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Kindling

kindlingwriter.com

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Spec score 7.7 #17 of 29 in eBPF Observability Tools

What it is

Kindling is a free desktop writing app for fiction writers who plan their stories while drafting. Its writing view can show scene beats as expandable prompts, or switch to a full-page prose editor. Tagged characters and locations appear in a reference panel with descriptions, notes, and custom fields. Projects import from Plottr, Scrivener, yWriter, Obsidian Longform, novelWriter, and Markdown, then export to DOCX, EPUB, HTML, plain text, Markdown, Scrivener, Longform, and novelWriter. Editorial review uses a .kindling-review file containing tracked suggestions and threaded comments; feedback can be imported and changes accepted or rejected. Screenplay projects add slugline entry, page-count estimates, and one-page or five-page DOCX treatments. Data stays in local SQLite files, with no account, analytics, telemetry, or usage tracking required. Writing and review work offline. Kindling is open source under MIT, does not use AI to analyze writing, and runs on Windows 10+, macOS 12+, and x86_64 Linux.

Spec sheet

What it does
Kindling is a desktop writing app that keeps an outline visible while fiction writers draft.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Support
The maker links to GitHub Issues and Discord for questions and contributions.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
License
Kindling is open source under the MIT license, and its source code is public.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
AI
Kindling does not use AI to analyze or interact with writing, and its reference auto-detection is described as a non-AI pattern-matching engine.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Editorial review
Writers can share a .kindling-review file for tracked suggestions and threaded comments, then import feedback and accept or reject changes.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Export formats
Kindling exports to DOCX, EPUB, HTML, plain text, Markdown, Scrivener, Longform, and novelWriter.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
For whom
The maker describes it as built for fiction writers who plan, including plotters, pantsers, and writers between those approaches.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Import formats
Kindling imports projects from Plottr, Scrivener, yWriter, Obsidian Longform, novelWriter, and Markdown.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Offline use
The maker says writing and editorial review work offline, while automatic updates and optional feedback submissions use the internet.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Outline-aware drafting
Scene beats appear as expandable prompts in the drafting view, and writers can also switch to a full-page prose editor.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Platform limits
The maker lists Windows 10+, macOS 12+, and x86_64 Linux, and says there is no mobile version yet.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Privacy and storage
The desktop app stores project data locally as SQLite files and does not require an account or include analytics, telemetry, or usage tracking.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Screenwriting
Screenplay projects include slugline input, page-count estimates, and one-page or five-page DOCX treatment exports.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com
Story references
Characters and locations tagged in a scene can surface in a side panel with descriptions, notes, and custom fields.Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com

Plans and prices

Kindling Free Free forever No premium tiers · no subscriptions · no feature gates Read 5 Oct 2026 · kindlingwriter.com

Every Kindling plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free forever with no premium tiers
  • Outline prompts remain visible while drafting
  • Imports and exports many writing formats
  • Offline writing and editorial review
  • Open source under the MIT license

Limits

  • No mobile version yet
  • Windows 10+, macOS 12+, or x86_64 Linux only
  • No real-time collaboration

Who it suits

Kindling is for fiction writers who plan, including plotters, pantsers, and writers between those approaches. It also suits writers needing screenplay tools, offline work, local storage, or file-based editorial review.

Verdict

Kindling combines outline-aware drafting, references, broad file exchange, screenplay support, and offline editorial review in a free desktop app. Its local, non-AI design favors writers who want open-source software without accounts or tracking, but mobile and real-time collaboration are not available.

Where Specifiction places it

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