diff --git a/PLAN.md b/PLAN.md
index 19d80ea..b516d93 100644
--- a/PLAN.md
+++ b/PLAN.md
@@ -72,9 +72,16 @@ Voice-first authoring tool for single-user Ghost blog. Capture audio, refine wit
 - [x] Add STT trigger in UI: call `/api/stt` with `{ bucket, key }` and render transcript
 
 ## Next Priorities
-- [ ] Save transcript into an editor document (draft state) and display in editor.
+- [x] Save transcript into an editor document (draft state) and display in editor.
+- [x] Add simple document persistence API (filesystem) at `/api/drafts` (list/get/save).
+- [ ] Wire editor to use `/api/drafts` (load/save) instead of only localStorage.
 - [ ] List uploaded media items and allow re-use/deletion.
-- [ ] Add simple document persistence API (CRUD) and local storage autosave.
+
+## Verification Steps
+- [ ] Start API: `pnpm run dev -C apps/api`
+- [ ] Start Admin: `pnpm run dev -C apps/admin`
+- [ ] Record → Stop → Upload → Transcribe; see transcript populate Draft.
+- [ ] Save Draft (local) and verify persistence on reload.
 
 ## MinIO Integration Checklist
 - [ ] Deploy MinIO on VPS (console `:9001`, API `:9000`).
diff --git a/apps/admin/src/components/EditorShell.tsx b/apps/admin/src/components/EditorShell.tsx
index 074101b..4c36955 100644
--- a/apps/admin/src/components/EditorShell.tsx
+++ b/apps/admin/src/components/EditorShell.tsx
@@ -5,14 +5,43 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 
 export default function EditorShell({ onLogout }: { onLogout?: () => void }) {
   const [draft, setDraft] = useState<string>('');
+  const [draftId, setDraftId] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    const saved = localStorage.getItem('voxblog_draft');
-    if (saved) setDraft(saved);
+    const savedId = localStorage.getItem('voxblog_draft_id');
+    const savedLocal = localStorage.getItem('voxblog_draft');
+    if (savedLocal) setDraft(savedLocal);
+    if (savedId) {
+      (async () => {
+        try {
+          const res = await fetch(`/api/drafts/${savedId}`);
+          if (res.ok) {
+            const data = await res.json();
+            setDraft(data.content || '');
+            setDraftId(data.id || savedId);
+          }
+        } catch {}
+      })();
+    }
   }, []);
 
-  const saveDraft = () => {
+  const saveDraft = async () => {
+    // Keep local fallback
     localStorage.setItem('voxblog_draft', draft);
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch('/api/drafts', {
+        method: 'POST',
+        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+        body: JSON.stringify({ id: draftId ?? undefined, content: draft }),
+      });
+      if (res.ok) {
+        const data = await res.json();
+        if (data.id) {
+          setDraftId(data.id);
+          localStorage.setItem('voxblog_draft_id', data.id);
+        }
+      }
+    } catch {}
   };
 
   return (
@@ -32,7 +61,10 @@ export default function EditorShell({ onLogout }: { onLogout?: () => void }) {
             onChange={(e) => setDraft(e.target.value)}
           />
           <Stack direction="row" spacing={2} sx={{ mt: 1 }}>
-            <Button variant="contained" onClick={saveDraft}>Save Draft (local)</Button>
+            <Button variant="contained" onClick={saveDraft}>Save Draft</Button>
+            {draftId && (
+              <Typography variant="caption" sx={{ alignSelf: 'center' }}>ID: {draftId}</Typography>
+            )}
           </Stack>
         </Box>
       </Box>
diff --git a/apps/api/src/drafts.ts b/apps/api/src/drafts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f4aeda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/src/drafts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import express from 'express';
+import path from 'path';
+import { promises as fs } from 'fs';
+import crypto from 'crypto';
+
+const router = express.Router();
+const draftsDir = path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../data/drafts');
+
+async function ensureDir() {
+  await fs.mkdir(draftsDir, { recursive: true });
+}
+
+router.get('/', async (_req, res) => {
+  try {
+    await ensureDir();
+    const files = await fs.readdir(draftsDir);
+    const items = files.filter(f => f.endsWith('.json')).map(f => f.replace(/\.json$/, ''));
+    res.json({ items });
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('List drafts error:', err);
+    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to list drafts' });
+  }
+});
+
+router.get('/:id', async (req, res) => {
+  try {
+    await ensureDir();
+    const id = req.params.id;
+    const file = path.join(draftsDir, `${id}.json`);
+    const content = await fs.readFile(file, 'utf8');
+    res.json(JSON.parse(content));
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('Read draft error:', err);
+    res.status(404).json({ error: 'Draft not found' });
+  }
+});
+
+router.post('/', async (req, res) => {
+  try {
+    await ensureDir();
+    const { id, content } = req.body as { id?: string; content?: string };
+    if (typeof content !== 'string') {
+      return res.status(400).json({ error: 'content is required' });
+    }
+    const draftId = id || crypto.randomUUID();
+    const file = path.join(draftsDir, `${draftId}.json`);
+    const payload = { id: draftId, content, updatedAt: new Date().toISOString() };
+    await fs.writeFile(file, JSON.stringify(payload, null, 2), 'utf8');
+    res.json({ success: true, id: draftId });
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('Save draft error:', err);
+    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to save draft' });
+  }
+});
+
+export default router;
diff --git a/apps/api/src/index.ts b/apps/api/src/index.ts
index b447d64..479448d 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/index.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import cors from 'cors';
 import authRouter from './auth';
 import mediaRouter from './media';
 import sttRouter from './stt';
+import draftsRouter from './drafts';
 
 const app = express();
 console.log('ENV ADMIN_PASSWORD loaded:', Boolean(process.env.ADMIN_PASSWORD));
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ app.use(express.json());
 app.use('/api/auth', authRouter);
 app.use('/api/media', mediaRouter);
 app.use('/api/stt', sttRouter);
+app.use('/api/drafts', draftsRouter);
 app.get('/api/health', (_req, res) => {
   res.json({ ok: true });
 });