1. An authoring system for editing a user copy of a document on a user device, the user copy being generated based on a master copy of the document, the authoring system comprising: a processor in communication with a memory storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to: provide a local cache stored on the user device, the local cache including a single store cache, a single obtain cache and a single upload cache; provide an authoring application configured to execute on the user device, the authoring application being configured to edit the user copy of a document, the authoring application being adapted to be selectively configured into an operating mode selected from the group consisting of a public operating mode and a private operating mode, the authoring application being configured to generate metadata updates based on edits made to the user copy of the document by a local user and to generate content updates based on edits made to the user copy of the document by the local user; synchronize the metadata updates between the user copy of the document and the master copy of the document regardless of the mode of operation into which the authoring application is configured; store the generated content updates into the store cache of the local cache; store the generated content updates into the upload cache when the authoring application is configured into the public operating mode; and share the content updates stored in the upload cache with the master copy of the document, wherein sharing the content updates with the master copy of the document signals a computing device hosting the master copy of the document to integrate the content updates into the master copy.