Manuscript Snapshotting & Version History

Protect Your Original Drafts During Major Revisions

I once deleted a ten-page sequence during a late-night editing session and immediately regretted it. I built the Snapshot system so authors could experiment fearlessly with their drafts, knowing every original thought is securely archived in their local database.

— Ben Wilson, Founder & Author

Risk-Free Revision

Revision often requires destructive changes to a manuscript. Verkilo lets you create static snapshots of your prose before you begin a structural overhaul.

• Section-level versioning. Capture the exact state of a single scene or folder without affecting the rest of the project.
• Snapshots live inside your project. No more Final_Draft_v2_V3 file clutter on your desktop. Your versions are stored in the project database.
• One-click restoration. Revert any section to a previously archived state instantly.
• Side-by-side comparison (planned). We are building a diff view to let authors compare historical snapshots against current prose for precise line editing.

Automated Local Backups

Manual snapshots protect your creative choices. Automated backups defend your data against hardware failure. Because Verkilo is local-first, these backups are stored on your terms.

• Save-triggered backups. Every save command initiates an incremental backup of your project state.
• Backup on close. Verkilo generates a complete copy of your project file every time you close the application.
• Choose your backup location. Map your backups to secondary drives or local synced directories like a NAS or private cloud folder.

Experiment Without Fear

A professional writing environment should let you take creative risks. Verkilo's version history transforms revision from a source of stress into a source of freedom. Cut chapters or pivot character arcs knowing your original work is preserved and accessible.

• Labeled versions. Add descriptive notes to your snapshots (Pre-Editing-Pass or Alternate Ending) to map your creative evolution.
• Metadata included. Snapshots preserve not just your prose, but your Series Bible tags and POV markers from that specific point in time.
• Recoverable for decades. Your history is stored in a non-proprietary format locally, so your work remains accessible long into the future.

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Save Comparison

Feature	Standard Word Processor	Verkilo
Undo Capability	Temporary (session-based)	Permanent (database-based)
Version History	Cloud-dependent, vague	Local-first, granular
Deletion Protection	Poor (requires manual save-as)	High (automatic section backups)
Storage	Proprietary cloud	Local, non-proprietary