How roles and permissions work within a book

Roles and permissions determine what each person can see and do within a book. These rules are especially important in community books and private group books, where multiple contributors are working together.

The most important role is the book owner. The book owner creates the book and has full control over it. This includes managing book details, approving or declining chapters, returning chapters with edits, and controlling how the book operates.

In some cases, the book owner may assign others to help manage the book. These users act as editors or managers and can review submissions, provide feedback, and help guide the direction of the book. Their permissions depend on how the book is configured but are typically similar to the owner for review-related actions.

Contributors are the writers who submit chapters to the book. Contributors can create draft chapters, submit them for review, and revise their work based on feedback. They do not have permission to approve chapters or change book-level settings unless explicitly granted.

Each role affects visibility. Draft chapters are only visible to the author writing them. Submitted chapters are visible to the book owner and anyone with review permissions. Approved chapters become part of the book and may be visible to contributors or readers depending on the book type.

In personal books, roles are simplified. The owner has full control over all aspects of the book, and there is no shared review process. Chapters can be edited at any time, and permissions do not restrict actions in the same way they do in collaborative books.

Permissions exist to protect collaboration. They ensure that changes are intentional, that contributors can work independently without interfering with each other, and that the overall direction of the book remains consistent.

If you are unsure what actions you can take within a book, your role determines your available options. Book owners and managers have the broadest control, while contributors focus on writing and revising chapters.