Lattuce tutorial · Writer
Starting a new paper
Start a Writer paper from a blank document, journey template, or imported DOCX with the right creation intent.
On New paper, choose where you are in the process. Each choice sets a creation intent that picks the default journey template and landing workspace.
Use the choice that matches the next piece of work, not the final type of publication. You can still change the journey later; the intent simply removes setup decisions from the first screen.
| Choice | Lands in | Default journey |
|---|---|---|
| Start from research | Research · Plan (Topic step) | Research paper |
| Start writing | Write workspace | Write first |
| Polish a draft | Write + review checklist | Polish first |
| Prepare for translation | DOCX upload | (translate lane) |
Advanced journey template
On the compose/research form, Advanced journey template overrides the template implied by your starting point (for example notebook-then-paper on a research bundle). Stage skips from your intent still apply.
Blank paper
From the library Manuscripts header ⋯ menu, Blank manuscript (/papers/write) creates an untitled manuscript with one section immediately. New manuscript opens /papers/new so the intent picker can choose research, compose, polish, or translation.
Creation checklist
Before you click Create, decide:
- whether the first input is a research question, an existing draft, a DOCX, or a translation request;
- which sources or collections should be available to the paper;
- whether the manuscript needs a course/exam or talk-then-paper journey;
- who needs to review the result and whether the deliverable is a DOCX export.
After creation, confirm that the paper opens in the expected mode and that its first section is present. If the landing workspace feels wrong, use the mode switcher or Writer modes instead of creating a duplicate paper.
Polish DOCX import
Polish papers can import an authored DOCX into Write sections (headings become section titles). First import works on empty papers. Replace existing is only allowed when the paper’s creation intent is polish.
If DOCX import fails during polish create, the empty paper is rolled back automatically.
Migration
Self-hosted deployments need migration 159_paper_journey_creation_intent.sql applied before creation intents persist on jemah_writer.paper_journey.
Continue the workflow
- Add references with Sources in Writer.
- Draft the first section in Compose.
- For a complete path from source discovery to export, follow The Writer paper lifecycle.
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