How do you archive completed manuscripts?
- A dedicated archive folder per finished book.
- Contents: final manuscript, all draft snapshots, editor markup, project summary.
- Archived to cloud storage and an offline drive.
- A one-page project summary names key decisions and lessons learned.
- Working authors archive within 30 days of publication.
You archive completed manuscripts in a dedicated folder per book containing the final manuscript, every draft snapshot, all editor markup files, and a one-page project summary covering key decisions and lessons learned. The archive lives in cloud storage and an offline drive. Working authors archive within 30 days of publication; the archive is then read-only.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Active book folders accumulate dozens of files over a year-plus project. Once the book ships, mixing those files with the next book’s working files creates confusion and risks accidental edits to published material. A dedicated archive separates "done" from "in progress" and preserves the project history for future reference or sequels.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A dedicated folder named "[Book Title] - ARCHIVED" or similar.
- The final compiled manuscript (.docx and final-format files).
- All numbered draft snapshots.
- All editor markup files (developmental, line, copy, proofread).
- A one-page project summary: key decisions, lessons learned, budget vs actual.
- Cloud and offline copies, marked read-only.
Chapter iii·Example
A working novelist archives her published 80,000-word romance 30 days after launch: one folder named "Stargazer - ARCHIVED" containing the final .docx, 5 numbered draft snapshots, 4 editor markup files, the print and ebook layouts, and a one-page summary noting "Cut 8k words in dev edit; line edit took 5 weeks; BookBub promo at T-30 generated highest ROAS at 4.1x." Future-her thanks past-her.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom keeps every completed book project in one workspace, archived and searchable — your backlist as a queryable library.
See the Write studio