Cookie Policy

1. What are cookies (and similar storage)?

Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your device. They let the site remember you between requests. Modern browsers also expose related storage APIs (localStorage, sessionStorage, IndexedDB), which we use for things that don't need to travel back to the server with every request. UK and EU rules treat these all equivalently for consent purposes, so we disclose them together below.

2. Strictly necessary

These are required for the service to work. You cannot opt out of them while continuing to use ChapterMuse.

• Authentication session. A signed HTTP-only cookie keeps you logged in across page loads. Issued by NextAuth on sign-in, cleared on sign-out.
• CSRF token. A short-lived cookie that protects form submissions and authenticated mutations against cross-site request forgery.

3. Functional

These remember your preferences. They're stored in your browser (not sent to our servers) and let the app render the way you set it up. You can clear them by clearing your site data, at the cost of losing your customisations.

• Theme preferences (writers-book-theme, writers-book-article-theme, writers-corner-theme, writers-bookshelf-theme) — remembers the colour scheme you picked for each area of the app.
• Sidebar layout (desk:sidebar-collapsed) — remembers whether you collapsed the admin sidebar.
• Chapter Clinic last-seen markers (chapterClinic:lastSeen) — remembers which feedback threads you've viewed so the “New” tag clears correctly.

4. Offline manuscript cache

ChapterMuse stores your manuscripts and project data locally in IndexedDB so you can keep writing when your connection drops and so saves feel instant. This local cache mirrors the data the server already holds about you (your account, your books, your chapters) and is keyed to your authenticated session. Deleting your browser data clears it; signing out of ChapterMuse also clears it as part of the sign-out flow.

5. Analytics

We use a privacy-respecting product-analytics service to measure aggregate usage (which features get used, where errors happen). It does not set tracking cookies that follow you across other websites. If we later add analytics that require consent under PECR / GDPR, we will present a banner asking before any non-essential cookies are set.

6. Third-party cookies

We do not embed third-party advertising trackers. The only third-party cookies you may encounter are set by authentication providers when you sign in (e.g. Google), and only during the sign-in handshake itself.

7. How to control cookies

Every major browser lets you block or delete cookies and clear site storage from its settings. Common ways in:

• Chrome / Edge: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data.
• Firefox:Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data.
• Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data.

Blocking the strictly-necessary auth cookie will prevent you from staying signed in. Blocking the functional storage will make the app forget your preferences on every visit.

8. Updates

We'll update this page whenever we change the cookies or storage the product uses. The “last updated” date at the top reflects the current version.

9. Contact

Questions about cookies or storage? Email privacy@chaptermuse.com or use the contact page.