Fortelling 4.0 — Beta
After a long wait, we’re thrilled to announce a major update for Fortelling! The Fortelling 4.0 update has been over a year in the making, and we’ve been sharing sneak peeks on Discord and Telegram along the way. If you’re not already part of our community, join us there to stay on top of the latest news!
This update focuses primarily on enhancing the look and feel of the web version, but don’t worry — we haven’t forgotten about our mobile apps. Many of the exciting new features available on the web will also be available on mobile.
Ready to dive in? Scroll down to learn how you can access our 4.0 beta build. But first, here’s a quick overview of everything that’s new!
1. General
A. Look & Feel
Web — The web version is no longer just an enlarged version of our mobile app. We’ve taken our time and completely redesigned it to make the most of a larger screen. This means you can expect a tool that looks better and works more intuitively, with a layout and features specifically optimized for web use. With this update, we’re delivering a smoother, more powerful experience that feels natural and efficient, whether you’re brainstorming plot points, developing characters, or fine-tuning your story.
B. Navigation
Web —The navigation on the web version now uses a brand-new link system, allowing your URL bar to reflect exactly which page you’re on. You can bookmark these links or share them with others, and the correct page will load instantly. This feature makes it easier than ever to collaborate with others, providing direct access to specific sections of your project with just a click.
C. Homescreen
Web & Mobile —The project home screen has been transformed into a dynamic dashboard designed to give you an at-a-glance overview of your writing progress. You’ll find your weekly statistics and recently edited chapters right at the top, so you can easily track your productivity. Below that, your favorite story elements are displayed for quick access, followed by a list of the story elements you’ve recently opened, created, or edited. And with the yellow plus button at the top, you can effortlessly create any new story element you need, whenever inspiration strikes!
D. Labels
Web & Mobile —Our main goal was to streamline the label creation process and make it more intuitive. Previously, you could enable or disable labels from a specific tool, but that system has now been completely revamped. We’ve introduced a new folder system, allowing you to group your labels into folders for a more organized and structured approach. This change not only replicates the functionality of the old system but also offers a significant improvement in how you manage and categorize your labels, making it easier to keep track of all your story elements.
2. Story Elements
A. New types of fields
Web & Mobile — Currently, you can only add text fields to your story elements. But with Fortelling 4.0 you will be able to add new different types of data to your story elements. There will be:
- Text: just like you’re used to
- Slider: set a custom start and end tag with a custom amount of steps
- Story element: select a list of story elements and link them inside of a field
- Selector: select a value from a pre-defined list
B. Templates
Web & Mobile — We’re thrilled to introduce our new template builder feature! Each tool now includes a variety of customizable templates, allowing you to design a setup tailored to your needs. You can select only the fields you want without affecting the rest of the tool. While we provide a selection of default fields to get you started, you also have the flexibility to create and incorporate your unique fields. This enhancement lets you craft a more personalized and efficient workflow for your writing process. With Fortelling 4.0, you can customize the default tools, so languages can now have sub-languages if that’s something you want to see.
C. Tables
Web & Mobile —Tables now offer a powerful way to organize your data, adding a whole new dimension to your storytelling process. Instead of dealing with lengthy blocks of text, you can use tables to categorize and manage information neatly. Within each field of your table, you can input text or select other story elements, making connecting and referencing different parts of your story easier.
D. InkLink
Web & Mobile — I would love to introduce InkLink to you. This feature is literally the link between your ink. It will allow you to share your templates with a general marketplace. So let’s say you’ve created a fantastic template for a wizard in the characters tool in your project. But now you want to share it with your friend. You upload the template to InkLink and your friend will be able to download the template to his project. He can update his local template to the latest version whenever you make changes. I’m certain InkLink will elevate the community and collaboration aspects to another level. In a future release, I will make the same functionality work for tools, tables, and story elements (!!!). This way you can share elements between projects without worrying about where you left them and re-writing the same info twice. Note: you can also add private templates and use them between your projects without them being publicly available.
3. File system
Web & mobile —The image gallery has been significantly enhanced with the introduction of folders, giving you more control over organizing and managing your assets. Now, you can sort your images into folders, rename them, and add labels to keep everything neatly categorized and easy to find. But that’s not all — the most significant new feature is the ability to upload any relevant file directly to Fortelling. Whether it’s a reference document, a character sketch, or a vital research file, you can now link these files to specific story elements, quickly accessing all your resources in one convenient place.
4. Writing
A. plot outline tool
Web & Mobile — One of the new tools in this update is the plotting tool. With Fortelling 4.0, you can see all the scenes you’ve created for a book in one extensive overview. This allows you to drag scenes between chapters easily, making plotting a hundred times easier. The scenes themselves also got an upgrade with labels and links. If you link a story element to a scene, it will automatically link it to the chapter.
B. Version history & status
Web & Mobile — Fortelling 4.0 will offer a more advanced and integrated system between the version history and the chapter status system. The app will automatically track your chapters’ status based on your actions. It will mark a chapter as ‘outlining’ if you create a scene and mark it as writing once you start actually writing. You will be able to number your versions by creating a manual save. Once your chapter is ready for the next stage, you can create a new version which marks it as done. Add a description to keep track of the changes you made to the chapter.
C. Statistics
Web & Mobile — We gave the statistics overview screen a new layout. This way, it’s much easier to grasp your writing progress. The included statistics will be:
- Current writing streak
- Longest writing streak (consecutive days)
- Total writing days
- Overall progress towards total writing goal (E.g., 12% of 80.000 words)
- Weekly and daily goals
- Story element count (E.g., 12 characters)
5. Collaboration
A. Logbook
Web & Mobile — With the introduction of the new logbook, you’ll have a powerful tool to monitor the progress of your entire team. This feature allows you to see exactly what changes your teammates have made and when they made them, giving you a clear timeline of all updates and edits within your project. No more guessing who adjusted what — everything is documented in one place. This transparency streamlines communication, reduces confusion, and makes collaboration smoother and more efficient than ever before. Whether you’re working with a small group or a large team, the logbook keeps everyone on the same page and ensures that your project stays organized and on track.
B. Wiki-mode
Web & Mobile — Have you always wanted to share details of your project with your fan base? Now, you can do just that! With our new wiki mode, you can easily share story elements by simply enabling the feature and providing a link to your project. It’s as easy as that. Plus, with the new visibility settings, you can control what your readers see — choose which elements to reveal and which to keep hidden, allowing you to build anticipation and keep your audience guessing about what might happen next.
And there’s more to come! In future updates, you’ll also be able to share chapters with your readers, opening up even more possibilities for engaging with your community and building excitement around your work. But for now, enjoy this powerful new way to connect with your audience and let them explore the world you’re creating!
Get access to the beta
Visit https://beta.fortelling.app for access to the first public beta build.
Older projects can not be opened just yet. You will have to create a new test project for the beta.
Your feedback is critical at this stage of development. Is there something you dislike? Do you have a suggestion, or do you see a bug? Use the built-in bug report tool to reach out to us. If possible, also include a screenshot.
Thank you for your continued support. Let’s make writing and creativity accessible to anyone in the world.
— Albert-Jan Plate
