diff --git a/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.jsx b/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.jsx
index 3dd6fec67e..cbbba907b5 100644
--- a/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.jsx
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ function readSidebarTab() {
   return STORYBOARD_TAB_VALUES.includes(stored) ? stored : STORYBOARD_TAB.BOARDS;
 }
 
-export default function WorkEditor({ work, onChange, onToggleExercise, exerciseOpen, onDirtyChange }) {
+export default function WorkEditor({ work, onChange, onToggleExercise, exerciseOpen, onDirtyChange, headerCollapsed = false }) {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const [body, setBody] = useState(work.activeDraftBody || '');
   const [title, setTitle] = useState(work.title);
@@ -734,31 +734,24 @@ export default function WorkEditor({ work, onChange, onToggleExercise, exerciseO
   const runObjects = useCallback(() => runAnalysis(ANALYSIS_KIND.OBJECTS), [runAnalysis]);
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col h-full">
-      {/*
-        Header — one wrapping row on desktop, two compact rows on phones (#3568).
-        Under `sm` the status select and view-mode toggle move to a full-width
-        sub-bar of their own (`order-last`) so the first row is just title, Save,
-        Snapshot and the Work menu; at `sm+` the sub-bar is `display: contents`,
-        generating no box, so its children are direct flex items of the header
-        row again. DOM order is therefore the desktop order — no `order` classes
-        on the controls themselves — which keeps desktop tab order matching what
-        is on screen. Every control stays visible at every width; nothing was
-        pushed into the overflow menu to buy the space.
-      */}
+    <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 min-h-0">
+      {/* Keep the editor mounted when collapsing controls so unsaved prose,
+          selection and active view survive focused writing. */}
       <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 border-b border-port-border bg-port-card">
+        {headerCollapsed && <span className="flex-1 min-w-0 truncate text-sm font-semibold text-white">{title}</span>}
         <input
+          hidden={headerCollapsed}
           value={title}
           onChange={(e) => setTitle(e.target.value)}
           onBlur={commitTitle}
           onKeyDown={(e) => { if (e.key === 'Enter') e.target.blur(); }}
-          className="bg-transparent text-base font-semibold text-white border-none focus:outline-none focus:bg-port-bg/50 px-1 rounded flex-1 min-w-[140px] sm:min-w-[180px] min-h-[44px] sm:min-h-0"
+          className="bg-transparent text-base font-semibold text-white border-none focus:outline-none focus:bg-port-bg/50 px-1 rounded flex-1 min-w-0 w-0 sm:w-auto sm:min-w-[180px] min-h-[44px] sm:min-h-0"
           aria-label="Work title"
         />
         {/* Secondary controls. `w-full order-last` gives them their own compact
             row below the primary actions under `sm`; `sm:contents` dissolves the
             wrapper so they sit inline — in this DOM order — on desktop. */}
-        <div className="w-full order-last flex items-center gap-2 sm:contents" data-testid="work-header-secondary">
+        <div className={headerCollapsed ? 'hidden' : 'w-full order-last flex items-center gap-2 sm:contents'} data-testid="work-header-secondary">
           <select
             value={status}
             onChange={(e) => commitStatus(e.target.value)}
@@ -793,23 +786,25 @@ export default function WorkEditor({ work, onChange, onToggleExercise, exerciseO
         <button
           onClick={handleSave}
           disabled={!dirty || saving}
-          className={`flex items-center gap-1 px-3 py-1 min-h-[44px] sm:min-h-0 text-xs rounded ${
-            dirty && !saving ? 'bg-port-accent text-white hover:bg-port-accent/80' : 'bg-port-bg text-gray-500'
+          className={`flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center gap-1 w-24 px-3 py-1 min-h-[44px] sm:min-h-0 text-xs rounded ${
+            dirty ? 'bg-port-accent text-white hover:bg-port-accent/80' : 'bg-port-bg text-gray-500'
           }`}
-          title={dirty ? `Save (${modKey}+S)` : 'Up to date'}
+          aria-busy={saving}
+          title={saving ? 'Saving draft…' : dirty ? `Save (${modKey}+S)` : 'Up to date'}
         >
-          <Save size={12} /> {saving ? 'Saving…' : dirty ? 'Save' : 'Saved'}
+          <Save size={12} className="shrink-0" />
+          <span key={saving ? 'saving' : dirty ? 'dirty' : 'saved'}>{saving ? 'Saving…' : dirty ? 'Save' : 'Saved'}</span>
         </button>
         <button
           onClick={handleSnapshot}
           disabled={dirty}
           aria-label="Snapshot"
-          className="flex items-center gap-1 px-3 py-1 min-h-[44px] sm:min-h-0 text-xs rounded bg-port-bg border border-port-border text-gray-300 hover:text-white disabled:text-gray-600 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+          className={`${headerCollapsed ? 'hidden' : 'flex'} items-center gap-1 px-3 py-1 min-h-[44px] sm:min-h-0 text-xs rounded bg-port-bg border border-port-border text-gray-300 hover:text-white disabled:text-gray-600 disabled:cursor-not-allowed`}
           title="Snapshot the active draft as a new version"
         >
           <GitCommit size={12} /> <span className="hidden sm:inline">Snapshot</span>
         </button>
-        <div className="relative" ref={overflowRef}>
+        <div className={headerCollapsed ? 'hidden' : 'relative'} ref={overflowRef}>
           <button
             onClick={() => setOverflowOpen((v) => !v)}
             className="flex items-center justify-center px-3 sm:px-2 py-1 min-h-[44px] sm:min-h-0 text-xs rounded bg-port-bg border border-port-border text-gray-300 hover:text-white"
diff --git a/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.test.jsx b/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.test.jsx
index 38596eed9c..9766c0de9e 100644
--- a/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.test.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/writers-room/WorkEditor.test.jsx
@@ -27,12 +27,21 @@ vi.mock('../../services/socket', () => ({
 
 vi.mock('../../services/apiWritersRoom', async (importOriginal) => ({
   ...(await importOriginal()),
+  listWritersRoomFolders: vi.fn(async () => []),
+  listWritersRoomWorks: vi.fn(async () => []),
+  getWritersRoomWork: vi.fn(),
+  saveWritersRoomDraft: vi.fn(),
   listWritersRoomCharacters: vi.fn(async () => []),
   listWritersRoomPlaces: vi.fn(async () => []),
   listWritersRoomObjects: vi.fn(async () => []),
 }));
 
+vi.mock('../CatalogCastPanel', () => ({ default: () => <div>Catalog cast controls</div> }));
+vi.mock('./LibraryPane', () => ({ default: () => <div>Library controls</div> }));
+
 import WorkEditor from './WorkEditor';
+import WritersRoom from '../../pages/WritersRoom';
+import { getWritersRoomWork, saveWritersRoomDraft } from '../../services/apiWritersRoom';
 
 const work = {
   id: 'wr-work-1',
@@ -98,6 +107,9 @@ describe('WorkEditor header layout (#3568)', () => {
     const secondary = screen.getByTestId('work-header-secondary');
 
     expect([...header.children]).toEqual([title, secondary, save, snapshot, menu]);
+    // Let a long title yield to the fixed-width Save control on narrow phones.
+    expect(title).toHaveClass('min-w-0', 'w-0');
+    expect(save).toHaveClass('w-24', 'shrink-0');
     // Only the sub-bar is re-ordered; anything else carrying an `order-*` class
     // would either break the row split or desync tab order from the layout.
     for (const el of [title, save, snapshot, menu]) {
@@ -270,3 +282,48 @@ describe('WorkEditor server-pushed draft body (#5300)', () => {
     expect(container.querySelector('textarea').value).toBe('The hero waits.');
   });
 });
+
+
+describe('Writers Room focused writing', () => {
+  it('preserves edits through header collapse and shows accurate save states during continued typing and retry', async () => {
+    getWritersRoomWork.mockResolvedValue(work);
+    const router = createMemoryRouter([
+      { path: '/writers-room/works/:workId', element: <WritersRoom /> },
+    ], { initialEntries: ['/writers-room/works/wr-work-1'] });
+    const { container } = render(<RouterProvider router={router} />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+    const area = container.querySelector('textarea');
+    await act(async () => { fireEvent.change(area, { target: { value: 'First edit.' } }); });
+    await act(async () => { fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Collapse writing header' })); });
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Expand writing header' })).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+    expect(screen.getByText('Catalog cast controls').parentElement).toHaveClass('hidden');
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Library controls')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('work-header-secondary')).toHaveClass('hidden');
+    expect(container.querySelector('textarea')).toBe(area);
+    expect(area.value).toBe('First edit.');
+
+    let finishSave;
+    saveWritersRoomDraft.mockImplementationOnce(() => new Promise((resolve) => { finishSave = resolve; }));
+    await act(async () => { fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save' })); });
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Saving…' })).toBeDisabled();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Saving…' })).toHaveAttribute('aria-busy', 'true');
+    await act(async () => { fireEvent.change(area, { target: { value: 'Second edit.' } }); });
+    await act(async () => { finishSave({ ...work, activeDraftBody: 'First edit.' }); });
+    expect(area.value).toBe('Second edit.');
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save' })).toBeEnabled();
+
+    saveWritersRoomDraft.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('Example failure'));
+    await act(async () => { fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save' })); });
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save' })).toBeEnabled();
+    expect(area.value).toBe('Second edit.');
+    saveWritersRoomDraft.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ...work, activeDraftBody: 'Second edit.' });
+    await act(async () => { fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save' })); });
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Saved' })).toBeDisabled();
+    expect(saveWritersRoomDraft).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(work.id, 'Second edit.', { silent: true });
+    await act(async () => { fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Expand writing header' })); });
+    expect(screen.getByText('Catalog cast controls').parentElement).not.toHaveClass('hidden');
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('work-header-secondary')).not.toHaveClass('hidden');
+    expect(container.querySelector('textarea')).toBe(area);
+    expect(area.value).toBe('Second edit.');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/client/src/pages/WritersRoom.jsx b/client/src/pages/WritersRoom.jsx
index ab448b2dce..491ba20117 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/WritersRoom.jsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/WritersRoom.jsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useState, useCallback } from 'react';
 import { useParams, useNavigate, Link } from 'react-router';
-import { NotebookPen, PanelLeftOpen, BookOpen } from 'lucide-react';
+import { NotebookPen, PanelLeftOpen, BookOpen, ChevronUp, ChevronDown } from 'lucide-react';
 import LibraryPane from '../components/writers-room/LibraryPane';
 import WorkEditor from '../components/writers-room/WorkEditor';
 import ExercisePanel from '../components/writers-room/ExercisePanel';
@@ -24,11 +24,9 @@ export default function WritersRoom() {
   const [loadingWork, setLoadingWork] = useState(false);
   const [showExercise, setShowExercise] = useState(false);
   const [editorDirty, setEditorDirty] = useState(false);
-  // Header + library collapse state. Opening a work auto-collapses both (see
-  // selectWork) so the editor gets maximum room — this now applies on mobile
-  // too, where the library is an inline block stacked above the editor. The
-  // full header shrinks to a slim bar that hosts the "show library" control.
-  // Persisted so a manual collapse survives reloads.
+  const [headerCollapsed, , toggleHeader] = useLocalStorageBool('wr.headerCollapsed', false);
+  // Opening a work collapses the library on mobile and desktop. Header
+  // controls have their own persisted disclosure for focused writing.
   const [libraryCollapsed, setLibraryCollapsed] = useLocalStorageBool(LIBRARY_COLLAPSED_KEY, false);
   const toggleLibrary = useCallback(() => {
     setLibraryCollapsed((prev) => !prev);
@@ -127,11 +125,8 @@ export default function WritersRoom() {
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col h-full">
-      {libraryCollapsed ? (
-        // Slim header while editing — frees vertical room and hosts the "show
-        // library" control. This replaces the old desktop-only floating expand
-        // button so it's reachable on mobile, where there's no side rail.
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 border-b border-port-border bg-port-card">
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 border-b border-port-border bg-port-card shrink-0">
+        {libraryCollapsed && (
           <button
             onClick={toggleLibrary}
             className="min-h-[44px] min-w-[44px] inline-flex items-center justify-center p-1 text-gray-400 hover:text-white transition-colors"
@@ -140,33 +135,34 @@ export default function WritersRoom() {
           >
             <PanelLeftOpen size={16} />
           </button>
-          <NotebookPen className="w-4 h-4 text-port-accent" />
-          <span className="text-sm font-semibold text-white">Writers Room</span>
-          <Link
-            to="/writers-room/guide"
-            className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-gray-400 hover:text-port-accent transition-colors"
-            title="Writing guide: length targets & craft rules"
-            aria-label="Writing guide"
-          >
-            <BookOpen size={14} />
-            <span className="hidden sm:inline">Guide</span>
-          </Link>
-        </div>
-      ) : (
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-port-border bg-port-card">
-          <NotebookPen className="w-5 h-5 text-port-accent" />
-          <h1 className="text-xl font-bold text-white">Writers Room</h1>
-          <span className="text-xs text-gray-500 hidden lg:inline">Folders, works, drafts, storyboard, and write-for-10 sprints</span>
-          <Link
-            to="/writers-room/guide"
-            className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-gray-400 hover:text-port-accent transition-colors"
-            title="Writing guide: length targets & craft rules"
+        )}
+        <NotebookPen className="w-4 h-4 shrink-0 text-port-accent" />
+        <h1 className="text-sm font-semibold text-white">Writers Room</h1>
+        <Link
+          to="/writers-room/guide"
+          className="ml-auto min-h-[44px] min-w-[44px] flex items-center justify-center gap-1 text-xs text-gray-400 hover:text-port-accent transition-colors"
+          title="Writing guide: length targets & craft rules"
+          aria-label="Writing guide"
+        >
+          <BookOpen size={14} />
+          <span className="hidden sm:inline">Guide</span>
+        </Link>
+        {activeWork && (
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => {
+              if (!headerCollapsed) setLibraryCollapsed(true);
+              toggleHeader();
+            }}
+            aria-expanded={!headerCollapsed}
+            aria-label={headerCollapsed ? 'Expand writing header' : 'Collapse writing header'}
+            title={headerCollapsed ? 'Expand writing header' : 'Collapse writing header'}
+            className="shrink-0 min-h-[44px] min-w-[44px] flex items-center justify-center text-gray-400 hover:text-white"
           >
-            <BookOpen size={15} />
-            <span>Guide</span>
-          </Link>
-        </div>
-      )}
+            {headerCollapsed ? <ChevronDown size={18} /> : <ChevronUp size={18} />}
+          </button>
+        )}
+      </div>
 
       <div
         className="flex-1 flex flex-col md:grid min-h-0 transition-[grid-template-columns] duration-200"
@@ -200,7 +196,7 @@ export default function WritersRoom() {
           )}
           {!loadingWork && activeWork && (
             <>
-              <div className="px-3 pt-3">
+              <div className={headerCollapsed ? 'hidden' : 'px-3 pt-3'}>
                 <CatalogCastPanel
                   refKind="work"
                   refId={activeWork.id}
@@ -209,6 +205,7 @@ export default function WritersRoom() {
               </div>
               <WorkEditor
                 work={activeWork}
+                headerCollapsed={headerCollapsed}
                 onChange={handleWorkChange}
                 onToggleExercise={() => setShowExercise((s) => !s)}
                 exerciseOpen={showExercise}