Abstract: An electronic management system accessible over the internet manages the elements of a user's large-scale writing project. The user enters or otherwise uploads project data including main document data and research data and the system organizes the data according to the needs of the writer, preferably using a hierarchy that conforms to the logical progression of the written work. The system manages referential linkages between the different types of data in order to maintain consistency across stored data when it is updated. The system may compile or consolidate data and generate reports that the writer uses while proceeding through the project, including calculations relating to the type, age, and number of references cited in the project. The system may interface with other software programs, such as word processors, data processors, and online libraries, to export or import data related to the project.