In an end user application running on a computer, for the purpose of collaborative modification of shared electronic documents, a graphical user interface is provided that facilitates storing an electronic document in shared storage. This graphical user interface includes a graphical element that conveys information about shared status of the currently accessed electronic document to the end user. Through input devices of the end user computer, an end user can manipulate this graphical element. Certain manipulations of this graphical element instruct the end user computer to store the currently accessed electronic document in shared storage if that electronic document has not yet been stored in shared storage. After the electronic document is stored in shared storage, the graphical user interface facilitates sharing of the electronic document with others. A graphical user interface that allows an electronic document to be quickly shared improves user efficiency and productivity in collaborative authoring.