Stela for Copywriters and Journalists

A quiet writing app for newsletters, articles, and ad scripts.

Stela is a free desktop writing studio for copywriters, journalists, and newsletter authors. Draft on a clear page, hit the word count before the deadline, write two-column AV scripts for video and radio, and hand off clean HTML, Markdown, or plain text to any client or CMS. Everything stays on your computer.

What You Get

Six Things Stela Does for Copywriters

Two-Column AV Scripts

Visual, audio, and sound-effect rows for commercials, explainer videos, and podcast ads, with storyboard references beside the copy.

Word Counts on Deadline

Set a session goal from 250 to 2,000 words and watch it fill. Word, character, and sentence counts sit in the status bar.

A Second Pair of Eyes

Highlight a headline or a paragraph and ask for a tighter version. Accept it, edit it, or keep yours.

Clean Handoff

Export HTML for the web, Markdown for a CMS, plain text for an email, or PDF for a client review.

Client Work Stays Private

Drafts live on your own computer with no account and no cloud. Nothing you write for a client is uploaded anywhere.

Reading Time at a Glance

Reading time and grade level update as you write, so a 90-second script or a five-minute read lands on the number.

01

Can I write two-column AV and ad scripts in Stela?

Yes. Stela's two-column AV script gives you rows for visual direction, audio or voice-over, and sound effects, so the picture and the words line up the way a producer expects. It suits television and radio spots, explainer videos, and documentary narration. Export it as PDF for the client or plain text for the booth.


02

How does Stela help me hit a word count on deadline?

Set a session goal, from 250 words for a product blurb to 2,000 for a feature, and a quiet pill in the status bar fills as you write. Live word, character, and sentence counts cover the whole piece or just the paragraph you select, and reading time tells you how long the finished piece takes to read.


03

How do I hand copy off to a client or a CMS?

Export the piece as HTML for a web page or email template, Markdown for a CMS or static site, plain text for a brief or a spreadsheet, or PDF for a review round. Stela writes the file to your computer; there is no upload and no shared link to manage.

  • HTML for web pages and email templates
  • Markdown for content management systems
  • Plain text and PDF for briefs and reviews

04

Can the assistant tighten a headline or a paragraph?

Yes, when you ask. Select the headline or paragraph, ask for a tighter rhythm, a shorter version, or a different angle, and compare the suggestion with your original before you accept it. The assistant runs on an AI provider you choose with your own key and never edits text you did not select.


05

Where is my client work stored?

On your own computer, as ordinary files in a project folder. Stela needs no account and sends nothing to a server, so confidential briefs and unreleased campaigns stay where you put them.


06

Is Stela free for freelancers and agencies?

Yes. Stela is free during the beta, with no subscription and no seat licence, on Windows and macOS.

Download Stela

What Stela Does and Doesn't Do

You needStela
PriceFree during the beta. No subscription, no seat licence.
PlatformsWindows and macOS.
Script formatsTwo-column AV script and screenplay mode.
ExportHTML, Markdown, plain text, and PDF.
Session goals250 to 2,000 words, with live counts.
StorageYour computer. No cloud, no account.
Team featuresNone yet. Share exported files instead.

Questions Copywriters Ask

Can I draft a newsletter in Stela and paste it into my email tool?

Yes. Export as HTML or copy the text, then paste it into your email platform or CMS.

Does Stela track my writing or my clients' content?

No. Stela has no analytics, no account, and no telemetry. Your drafts stay on your computer.

Can I keep several clients' work separate?

Yes. Each client or campaign can be its own project with its own documents and notes.

Can I see how long a script will run?

Yes. Reading time for the selection or the whole script, spoken aloud or read silently, updates as you write.

Get Started

Write the next page in Stela.

Free for Mac and Windows. No subscription, no account, and nothing between you and the page.