Novelize

Novelize is a full-stack application created for writers in the process of drafting a novel. It was created to solve the problem of juggling multiple documents containing prose, character profiles, plot outlines, research notes, and worldbuilding systems.

Novelize is a free, easy-to-use program with a clean and modern UI.

To test out the application, visit the link below. You can create your own account or use the test demo account:

• Email: user@test.com
• Password: password

If you choose to use the test demo account, please be respectful about the data that is preloaded.

https://novel-ize.herokuapp.com/

Tech Stack

Novelize uses the following technologies:

• MySQL (using JawsDB as an online host)
• Express
• React
• Node
• Passport
• Heroku

How to Use Novelize

• First, users must create an account.
• Upon first login, users will be prompted to add a new story to their account.
• They will then be able to open the main editing environment, or quick-jump to edit charaters, notes, plotlines, or worldbuilding items.
• Users are able to delete any of these items from their account.

Novelize's Pages

• Home

  

• Login or Register

  

• User Dashboard

  

• Main Editor

  

• Character Edit

  

• Plot Edit

  

• Worldbuilding Edit

  

• Notes Edit

  

How It Works

• Novelize utilizes React's stateful components and database calls to automatically update and save the user's writing.
• Express hosts the site's API routes, and the rest of the pages are routed using the React Router.
• MySQL holds multiple associated tables that tie the user's data to their account.
• The drafting spaces use TinyMCE, an NPM plugin for editing text.
• The front-end design was created using Bootstrap.

Future Development

Novelize is currently developing the following features:

• Ability to import and export stories and data
• Draft versioning and history
• Reorder plot items in the plot timeline
• Visually display where the user is in their plotline
• Send reminder emails to write
• Allow users to adjust their account settings
• Store session data in a more secure way
• Incorporate Google login as an authentication option
• Full mobile responsiveness

On a more grainy level...

• Remove comments from client code

• Refactor client code, as there are a lot of repeat functions

• Refactor server-side sanitization

• Avoid mutating objects

• Remove all the alerts just added as temporary notices for required fields

• Add visual notice of required title fields

• Debounce database writes from the client

• Fix tinymce editor size

• Adjust positioning of plot point dots (same line as title)

• Allow users to login or register by hitting enter key

• Adjust spacing for characters without images (left-align it)

• Add an autosave indicator

• Investigate redux as a solution for global data

• Set up a linting service

• Move to typescript

• Add in error handling for all CRUD actions

• Fix React compile warnings (mostly double ==)