How the Canvas Works
The Canvas is Subscribr's script writing environment. It's a split-panel interface with chat on the left and your script editor on the right, designed to make writing feel like a collaborative conversation.
New to Subscribr?
If you haven't already, read Understanding the Script Workflow first. It explains the one-chat-one-script paradigm and why following the structured flow produces better results.
The Split-Panel Interface
The Canvas gives you two panels side by side: the left panel is a chat interface for discussing, researching, and getting help, while the right panel is your script editor where the actual content lives. You can resize the panels by dragging the divider, and collapse either side when you need more space.
Working With the Canvas
The Canvas is designed around a specific workflow: plan first, then write. This isn't arbitrary—it's how you get the best results. The AI builds understanding progressively, using your planning answers to shape the outline, and the outline to guide the script. Each phase builds on what came before.
Users who try to shortcut this process (skipping planning, asking for a full script without an outline) often get generic output because the AI lacks the context it needs. Working with the system's natural flow—answering questions, reviewing the outline, then generating—produces scripts that actually sound like you and hit the points you care about.
The Script Creation Flow
1. Planning Questions
When you start a new script, the AI asks planning questions to understand what you're creating. It wants to know what the video is about, your main thesis or takeaway, what viewers should do after watching, and any specific points you want to cover.
Take Your Time
The more context you provide in planning questions, the better your outline and script will be. Don't rush this step—it directly affects everything downstream.
2. Outline Generation
Based on your answers, the AI generates an outline with a hook/introduction, main sections with key points, transitions between ideas, and a conclusion with call-to-action. You can edit the outline directly or ask the AI to revise specific sections. Get the structure right here before moving to the full script.
3. Script Writing
Once you're happy with the outline, switch to Script mode and generate the full script. The AI expands each section into full prose, applying your voice profile and considering your audience.
4. Editing & Refinement
Edit your script directly in the editor. Use quick actions and highlight-and-improve to refine specific sections. Be specific with your requests—"make this hook more surprising" works better than "make this better."
Choosing Your AI Model
Before generating, you can select which AI model to use. Each model has different characteristics for speed, length adherence, and writing style. You can also switch models mid-script—for example, using one model for your outline and a different one for the full script.
Learn about available AI models
Using Templates
Templates define the structure and pacing of your script. Choose one that matches your video type—Educational for tutorials, Documentary for story-driven content, Review for evaluations, and more. You can switch templates at any time while creating your script.
Learn about available templates
Adding Research Context
Click "Add Context" to include source material. You can add YouTube videos by pasting URLs to include transcripts, web articles like blog posts, news, or research, PDFs and documents uploaded directly, or custom text pasted in.
Don't Overfeed
More research isn't always better. Only add relevant information that directly supports your video. Research word limits vary by plan (5,000 to 75,000 words), but focused context produces better scripts than overwhelming amounts of data.
Switching Between Plan and Script Views
Use the tabs at the top of the editor to switch between Plan (your outline and structure) and Script (the full written script). You can go back to the plan to restructure, then regenerate sections of the script.
Next Steps
Ready to refine your content? Learn about Writing & Editing tools for tips on polishing your script, understand AI models in depth to choose the best model for your content, or review the complete script workflow if you want a deeper understanding of how all the pieces fit together.