapter 1
├── Chapter 2
└── …
Notes
├── Characters
│   ├── Protagonist
│   ├── Supporting
│   └── Antagonist
├── Worldbuilding
│   ├── Timeline
│   ├── Places
│   └── Reference
└── Writing Guidelines.md

Script (if you mix)

Chapters (one file per episode)
Notes
├── Character Bible
├── Scene list
├── Storyline tracking
└── Research

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Operations

Action	How
New file	+ icon next to a folder, or ⌘N
New folder	Right-click a folder → new folder
Rename	Double-click name / F2 / right-click
Drag to move	Drag — files and folders both
Delete	Right-click → delete (into this book's trash)

See: Manage files and folders

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Quick Open

⌘P opens Quick Open: fuzzy-search every file in the current book, filter as you type, Enter to open. With no query it lists your recently opened files. (Quick Open is scoped to the current book — it does not search across books.)

See: Quick Open

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Related

• Manuscript vs Reference
• Writing Guidelines.md
• Manage files and folders