Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
The Reedsy Studio book editor app has a lot of incredibly useful features, including collaboration. Even the free version of Reedsy has a lot of use when it comes time to write your manuscript. Today, we’re taking a closer look at collaborating and how it works in Reedsy.
It was one of the features I was looking forward to the most. I have a few people who would love to help me make the manuscript more appealing, and transferring the manuscript back and forth to Google Docs was quite a pain.
All it takes nowadays is for my collaborators, editors, and beta readers to have a free Reedsy Studio account.
Assigning Collaboration in Reedsy
Adding collaborators is a bit different than merely sharing the preview of the manuscript. When you add collaborators, they have almost all of the same tools and abilities as you. This means they can write, move, delete, and make sweeping changes to the manuscript.
This is why it’s vital that you trust the person you’re adding. A lot of damage can be done, whether it be an accident or a malicious act. Luckily, there are a few things you can do that can limit the damage, such as constantly exporting backups or using the history tool.
To add a collaborator, click the “Share” icon on the bottom right of the Reedsy book editor.
Click the green “+” button to invite someone. This will bring up the “Add another writer” window.
Input the email address for the person you want to include and click the “Add” button. You can add as many email addresses as you’d like, which is helpful if you’re including several editors, writers, or beta readers.
Once you’ve built the email list, click the “Send” button. A message will be sent to all of those parties with a link to your manuscript.
Those who do not have a free Reedsy Studio account need to create one to use the link. They’ll be prompted to do so before they can access your novel.
Working With Your Collaborators
Perhaps the two primary reasons for adding collaborations to Reedsy Studio are co-authoring and editing. It’s a great platform if you’re working on a book with a friend or have someone helping you with any kind of edits in the manuscript.
Although I mentioned beta reading a moment ago, adding them as collaborators might not be the best option for everyone. After all, they’ll have access to the entire manuscript. If you’re adding strangers as collaborators as a perk for memberships, a lot can go wrong.
Luckily, I fully trust everyone who has access to my book, and they’ve never let me down. So, for me, it’s an ideal use of the function. And I’ve created some great things thanks to my betas.
In any case, Reedsy Studio makes it easy to manage collaboration. You can keep a close eye on who is doing what, changes that are made, and when people are online through visual and timestamped elements. In other words, no one can do anything without the system recording those changes.
You’ll still want to invite people you can trust. However, it’s nice to know that you can keep a close eye on what changes are made to your manuscript. For example, it reduces the risk of someone “accidentally” turning a paragraph into a blockquote and then not knowing where that change occurred.
So, what are some of the functions in Reedsy Studio that help you monitor collaborators?
Color-Coded Users
Every collaborator logged into your manuscript is identified by a color in Reedsy Studio. On the left, you’ll see a number with different colors forming around it, which indicates the number of people and what colors are being used. Then, each person’s color will show on the specific chapter they are viewing.
When you’re in the manuscript by yourself, there is a blue line to the left of where you are in the manuscript. This is the location where the colors will appear when someone else is also working on the book.
Unfortunately, you can’t change the color of each logged-in collaborator. Reedsy Studio handles the distribution of the colors when each individual logs into the manuscript. There is no limit to the number of collaborators you can have at any given time, which means there can potentially be a lot of colors showing up.
This also means that the colors each collaborator receives from Reedsy are determined on a first-come, first-served basis. No one can request a specific color. And yes, I know a lot of people who would love to use a specific color as a collaborator.
It’s mostly just a personal preference, as it really doesn’t matter in the end.
Changes Happen in Real-Time
One of the functions of collaboration in Reedsy is how changes happen in real-time, much like it does for Google Docs. When someone adjusts text, leaves a comment, removes sections of the manuscript, or interacts with it in any way, you’ll see it happen.
This is a great feature as it:
- reduces the time it takes to make edits.
- lets you work on the manuscript while using apps like Discord to talk about those changes.
- lets you see changes with others to determine if they fit well, like adding images.
- makes the entire process of collaboration easier to manage.
To be honest, that was one of the reasons why I was using Google Docs when writing the Despair episodes. My editor was able to make adjustments in real-time, which cut how long I had to wait if I was getting ready to record the video.
However, sometimes it can be confusing if you’re reading a section and then suddenly the text changes. If you’re not paying attention to who is logged in, the sudden change can be jarring.
Regardless, I love the real-time interaction for collaboration in Reedsy Studio. And if you use something like Discord, it’s easy to get on and discuss the book using video chat while working on the manuscript.
Tracking Changes in History
Never underestimate the value of the History tool in Reedsy, even if you don’t have collaborators. This tool will go all the way back to the beginning of when you started working on the manuscript if you upgrade to the premium version of Reedsy Studio. Essentially, you can go back in time to any saved point should you need.
When you invite collaborators, they are also added to the history, complete with a time stamp and what chapter they were on.
The writing timeline will show the individual’s profile icon and the date. When you click on it, Reedsy will take you to the chapter and then display the changes or comments that were made. At that point, you can choose to restore that version.
Something else you might want to consider using is marking specific points in your historical timeline using the star. This way, you can quickly find the most important versions of your manuscript without sifting through all of the changes.
I would like to point out that if you delete the comment a collaborator made without resolving it, the change doesn’t show in the history. This can happen if you completely delete the highlighted text to write something else or to remove the scene entirely.
Comments and Resolving Issues
Anyone can make comments on your manuscript in Reedsy. They are great for leaving feedback as well as setting reminders for yourself to fix certain elements of the book. In fact, after writing the first draft, I’ll read through it myself and leave comments on things I want to fix before editing.
You can find the list of comments on the right side of Reedsy Studio under the pin icon.
In this section, you can scroll through each suggestion and comment using the side arrows. Then, you can choose to resolve those issues to remove them from the list or leave a reply to the collaborator.
If you want to further track the changes, you can also click the “Track Changes” tool at the top. Reedsy will then show those comments in the History screen in more detail. That way, you can keep a closer eye on what was suggested and revert to a manuscript before those specific changes were made.
The commenting tool is probably the bread and butter of collaborations, especially if you’re the sole author of the book. After all, you don’t want others just changing words without consideration. That is, unless you’re co-authoring. Nonetheless, the comment function is exceptionally useful.
To comment, all you need to do is highlight some text and click the “Comment” bubble from the typography tool that appears.
Using Collaboration for Beta Reading in Reedsy
Technically, you have two methods you can use in Reedsy Studio to invite beta readers. You can either share the preview of the manuscript or invite them as a collaborator.
The preview screen shows the manuscript only, and users will have to scroll down to continue reading. There are no comment functions, and if they close the link, readers will have to scroll down to where they left off. It’s kind of a pain when you’re trying to get feedback to improve certain aspects of your book.
The collaboration feature lets beta readers leave comments while letting them quickly jump to where they left off in Reedsy. Personally, I think it’s a better way to gain feedback, but as I said before, it comes with a major level of trust.
Anyone will be able to make alterations or even delete entire chapters. But as I pointed out a moment ago, the History tool can get you back to where you were before the mishap.
What can you do to improve the beta reading experience with others?
Be Strict with “No Editing”
Beta readers are not co-authors or editors. Their purpose is to provide feedback, not to make adjustments. There’s nothing wrong with allowing your beta readers to help fix certain texts or even outright edit the manuscript. However, it’s probably a better idea to be firm about not editing or making changes.
Also, keep in mind that accidents will happen. Someone using Reedsy Studio from a mobile device might accidentally tap the HTML or Quote tool instead of the comment bubble, which can ultimately alter your manuscript for the worse.
Again, that’s where the History tool comes into play if the damage is too much to isolate.
In my case, I let everyone know that I don’t want anyone to change the text and to only make suggestions and comments throughout the reading. That way, I can consider what they commented on in the context of my story and my vision.
In any case, be firm with your beta readers. Although you can go back in time, should someone change the text, it can be quite annoying if you have to revert once per day because someone changed something you didn’t want.
This is another element of the trust that I mentioned. You can invite whoever you want, but it’s always better to give access to those you know who won’t break the book.
Set a Time Frame
You can set a time and date when the preview link from Reedsy will automatically expire, but not for collaborations. You also don’t want to wait for months on end for feedback to come from your beta readers.
Make sure you let everyone know that you want to have the final edits and revisions completed by a specific date. This, unfortunately, might mean that a few people don’t get to read through the entire manuscript.
Life happens, and not everyone has the time available to read a book or leave comments. But if you want the book published by a specific date, sometimes that means you need to light a fire under someone to get reading.
Some people will hire beta readers, who will read through the book in short order while leaving comments. However, I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about this practice, including how some will just take the money and tell you the book is great without actually commenting on anything.
Personally, I feel hiring beta readers goes along the lines of paying for reviews; they don’t always do their due diligence of reviewing. But, that is completely up to you.
Commenting From Readers
The point of the comment tool is to ask questions, point out problems, and make suggestions. However, they can also be used as a back-and-forth if further explanation is needed.
For instance, an editor would highlight sections of text and leave a comment much like how one would do with a red pen on paper. Instead, it’s on Reedsy, which is accessible by anyone who has a web browser. It saves time from emailing back and forth and keeps a log of those changes.
From a beta reader’s perspective, it can be an easy way to highlight things that don’t make sense or that need clarification. For instance, someone could highlight an entire paragraph and ask about a lack of details in the scene.
Since collaboration was added to Reedsy, I use the feature quite often. I’ve received messages about rewording, details needed, and issues with continuity. All of these are important facets if you want to produce a good book, especially if you don’t have the money for an editor.
And speaking from experience, continuity problems are not something the AI of AutoCrit can detect. It’s always good to have another pair of human eyes go over the manuscript.
Even if you don’t follow the suggestion of a beta reader, you can leave a reply to the comment before clicking the “Resolve” button. That way, the interaction is recorded in Reedsy after enabling the track changes feature.
Always Have Backups Available
Never underestimate the value of a backup. Although the history tool in Reedsy Studio does a fine job of keeping changes in check and reverting back to earlier drafts, having a backup can be a lifesaver in some dire situations.
For instance, what if you needed a copy of your manuscript and you lost access to the Internet? What if something happened to Reedsy’s website and you were unable to access your bookshelf? Since Reedsy is web-based, you won’t have access to the manuscript until you can log back in to the platform.
At any point, you can create a backup file from the “Manage” section of the book. It’ll create a DOCX file that you can save virtually anywhere, including cloud storage apps like Dropbox or Google Drive.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Besides, you’d also be able to print the backup in the event you find an editor who wants to work from a hard copy. Yes, there are some out there who still use red ink and paper.
In any event, periodically create backups, especially after major changes. You don’t want to accidentally lose all of that progress.
You Have the Final Word!
Always remember that you are the author and have the final say in what gets added or removed. Not even an editor can override you, though, you might want to take his or her suggestion seriously. The bottom line is that this is your book, and no one else’s.
That means you don’t have to implement every change and suggestion someone makes. Your beta readers will try to highlight things that are in your best interest and what they would like to see in the book. However, not everything is going to make sense in what you’re trying to convey.
In other words, a good book is subjective to the reader. What one person might think is golden, another might think it’s trash. The best you can do is to try to find a balance.
Don’t let someone pressure or convince you to add or remove parts of a story because they think it will read better. If you don’t want it, you don’t have to implement it.
It’s your story.
Are Collaborations Worthwhile in the End?
There are a lot of authors who are perfectly capable of writing and developing the story on their own. However, there’s nothing wrong with collaborating with other professionals or experts in your field.
You can also invite certain experts to read specific materials to ensure they are accurate. For instance, adding someone in astrophysics to highlight issues with a space sci-fi novel would be great, especially if you add the scientist to the acknowledgments.
That’s just one instance of collaboration. It all comes down to the type of assistance you need and how individuals can help you.
Perhaps three of the most common types of collaboration on Reedsy consist of:
Co-Authoring
I personally know several authors who have worked with others to produce a great book. In fact, I consider the authors of Mediterranean Waves as good friends, and they’ve been on my show a couple of times. In 2025, I had both of them on to talk about the book, which was quite fun, if you haven’t seen it yet.
My point here is that a lot of folks co-author a book, and Reedsy Studio makes it seamless without having to send emails back and forth with exported documents. It’s kind of like working from Google Docs without Google monitoring your files.
Editing
One of the most important elements of collaboration for me is getting help editing my book. With Shadows of Atlantic City, I used AutoCrit to find all the grammatical, pacing, and redundancies. But it’s the human eye that contributes to emotion and nuance.
Plus, if you hire editors directly from Reedsy, they access your manuscript much like collaborators do, leaving comments and suggestions on what to fix.
Beta Reading
Lastly, beta reading has been a great use of the collaboration feature in Reedsy Studio. I trust everyone I invite, and they have helped me tighten up the manuscript to produce some amazing tales.
To help sweeten the pot, I give all of my beta readers an autographed copy of the finished book. And now that I have the online storefront for WriterSanctuary, I might also toss in some fun merch, like glasses or notebooks.
Collaboration Is Easy in Reedsy Studio
Reedsy has put together a solid application for those interested in writing and publishing a book. What’s nice is that they’re constantly updating and adding new features. So, I’m hoping they’ll add a more fleshed-out formatting tool for exporting books.
Currently, you only have a few formatting options available, which work great to get you started. But adding as much flair and pizazz as Atticus would be simply amazing.
Anyway, setting up a collaboration is as easy as emailing your second party and having that person create a free Reedsy Studio account. And with all of the tools at your disposal, you can put together a great book. Since it works similarly to Google Docs with real-time editing, it’s incredibly efficient with the capacity to leave comments and suggestions for one another.
Just make sure you create regular backups. Even if your collaborator is trustworthy, accidents happen. Besides, you should never fully trust technology to keep working when you need it the most. Always have Plan B at the ready.
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