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Plottr (affiliate link) is specifically designed to help authors with outlining and story planning, which can significantly streamline your writing process. Many authors find it an intuitive and clean tool for visualizing their story, tracking character timelines, and managing worldbuilding details.
From AI Thomas:
Plottr is a visual book planning software available for Mac, Windows, and web, making it accessible on various devices. It's widely praised for its ability to help authors overcome common outlining challenges like plot holes and sagging middles, transforming ideas into organized outlines quickly. Thomas Umstattd Jr. himself notes that while Scrivener tries to do everything, Plottr excels at its specific function of outlining.
Many writers use Plottr in conjunction with other writing software like Scrivener or Microsoft Word, highlighting its complementary nature rather than being a standalone replacement for writing the manuscript itself. Plottr also offers robust features for managing series, allowing you to keep track of outlines, characters, places, and notes in one central location across multiple books.
Tips
Visualize Your Story: Plottr allows you to visually drag and drop scenes, chapters, and character arcs, making it easier to see the big picture and identify any structural issues.
Utilize Templates: It comes with over 40 plot outlining templates based on proven storytelling structures, including the Snowflake Method, Hero's Journey, and Romancing the Beat, which can guide your writing process.
Story Bible Functionality: Use Plottr to create a comprehensive "story bible" where you can track characters, settings, and notes, ensuring consistency, especially for series.
Integration with Other Tools: Plottr can export your outlines to Microsoft Word or Scrivener, allowing for a seamless transition from planning to writing.
Benefit for "Pantsers": Even if you prefer to write without an initial outline (a "pantser"), you can input your first draft into Plottr to generate an outline and identify areas for improvement.
Pitfalls
Not a Full Writing App: Remember that Plottr is primarily for outlining and planning, not for writing your entire manuscript. You'll still need a separate writing application for the actual drafting.
Learning Curve: While intuitive for its specific purpose, like any new software, it may take some time to fully explore and utilize all of Plottr's features. However, Plottr aims to be easy to use and provides educational resources and support.
Feature Overload: For very simple projects, the extensive features might feel like overkill. However, for anything beyond a short story, its organizational power becomes evident.
Patron Toolbox Tools to Help
The Patron Toolbox offers several tools that complement Plottr's functionality:
Plot Synopsizer: Generate a plot synopsis from your manuscript.
Character Compendium: Track arcs, relationships, and appearances for your characters.
Location Compendium: Keep track of key places, politics, and themes in your story world.
Timeline Chronicler: Order events, even in nonlinear stories.
Trope Finder: Analyze your manuscript to identify marketing-relevant tropes.
Not a Developmental Editor: Get big-picture feedback on structure, story, argument, pacing, and reader engagement.
Structure Analyzer: Evaluate your manuscript based on popular story structures like Save the Cat or Hero's Journey.
What My Guests Had to Say
Dave Chesson: "Plottr was designed specifically for book outlining. While it’s not exactly book-writing software, it serves as excellent book-preparation software. It’s very intuitive and clean, and I really like the designers’ approach." He also noted that many writers use Plottr and Scrivener together.
Ryan Zee: "Plottr is a visual book planning software for writers. It’s available for both Mac and Windows. Think of it as a tool that helps you visualize your story and start planning your book more quickly so you can write it faster once you have your outline together."