Getting Started with Projects

Your Dashboard: Command Center for All Projects

When you log into Inkfluence AI, the Dashboard is your home base. Here you see all active projects displayed as cards with preview thumbnails, last-edited dates, and quick stats like word count and completion percentage.

To create a new draft, enter a title in the "Start from Scratch" card and click Create Draft. A setup dialog appears where you can optionally add details like category, target audience, and description to help AI generate better content. You can skip this step and fill it in later.

Use descriptive project names that include your niche and content type. For example, "Fitness Guide - 30-Day Challenge" is more searchable than "Book 1". This becomes important when managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Creating Your First Project Step by Step

From the Dashboard, type your title and click Create Draft. The setup dialog appears with optional fields for category (Business, Marketing, Self-Help, Fitness, etc.), target audience, and description.

These details help the AI understand your goals and generate more relevant content. All fields except the title are optional - skip them and add details later from project settings.

Once you click Save and Continue (or Skip for Now), your project is created and you see the chapter editor with an empty canvas. Start adding chapters, writing content, or use the AI assistant to generate your first draft.

Adding and Organizing Chapters

Once your project is created, the chapter sidebar appears on the left. Click "+ Add Chapter" to insert a new section. Rename chapters to reflect actual content - "Introduction to Content Marketing" is more useful than "Chapter 1".

Chapters can be reordered using the up and down arrow buttons next to each chapter in the sidebar. This is useful when you want to restructure your narrative flow without rewriting.

Chapter badges show the chapter number and word count at a glance. Free plans include up to 5 chapters, Creator plans allow 35 chapters, and Premium is unlimited. Plan your structure accordingly or upgrade when you need more capacity.

Configuring Project Settings and Metadata

Click the Export button in the project header to access metadata settings. In the Metadata tab you can update your title, author name, and description. These details appear in your exported PDF, EPUB, and DOCX files.

The export dialog also lets you configure branding options like colors and fonts. You can write a custom introduction and outro that will be added to every export, or leave them blank to use defaults.

All settings are saved to your project and remembered for future exports, so you only need to configure them once.

Exporting and Sharing Your Work

When you are ready to share your ebook, click the Export button in the project header. Export to PDF (best for lead magnets and direct sales), EPUB (for Amazon KDP, Apple Books, and other stores), or DOCX (for further editing in Word).

Each export includes your content, cover design, branding, and metadata. You can export as many times as needed - each export creates a fresh file with your latest changes.

For Amazon KDP publishing, export as EPUB and upload directly to your KDP dashboard. Check out our KDP SEO Checklist at /kdp-seo for tips on optimizing your listing.

Using AI Throughout Your Project

The AI Writing Assistant is accessible from the toolbar in the chapter editor. It offers functions to generate new content from prompts, enhance existing text, expand sections, or rewrite in different tones - all powered by GPT-4.

To generate a chapter from scratch, click the AI button, then describe what you want. The AI produces a draft based on your instructions and project context.

You can also highlight existing text and choose enhancement options. The AI rewrites while preserving your key points and examples. Combine AI generation with manual editing for the best results.

Common Issues and Solutions

Q: I hit my chapter limit but need more. A: Free plans allow 5 chapters. Upgrade to Creator (35 chapters) for just 4.99/month or Premium (unlimited) for 9.99/month. Alternatively, split content into multiple projects.

Q: My project is not saving. A: Check your internet connection - autosave requires an active connection. Changes save automatically every 30 seconds and after major edits.

Q: Can I import an existing Word document? A: Yes. From the Dashboard, use the "Import from File" card to upload a .docx or .txt file. Chapters are detected automatically based on headings.

Key Takeaways