> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trydear.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get started with Dear: from idea to finished draft

> Sign in, open a document, capture your ideas as index cards in Outline, shape them into a plan, then send that plan to Write and start drafting.

Dear is built around a single flow: capture ideas in **Outline**, shape them into a plan, then draft in **Write**. This guide walks you through that flow from a blank screen to a working draft.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in">
    Open Dear in your browser and sign in with your email address. Dear uses a magic link — no password required. See [Sign in to Dear](/sign-in) for details.

    <Note>
      If sign-in is not available in your version of Dear, you can still use the app without an account. Your work is saved locally in the browser.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open or create a document">
    The home screen (`/`) shows your document list. Click an existing document to open it, or click **New document** to start fresh. Both options take you to the workspace at `/write`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Capture ideas in Outline → Explore">
    Select the **Outline** tab (left side of the workspace toolbar). You will land in the **Explore** sub-area — this is your staging area.

    Add raw material in any order:

    * **Type** short notes directly into the input field. Press Enter to create each index card.
    * **Paste** text from another source using the paste option.
    * **Speak** aloud if voice capture is available. Dear transcribes your words and sorts them into cards.

    Each note becomes an index card with an AI-generated header. Do not worry about order yet — Explore is a collection stage.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Shape your plan in Outline → Outline">
    Switch to the **Outline** sub-area using the switcher at the bottom of the Outline panel.

    Here you can:

    * Drag cards to reorder them.
    * Pick a structure — **outline**, **freeform**, **narrative**, or **comparison**.
    * Review the AI-generated plan summary and suggestions.
    * Adjust the order or remove cards you no longer need.

    Take the time to arrange your cards until the structure reflects what you want to write.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your plan to Write">
    When your plan is ready, click **Send plan to Write** (sometimes called Stitch). Dear turns your ordered cards into a draft scaffold — headings and body blocks — and opens it in the **Write** canvas.

    Your index cards are preserved in Outline. You can return to them at any time.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Draft in Write, use Tab for AI suggestions">
    Select the **Write** tab. Your scaffold is ready to fill in.

    Write freely. As you type, Dear may suggest a continuation at your cursor — a short phrase or sentence that fits the context. Press **Tab** to accept the suggestion, or keep typing to dismiss it.

    <Tip>
      Tab completions are optional. You can write an entire draft without accepting a single suggestion. Turn them off entirely in your AI preferences if you prefer.
    </Tip>

    Dear counts the words you type yourself. These human-written words build your writing profile and help suggestions match your voice over time.
  </Step>
</Steps>