diff --git a/bookwyrm/static/js/status_cache.js b/bookwyrm/static/js/status_cache.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9d86c313
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/static/js/status_cache.js
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/* exported StatusCache */
+/* globals BookWyrm */
+
+let StatusCache = new class {
+    constructor() {
+        document.querySelectorAll('[data-cache-draft]')
+            .forEach(t => t.addEventListener('change', this.updateDraft.bind(this)));
+        document.querySelectorAll('[data-cache-draft]')
+            .forEach(t => this.populateDraft(t));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Update localStorage copy of drafted status
+     *
+     * @param  {Event} event
+     * @return {undefined}
+     */
+    updateDraft(event) {
+        // Used in set reading goal
+        let key = event.target.dataset.cacheDraft;
+        let value = event.target.value;
+
+        window.localStorage.setItem(key, value);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Toggle display of a DOM node based on its value in the localStorage.
+     *
+     * @param {object} node - DOM node to toggle.
+     * @return {undefined}
+     */
+    populateDraft(node) {
+        // Used in set reading goal
+        let key = node.dataset.cacheDraft;
+        let value = window.localStorage.getItem(key);
+
+        node.value = value;
+    }
+}();
+
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
index 43ca81c7..e855bf60 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@
 </script>
 <script src="{% static "js/bookwyrm.js" %}"></script>
 <script src="{% static "js/localstorage.js" %}"></script>
+<script src="{% static "js/status_cache.js" %}"></script>
 {% block scripts %}{% endblock %}
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
index 90746736..c2b383b9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ draft: an existing Status object that is providing default values for input fiel
 {% endcomment %}
 <textarea
     name="content"
-    class="textarea"
+    class="textarea save-draft"
+    data-cache-draft="id_content_{{ type }}_{{ book.id }}{{ reply_parent.id }}"
     id="id_content_{{ type }}_{{ book.id }}{{ reply_parent.id }}"
     placeholder="{{ placeholder }}"
     aria-label="{% if reply_parent %}{% trans 'Reply' %}{% else %}{% trans 'Content' %}{% endif %}"