User Guide

KCG Story Bible

KCG Story Bible is a desktop reference system for planning worlds, characters, story structure, lore, production notes, and supporting files inside a single .StoryBible database. It is designed to keep worldbuilding and drafting details organized while still making them easy to export and share.

One project file Your story data lives inside one portable database file.

Cross-linked entries Records can connect to records in any section through the Links tool.

Built-in exports Word, PDF, and Excel exports collect your database into shareable formats.

Story profile Save the project genre plus a structured Tone/Voice definition for the whole book.

Starting a Project

Use the File menu to create a new story bible or reopen an existing one. The main window stays centered on the same workflow: pick a section, select a record, and use the action buttons along the bottom.

Create a New Story Bible

Choose File > New Story Bible.
Select a folder and name for the new .StoryBible file.
The app creates the database structure automatically and opens the new file.

Load an Existing Story Bible

Choose File > Load Story Bible.
Select an existing .StoryBible file.
The window title updates and every section refreshes from the selected database.

Saving

There is no separate global save command. When you open an editor and press Savethat record is written directly to the open database.

Tip: Make backup copies of your .StoryBible file before major story revisions. One copied file gives you a full snapshot of the project at that point in time.

Main Window Layout

The application uses a section list on the left and a data view on the right. The right side changes based on the active section.

Sidebar: lists every major section in the database. Clicking a row switches the visible tab.
Section list: shows the records for the active section in column form.
Genre/Tone: opens the story profile editor for the loaded project.
New: opens the entry screen for the current section.
View/Edit: opens the selected record so you can review or change it.
Delete: removes the selected record after confirmation.
Links: opens the link manager for the selected record.
Open: is used on Other Files to launch the selected file with the system default application.
Status line: shows messages such as the current file path and export confirmations.

Story Profile

Use the Genre/Tone button to store book-level guidance that applies to the entire project instead of a single record.

Genre

Choose a genre from the built-in list or type your own custom genre text.

Tone/Voice

Pick a primary tone, environmental mood, and narrative pacing, then select up to three voice styles.

How It Saves

The story profile is saved directly into the open .StoryBible file and is included in Word, PDF, and Excel exports.

Tip: Use the story profile as your project compass. It is especially useful when you return to a draft after time away and want a quick reminder of the intended voice on the page.

Core Story Sections

These sections hold the main story-world records. They each use a dedicated editor window that matches the data they need to store.

Worlds

Stores a world or realm name, its system or galaxy, and a lore summary.

Locations

Stores a location name, linked world, geography, climate, and culture notes.

Characters

Stores a character name, role, faction, home world, physical description, and profile.

Timeline

Stores events with title, date, description, and a numeric order field for sorting.

Plot Points

Stores story beats with title, act, point of view, and summary.

World Rules

Stores rule categories, rule names, effects, and limitations.

Interactions

Stores two characters, the relationship type between them, and the current status of that relationship.

Inventory

Stores important items, ownership, location, and notes.

Other Files

Stores references to external files, along with a description and a saved path that can be opened from the main window.

Expanded Planning Sections

These sections use one flexible editor layout. Each record includes Title, Subcategory, Focus, Summary, and Details.

Goal

Use for character goals, faction goals, story objectives, scene purposes, and outcome tracking.

Theme

Use for central ideas, recurring questions, symbolic arguments, motifs, and interpretive framing.

Constant

Use for continuity anchors, immutable facts, recurring symbols, and details that should never drift between drafts.

Culture & Society

Use for factions, organizations, religions, customs, rituals, folklore, and social expectations.

Lore & History

Use for major historical events, eras, legends, glossary entries, naming systems, and inherited world memory.

Magic, Science & Tech

Use for power systems, technical rules, device specs, creatures, engineered species, or other system logic.

Meta & Production

Use for chapter logs, scene planning, themes, motifs, draft notes, revision planning, and cut material.

Tip: The list view for these sections shows only summary columns. Open View/Edit to see or revise the full Details text.

Working with Records

The basic workflow is the same in every section: create a record, fill in the fields that matter, and return later to expand it.

Create

Select a section, click Newcomplete the editor, and press Save.

Review or Change

Select a row and click View/EditThe editor reopens with the saved data.

Delete

Select a row and click DeleteConfirm only when you are sure, because the app does not provide undo.

World and character relationships: Locations can point to Worlds, Characters can point to a Home World, and Interactions can point to two Characters.
Structured sections: Use short summaries for the list view and reserve longer explanation for the Details field.
Other Files: Save a clear description so you can identify the file later without opening it first.

Using the Links Tool

Links connect one record to another, even across different sections. This is how the app captures cross-reference relationships such as membership, appearance, ownership, origin, influence, and narrative connection.

Select a record in the main window.
Click Links.
Choose a Target Section.
Choose the specific Target Entry.
Enter a short Relationship Label such as member of, appears in, founded, conflicts with, or located in.
Add optional notes for context.
Click Add Link.

The lower list in the link manager shows every saved link for the selected source record. Select a saved link and click Delete Link to remove it.

Tip: Use consistent relationship labels across your project. Reusing labels such as belongs to or connected to makes your exported link map easier to read.

Working with Other Files

The Other Files section is for outside assets that are not stored inside the database itself.

Use New to add a file reference.
Enter a file name, the file path, and a description.
Select the saved row and click Open to launch the file in the default application for your operating system.

Tip: If you move or rename a referenced file outside the app, the saved path will no longer match. Reopen the record and update the path so the Open button keeps working.

Exporting the Story Bible

The File menu includes three export commands. Each export collects the loaded database into a different format.

Export To Word

Creates a .docx document with the story profile, all sections, and a final Entry Links section.

Export To PDF

Creates a printable PDF version of the story bible, including the story profile and links map.

Export To Excel

Creates a workbook with a Story Profile worksheet, one worksheet per section, and an Entry Links worksheet.

Open the story bible you want to export.
Choose an export command from the File menu.
Select the destination file name.
Wait for the status message confirming that the export is complete.

Exports include the story profile, the main story data, the structured sections, and the saved links between records.

Helpful Writing Practices

The app is flexible, but a little discipline makes it much more useful over time.

Name things consistently

Use the same spelling and naming style everywhere, especially for factions, places, terms, and file labels.

Write short summaries first

Get the record into the database quickly, then return later to deepen the details.

Use links intentionally

Link records when the relationship matters to the story, not just because two entries mention each other.

Back up milestones

Copy the .StoryBible file before big rewrites, structural changes, or editing sessions.

Help Menu

The Help menu provides quick access to the built-in support windows.

Help > Documentation: opens this guide.
Help > About: shows the application information window.
Help > License Agreement: opens the license window.