Welcome
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
Back up your Obsidian vault regularly to protect against data loss. Sync does not protect against all forms of data loss.
See Advanced-YAML#data-integrity--backups for additional recommendations.
- Onboarding-Fresh-Vault — Start from scratch with Book Designer and beats.
- Onboarding-Existing-Vault — Connect an existing manuscript to Radial Timeline.
- 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.