Welcome

Welcome Screen

When you open Radial Timeline in an empty vault (or a vault with no scenes configured), a Welcome Screen greets you with a quick-start guide to get you writing fast.

Welcome screen — quick-start guide for new vaults

Get Started in a Few Steps

1. Set your source path

Point Radial Timeline at the folder containing (or that will contain) your manuscript scene files. Go to Settings → Core → General → Source path, or the Welcome Screen will prompt you.

2. Create scenes

You have two paths:

• Book Designer — Generate a complete manuscript scaffold with acts, subplots, characters, and optional beat notes in one click. This is the fastest way to see Radial Timeline in action.
• Manual — Use the command palette (Cmd/Ctrl + P) → Radial Timeline: Create basic scene note or Create advanced scene note to add scenes one at a time.

3. Set up your structure

• Acts — Default is 3-act structure. Adjust in Settings → Core → Acts.
• Story beats — Activate a beat system (Save the Cat, Hero's Journey, Story Grid) or create your own custom system in Settings → Core → Story beats system.

4. Explore modes

Switch between the three primary Timeline modes using keyboard shortcuts 1 (Narrative), 2 (Publication), and 3 (Chronologue) to see your story from different angles. Once you have a zero draft, try Gossamer mode (4) to map out the initial AI take on your momentum graph.

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Backup & Sync

Back up your Obsidian vault regularly to protect against data loss. Sync does not protect against all forms of data loss.

• Obsidian Backup Guide
• Obsidian Sync or Obsidian Git

See Advanced-YAML#data-integrity--backups for additional recommendations.

Next Steps

• Core Workflows — Learn how to plan, write, and track your novel.
• How-to — Reorder scenes, manage subplots, search, and rotate the timeline.
• YAML Frontmatter — Understand the metadata that powers your timeline.
• Commands — Full command palette reference.