Getting Started with Hearth

Welcome to Hearth! Here's everything you need to know to start writing and building a consistent daily habit.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Sign up with Google, GitHub, Discord, Microsoft, or Apple. Or register with email and password. Your account is ready in seconds.

You'll get 7 days of free access to try all features. No credit card required to start.

Step 2: Create Your First Project

After logging in, create your first project. Give it a name like "My Novel," "Daily Journal," or "Screenplay."

Projects help you keep different writing endeavors separate. Create as many as you need.

Step 3: Create Your First Document

Inside your project, create a new document. Give it a title and start writing.

The editor is minimal and focused. No toolbars, just you and your words. Your work saves automatically as you type.

Step 4: Set Your Daily Goal

Go to your dashboard and set a daily writing goal. We recommend starting small—10 or 15 minutes of active writing time.

Your goal should feel achievable. You can increase it later once the habit is established.

Step 5: Enable Reminders (Optional)

Set up email or Discord reminders to help you remember to write. Configure them to arrive at your preferred writing time.

Reminders are optional but helpful for building consistency, especially in the first few weeks.

Step 6: Write Daily

The most important step: write every day. Even if it's just 10 minutes. Even if what you write isn't great. The habit matters more than the output.

Watch your streak grow day by day. Don't break the chain.

Key Features to Explore

Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore these features:

• Folders: Organize chapters, notes, and research within projects
• Version History: View and restore previous drafts
• Document Sharing: Share work with beta readers
• Themes: Customize colors and appearance
• AI Tab-Complete: Enable AI suggestions for when you're stuck
• Export: Download your work in multiple formats

Tips for Success

Here's how to get the most out of Hearth:

• Start small: 10 minutes daily is better than 2 hours once a week
• Same time, same place: Build a routine
• Don't edit while drafting: Separate writing from editing
• Celebrate milestones: 7 days, 30 days, 100 days
• Be patient: Habits take 2-3 weeks to feel automatic

What's Next?

After your first week, you'll have:

• A 7-day writing streak
• Hours of accumulated writing time
• A project with real content
• The foundation of a daily habit

Keep going. The habit compounds. Daily writing turns into finished books, screenplays, and projects.

Need Help?

Browse our guides and feature pages for detailed information on specific features. Everything is designed to be intuitive, but we're here if you need help.

Learn More

• Daily Writing Habits Guide →
• How Streaks Work →
• All Resources →