LODESTAR
SadrComing soonNovel Planning & Writing
Keep the whole story in view.
Bring characters, chapters, scenes, and your drafting workspace together, so the details stay close while you write.
A connected home for your novel.
An independent workshop for writers
Your words.
Your vision.
A way forward.
From the first idea to the printed page, find practical tools that help you do the work and keep the writing yours.
No subscriptions No generated prose
Find your direction
Where are you
in the work?
Start with what you need. Build from there.
Made by a working authorTools you choose individuallyYour voice stays yours
The Lodestar collection
A tool for the work
in front of you.
You do not need a whole new process. Find the part that needs a little support, and start there.
All tools selected.
SadrComing soon
RigelComing soonPrint Formatting
Make it look like a book.
Turn your text manuscript into a formatted DOCX and PDF, with chapter openings, trim sizes, and margins for your chosen print platform.
A manuscript prepared for print.
MirachComing soonIllustrated Manuscript Formatting
Give your images their place.
Format a manuscript with maps, illustrations, or chapter art. Keep images with the text and check their resolution for print.
A formatted interior with your images intact.
DenebComing soonProse Craft Analysis
See what your prose is doing.
Look at patterns in your writing, from repeated words to sentence structure, and decide where your next revision should begin.
A clearer focus for your next editing pass.
CapellaComing soonVoice & Style Exploration
Explore the shape of a voice.
Compare pre-written prose and dialogue styles to understand how different choices feel, then bring that awareness to your own writing.
A reference for developing your own style.
AltairComing soonThesis & Research Writing
Build the argument behind the draft.
Organize your thesis or research project around its questions, sources, and structure before bringing the writing together.
A workspace for your research and argument.
PolluxComing soonJournalism & Reported Nonfiction
Keep the reporting connected.
Track your sources and organize reported nonfiction, so the material behind the story stays within reach as you write.
A working home for your reporting.
MenkarComing soonAction Reference
Find the gesture that fits.
Browse practical actions by category and action area when the same nods and sighs keep finding their way onto the page.
More specific choices for physical description.
A tool marked coming soon is not open for general purchase yet. Request an email on its card to hear when it launches.
Less guessing. More exploring.
Get a feel for
the workbench.
Step inside Sadr, our novel planning & writing tool. Explore a sample novel, move between its characters and scenes, and try the writing workspace.
Open the Sadr demoNo account needed. The demo uses sample data, and changes are not saved.
A different kind of writing software
Help with the craft.
Respect for the writer.
Lodestar grew out of Christopher Ray’s own writing process. Each tool has a practical job to do, with a simple principle behind it: the author stays in charge.
Meet the author behind LodestarThe words remain yours.
Organize your ideas, examine your prose, or format your manuscript. Lodestar does not write it for you.
No subscription to keep up with.
Choose the products that fit your work. The product pages explain purchase options and what each includes.
One place to come back to.
A single Lodestar account connects your tools, so you can spend less time keeping track of logins.
Can I use the tools yet?
Check the status on each tool above. For tools coming soon, you can read the details and request a launch email. The interactive sample demo is open now without an account.
Will Lodestar write my book for me?
No. Lodestar helps you organize, analyze, format, and explore your own writing. It does not generate prose or write sentences on your behalf. The creative decisions stay with you.
Do I need a subscription?
No. Tools are sold individually. Most are a one-time purchase; print formatting is available per manuscript or with an Unlimited option. Each product page explains what its purchase includes.
Do I have to buy every tool?
No. Start with the tool that fits the work in front of you. One Lodestar account works across the family, and you choose which products to purchase.
Do I need to install anything?
Just open Lodestar in your web browser. There is no desktop application to install.
What about ownership, privacy, and refunds?
You retain ownership of your writing. Purchases are final, so review each product’s details and available previews before buying. Our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy explain the full purchase, data, and retention policies. Contact us if something has gone wrong.
Your next chapter starts with you
Bring the story.
Find your direction.
Explore the collection Find your tool. Try the demo. Follow a launch.