What each role can do
Everyone on a book has a role, and the role decides what they can do there. This page sets them side by side, so you can choose the right one when you invite someone.
The four roles
Owner
That's you, for the books you make. You can do everything: write, publish, change the page setup, invite and remove people, archive the book. A book has one owner, and the role can't be handed to anyone else.
Co-author
Someone who writes and decides alongside you. A co-author can:
- write and change the text directly;
- accept and reject suggested changes, and resolve comments;
- add, rename and reorder chapters, scenes and front and back matter;
- invite editors and readers, and remove them.
Editor
Someone who goes over your words and proposes changes. An editor can:
- read the whole book;
- suggest changes—everything they type shows as a tracked change, in their color, for you to accept or reject;
- comment on any passage, and reply to comments.
An editor can't change the text outright. Their editor is always in Suggesting mode, and the Writing button is greyed out with a note saying why.
Reader
Someone who reads and leaves notes—a beta reader, a proofreader marking typos, a friend. A reader can:
- read the whole book;
- comment on any passage, and reply to comments.
Which to choose
- A developmental or line editor: Editor. You keep the final say on every change.
- A proofreader: Editor if you'd like their corrections as changes you can accept with a click; Reader if you'd rather they just point things out.
- Beta readers: Reader.
- A writing partner on a shared book: Co-author.
You can change someone's role at any time from the Share window; see Invite an editor, co-author or reader.
What everyone sees
Every comment and every suggested change carries the name and color of the person who made it, so you always know whose idea it was before you decide. When you accept a change, the text becomes part of the book.
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