How to Use Story Plotter: A Step-by-Step Guide
Story Plotter has three linked views, Doc, Board, and Timeline, for planning and structuring your novel. Here's how to get started with each one.
-
1
Open Story Plotter
Open your manuscript, then expand the left-hand sidebar and click Story Plotter at the bottom.
Screenshot needed: The Story Plotter link in the left-hand sidebar -
2
Add your chapter summaries
In the Doc view, add chapter summaries and scene-by-scene breakdowns for each of your chapters, with as little or as much detail and structure as you like.
Screenshot needed: A chapter summary and scene breakdown in the Doc view -
3
Import notes into The Pad
Match the chapter title in Story Plotter to the title in your manuscript, then import chapter notes into The Pad for that chapter with a click. Your chapter notes stay close at hand when you're writing, but out of the way when you're not.
Screenshot needed: Importing a chapter's Story Plotter notes into The Pad -
4
Switch to the Board view
Open the Board view to map chapters and scenes against any of 11 built-in story structures.
Screenshot needed: The Board view with a story structure template applied -
5
Apply a structure template
Select a template, for example Save the Cat, and Story Plotter lays out its story beats across three acts.
Screenshot needed: Save the Cat story beats broken out across three acts -
6
Arrange your pacing
Drag and drop chapters and scenes on the Board until you're happy with your story's pacing.
Screenshot needed: Dragging a scene card between acts on the Board -
7
Switch to the Timeline view
Open the Timeline view to track every narrative thread running through your story.
Screenshot needed: The Timeline view showing chapters and threads -
8
Track a thread
Click to expand a chapter summary and add each thread you want to track below it, whether that's a relationship, the main plot, or a plant-and-payoff moment.
Screenshot needed: Adding a narrative thread beneath a chapter summary -
9
Spot dangling threads
Open threads are highlighted, so you can see at a glance whether they've been fully developed and resolved, or left half-baked and dangling.
Screenshot needed: A highlighted open thread on the Timeline -
10
Add a new thread card
Click an empty space to add a new thread card with a title, description, and tag, so you can track multiple threads and complex plotlines with ease.
Screenshot needed: Creating a new thread card with a title and tag
Want to see it in motion?
Watch the full walkthrough video on the Story Plotter help page.