Writing Mode Overview¶
MAESTRO's Writing Mode is a powerful AI-assisted writing environment that combines intelligent research capabilities with a full-featured markdown editor. It enables you to create well-researched documents with proper citations from both your document library and web sources.
Core Features¶
Dual-Pane Interface¶
The Writing Mode interface is divided into two synchronized panels:
Left Panel - AI Writing Assistant - Interactive chat with the AI assistant for research and writing help - Access to your document collections and web search - Color-coded references distinguishing between document and web sources - Contextual awareness of your current draft
Right Panel - Markdown Editor - Full-featured markdown editor with live preview - Support for LaTeX formulas and mathematical notation - Tables, code blocks, and structured formatting - Auto-save functionality preserving your work
Getting Started¶
Starting a Writing Session¶
- Navigate to the Writing tab in MAESTRO
- Click "+ New" to create a new writing session
- Your session will appear in the left sidebar with an auto-generated title
Configuring Your Research Sources¶
Before starting your research, configure your sources:
Document Collections - Select a document group from your library to search within - The assistant will search only within the selected collection - Leave unselected to disable document search
Web Search - Toggle "Enable Web Search" to search the internet - The assistant will find and cite relevant web sources - Web sources appear with distinct colored references
Research and Writing Workflow¶
1. Setting Up Search Parameters¶
Click the gear icon to access Writing Search Settings:
Basic Settings - Enable Web Search: Toggle web search on/off - Deep Search Mode: Use multiple iterations with quality assessment for thorough research
Regular Search Settings - Maximum Iterations (1-5): Number of quality refinement attempts per search - Maximum Decomposed Queries (1-10): Number of focused searches to perform
For quick responses, use minimal settings (1 iteration, 3 queries). For comprehensive research, increase both values.
2. Adding Custom Instructions¶
Click "Additional Instructions" to provide persistent context: - Writing style preferences (academic, technical, casual) - Target audience specifications - Tone and formatting requirements - Any specific guidelines for the assistant
These instructions are appended to every request, ensuring consistent responses throughout your session.
3. Interacting with the Assistant¶
The AI assistant can help with:
Research Tasks - Finding information from your documents - Searching the web for current information - Fact-checking and verification - Gathering supporting evidence
Writing Support - Generating content based on research - Improving and revising text - Creating structured outlines - Suggesting transitions and connections
Citation Management - Automatically citing sources used - Color-coding references by type - Providing clickable reference links - Maintaining a bibliography
4. Understanding References¶
The assistant provides numbered references with color coding: - Blue references [1] [2]: Links to document sources from your collection - Green references [3] [4]: Links to web sources - Each reference is clickable for verification - All sources are listed at the end of each response
Editor Features¶
Markdown and LaTeX Support¶
The editor supports full markdown formatting plus LaTeX:
Tables
| Name | Age | Occupation |
|---------|-----|-------------------|
| Alice | 30 | Software Engineer |
| Bob | 25 | Data Analyst |
| Charlie | 35 | Project Manager |
Mathematical Formulas - Inline math: $x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$ - Display math:
Code Blocks
Editor Toolbar¶
The editor provides quick formatting options: - Text Formatting: Bold, Italic, Strikethrough - Headers: H1-H6 heading levels - Lists: Ordered and unordered lists - Quotes: Block quotes for citations - Links: Hyperlink insertion - Images: Image embedding - Code: Inline code and code blocks - Tables: Table insertion wizard
Real-time Preview¶
Toggle between: - Editor View: Write and edit your content - Preview View: See rendered markdown with formatted text, tables, and formulas - Split View: Edit and preview side-by-side
Advanced Features¶
Document Context Awareness¶
The writing assistant has access to your current draft content, allowing it to: - Provide suggestions based on what you've written - Maintain consistency in tone and style - Help with transitions between sections - Suggest improvements to existing content
Session Persistence¶
Your writing sessions are automatically saved with: - Complete chat history - All draft versions - Search settings - Custom instructions - Referenced sources
Export Options¶
Export your completed documents as: - Markdown (.md): Preserve all formatting - PDF: Professional presentation with rendered LaTeX - HTML: Web-ready with embedded styles - Word (.docx): For collaboration
Best Practices¶
Effective Research Queries¶
- Be Specific: "Explain the economic impact of climate change on agriculture in Southeast Asia"
- Request Evidence: "Find statistics about renewable energy adoption rates with sources"
- Ask for Structure: "Create an outline for a report on machine learning in healthcare"
Optimizing Search Performance¶
For Quick Answers - Set iterations to 1 - Use 3 decomposed queries - Disable deep search mode
For Comprehensive Research - Set iterations to 3-5 - Use 5-10 decomposed queries - Enable deep search mode - Select relevant document groups
Managing Long Documents¶
- Work in Sections: Focus on one section at a time
- Regular Saves: The editor auto-saves every 30 seconds
- Use Headers: Organize with clear section headers
- Reference Tracking: Add citations as you write
Tips for Success¶
Research Phase¶
- Start with broad searches to understand the topic
- Narrow down to specific aspects
- Verify important facts with multiple sources
- Save important findings in your draft immediately
Writing Phase¶
- Use the assistant to expand bullet points
- Request different perspectives on arguments
- Ask for transitions between paragraphs
- Get help with introductions and conclusions
Revision Phase¶
- Request clarity improvements
- Check for logical flow
- Verify all citations are included
- Ensure consistent tone throughout
Common Use Cases¶
Academic Writing¶
- Research papers with proper citations
- Literature reviews with source synthesis
- Thesis chapters with evidence support
- Grant proposals with data backing
Professional Documents¶
- Technical documentation with accuracy
- Business reports with market data
- White papers with industry research
- Case studies with real examples
Content Creation¶
- Blog posts with fact-checking
- Articles with expert sources
- Marketing content with statistics
- Educational materials with references
Troubleshooting¶
Search Issues¶
- No results found: Check document group selection and search settings
- Irrelevant results: Refine your query to be more specific
- Slow searches: Reduce the number of iterations and queries
Editor Problems¶
- Formatting not showing: Check preview mode is enabled
- LaTeX not rendering: Verify formula syntax is correct
- Lost work: Check auto-save status and session history
Assistant Responses¶
- Generic answers: Add more specific instructions
- Missing citations: Enable appropriate search sources
- Wrong context: Ensure document group is correctly selected
Summary¶
MAESTRO's Writing Mode streamlines the research and writing process by: - Providing intelligent research assistance with automatic citations - Offering a powerful markdown editor with LaTeX support - Maintaining context awareness throughout your writing session - Supporting both document library and web research - Enabling customization through search settings and instructions
Start with simple queries, gradually explore advanced features, and let the AI assistant help you create well-researched, properly cited documents efficiently.