Chekhov
Chapter I How it works
Three steps to a better manuscript.
01 /03
Import your manuscript
Import your Scrivener project or .docx file and Chekhov parses it automatically — identifying chapters, scenes, and structure.
file manuscript.scriv
chapters 24
words 82,134
02 /03
Review the structure
If anything wasn't picked up correctly, the structure editor lets you review and fix it before the analysis runs.
chapters 24 → 23
scenes merged 2
status ready
03 /03
Run the analysis
Choose your depth and let Chekhov work. Results come back as a full editorial report you can read inside the app or export as a PDF.
depth deep
pages out 31
status complete
Chapter II Analysis depth
Choose your depth.
Standard
The essential read-through. Perfect for catching the big issues early.
- Character consistency
- Timeline coherence
- Plot thread tracking
- Overall editorial assessment
1 credit
Deep most picked
For when the story works but the prose needs a closer look.
- Continuity errors
- Dialogue voice analysis
- Show vs. tell passages
- On-the-nose dialogue
- + Everything in Standard
2 credits
Structural
The complete editorial pass. No stone left unturned.
- Pacing map
- Thematic analysis
- Dead weight scenes
- POV breaks
- + Everything in Deep
3 credits
Not sure which to pick?
- First or second draftStandard covers everything you need without overwhelming you.
- Revised extensivelyDeep is the right call when you want your prose examined closely.
- Sending to an agentStructural is the complete pass.
Sample reports
See what an analysis looks like
Two classic novels, two different analysis tiers. Open the PDFs to see exactly what Chekhov produces before you try it yourself.
Chapter III Privacy
About privacy.
Your manuscript is stored exclusively in a local database on your computer — never on our servers. When you run an analysis, your manuscript is sent to Anthropic's API for processing.
Anthropic's standard policy is not to train on data sent through their API, but Chekhov cannot guarantee this on their behalf. If your manuscript is unpublished and you need absolute certainty, it's worth keeping in mind.
On your computer Manuscript stored locally, never on our servers.
During analysis Your full manuscript is sent to Anthropic's API.
Anthropic's policy Per their terms, API data is not used for training.
Our guarantee We can't promise on Anthropic's behalf — only what we control.
Chapter IV Frequently asked
Plain answers, no marketing voice.
01 What is Chekhov? +
Chekhov is a desktop application for novelists that uses AI to analyze your manuscript. It checks for character consistency, timeline coherence, dialogue voice, and loose plot threads — the kind of deep editorial pass that traditionally requires a professional editor.
02 Does Chekhov write for me? +
No — and it never will. Chekhov is an observational tool. It reads what you have written and gives you a critical assessment, the way a professional editor would. It will not generate prose, suggest replacement sentences, or rewrite your scenes. The voice on the page stays yours. We built this for novelists who want a second pair of eyes, not a co-author.
03 How does the AI analysis work? +
Chekhov runs your manuscript through three stages. First, it reads the structure — chapters, scenes, and how the manuscript is organized. Then it passes each chapter through a set of focused AI readers, one for each editorial dimension: character consistency, timeline, dialogue voice, plot threads, and so on. Finally, a synthesis stage combines those individual readings into a coherent report. Results are saved automatically, so if you run the same analysis again without changing your manuscript, it won't cost any credits.
04 How does pricing work? +
Your first Standard analysis is completely free — no credit card required. After that, credits cost $5 each. You can buy between 1 and 10 at a time. There is no subscription.
05 What file format does Chekhov accept? +
Chekhov works natively with Scrivener projects (.scriv) — the preferred format for writers who work in Scrivener. It also imports .docx files, the universal option for manuscripts written in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, or any other tool that exports to Word format.
06 Do I need to care about manuscript structure? +
If you upload a .docx file, it helps to have chapter headings formatted with proper heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) rather than plain text. Chekhov uses these to identify and parse your manuscript's structure correctly. Scrivener projects carry this information automatically.
07 What languages does Chekhov support? +
Chekhov automatically detects the language of your manuscript and delivers the analysis report in that same language. Supported languages are English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
08 What are the system requirements? +
Chekhov runs on macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel, macOS 11 or later) and Windows 10 or later. An internet connection is required only when running an analysis. All other features — importing, viewing past results, managing manuscripts — work fully offline.
09 Can I re-run an analysis after editing my manuscript? +
Yes. When you import a revised version of your manuscript, Chekhov detects that the content has changed and prompts you to run a fresh analysis.
10 Why does it say the software is not safe to install? +
Chekhov is currently in beta and hasn't been submitted to Apple's Mac App Store or the Microsoft Store yet. Both platforms show a warning for software distributed outside their official stores — it doesn't mean anything is wrong with the app. On macOS, right-click the app and choose Open, then Open again. On Windows, click More info, then Run anyway. We plan to go through the official certification process once the beta period is over.
Your first Standard
analysis is free.
Download Chekhov, import your manuscript, and run your first analysis. No credit card required.