Plottr - Detailed Review
Writing Tools
Plottr - Product Overview
Introduction to Plottr
Plottr is a versatile and user-friendly visual book planning software that helps writers organize and structure their stories effectively. Here’s a breakdown of its primary function, target audience, and key features:Primary Function
Plottr is designed to help writers plan and organize their books by providing a visual approach to outlining and plotting. It allows users to create a clear visual timeline of their story, making it easier to track character arcs, plot developments, and other narrative elements.Target Audience
Plottr is intended for a wide range of writers, including novelists, screenwriters, and authors of nonfiction works. It is particularly useful for those who need to manage complex plots, multiple characters, and various settings. Whether you are writing a mystery, romance, fantasy, or any other genre, Plottr can help you streamline your creative process.Key Features
Visual Plot Timeline
One of the standout features of Plottr is its Visual Plot Timeline. This tool enables writers to visually organize their chapters, scenes, and plotlines using a drag-and-drop interface. You can easily rearrange scenes, add new events, and modify timeframes, ensuring a coherent and engaging narrative flow.Character and Location Management
Plottr allows you to create comprehensive character profiles and manage locations effectively. You can store information about each character’s attributes, histories, and interpersonal connections, as well as designate and annotate specific settings. This helps maintain coherence and nuance in your story.Templates and Customization
Plottr offers a variety of pre-made templates for different genres and story structures, such as the Three-Act Structure and the Hero’s Journey. These templates are fully customizable, allowing you to adapt them to fit your unique story requirements. This feature helps you save time and ensure your tale has a coherent framework.Integration and Export Options
Plottr integrates smoothly with other writing tools like Microsoft Word and Scrivener, making it easy to import and export plot and character details. You can also export your work in various formats such as PDF or DOCX, which is convenient for sharing with collaborators or including in your manuscript.Multi-Device Compatibility
Plottr is compatible with major devices, including Apple iOS, Windows, Mac OS, and Android. This allows you to work on your story across different platforms, although using it on multiple devices may require a higher subscription rate. In summary, Plottr is an essential tool for writers looking to organize their stories visually, manage complex plots and characters, and streamline their writing process. Its intuitive interface and versatile features make it a valuable asset for writers of all genres. Plottr - User Interface and Experience
Overview
Plottr, a visual story planning software, offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface that makes it easy for authors to plan and organize their books.Ease of Use
Plottr is known for its simplicity and ease of use. Upon downloading and installing the software, users are greeted with a guided introductory tour that walks them through all the different features, explaining each clearly and simply. This tour helps new users get started quickly, avoiding the frustration that can come with a steep learning curve.User Interface
The interface of Plottr is clean and visually appealing. The central feature is the Timeline, which allows users to visually organize their chapters, scenes, and plotlines using drag-and-drop functionality. This is similar to moving index cards on a corkboard, but done with a few clicks of the mouse. Users can add scene notes, link scenes to characters and places, and add tags to each scene card.Customization and Flexibility
Plottr offers a high degree of customization. Users can create entire plot lines, subplots, and lay them out over the course of their chapters. Scene cards, chapters, and plot lines can be easily rearranged with a simple click. Additionally, users can recolor plot lines and customize the layout as needed. Each scene card can be detailed with text, images, links to research articles, and tags for characters, places, and events.Multiple Viewing Modes
The software allows users to view their outline in different modes. If the timeline view is not preferred, users can switch to the outline view, providing flexibility in how they visualize their work.Character Creation
Creating characters in Plottr is straightforward and effective. Users can add detailed information about characters, including attributes such as flaws, personality traits, or magical abilities. These attributes can be tracked across all characters, and users can choose from various character templates if they prefer.AI Integration
Plottr’s AI features are optional and turned off by default, ensuring that users only interact with AI if they choose to. When activated, these features are easy to use, requiring only a few clicks to generate ideas based on the context provided. The AI workflow is clearly marked with purple buttons and a “Generate” button, making it easy to identify when AI is being used.Overall User Experience
The overall user experience with Plottr is highly positive. Users praise its ease of use, the aesthetic appeal of the dashboard, and the versatility of the software. It is particularly recommended for new authors who need help with outlining, as it provides a clear and organized way to plan books without feeling overwhelmed.Additional Features
Plottr also includes features like the ability to connect plots to series, add book covers, and note the premise of each book in a series. The software is downloadable, ensuring that all work is stored locally on the user’s device, rather than on a server. This provides an added layer of security and convenience.Conclusion
In summary, Plottr’s user interface is designed to be user-friendly, flexible, and highly customizable, making it an excellent tool for authors looking to streamline their plotting and outlining process. Plottr - Key Features and Functionality
Plottr Overview
Plottr is a versatile and user-friendly writing tool that offers a range of features to help authors plan, organize, and refine their stories. Here are the main features and how they work, including the integration of AI:Visual Plot Timeline
Plottr’s core feature is its Visual Plot Timeline, which allows users to visually organize their chapters, scenes, and plotlines using a drag-and-drop interface. This feature makes it easy to lay out the chronology of the story, track character arcs, and ensure continuity. Users can add scene notes, link scenes to characters and locations, and use tags to categorize elements of their story.Character and Location Management
Plottr enables comprehensive management of characters and locations. Users can create detailed character profiles that include attributes, histories, and interpersonal connections. This helps maintain coherence and nuance in the story. Similarly, the location and setting management features allow users to organize and visualize different settings, ensuring consistency throughout the narrative.Plot and Chapter Organization
Plottr facilitates effective plot and chapter organization through its visual tools. Users can map out their plot and chapter structure, track plot points, and adjust the story flow using the drag-and-drop feature. This ensures that each plot point leads smoothly to the next, making the story cohesive and engaging.Templates
Plottr offers a variety of pre-made templates for different genres and story forms, such as the Three-Act Structure and the Hero’s Journey. These templates help users save time and ensure their story has a coherent framework. Users can also customize these templates to fit their unique story requirements.Notes Management
The notes management feature allows users to tag, color-code, and categorize notes, making it easy to track characters, settings, and plot points. This keeps all notes in one place, reducing clutter and improving accessibility.Dashboard
Plottr’s dashboard provides easy access to all projects, templates, and settings in one place. The clean and intuitive design simplifies navigation and organization, helping users quickly locate files and maintain an organized workspace.Drag-and-Drop Capability
The drag-and-drop feature is highly praised by users for its convenience in organizing scenes and chapters. It allows users to easily rearrange elements within the timeline, enhancing their workflow and creativity.AI Integration
Plottr is integrating AI features to enhance the writing process. Here’s how it works:Activation
AI features are turned off by default and must be activated by the user after purchasing access to them.Usage
Users interact with AI through clearly marked buttons (purple with white sparkles). When these buttons are clicked, a workflow begins to provide context to the AI model. The final step involves clicking a “Generate” button, which sends a request to the AI model (e.g., ChatGPT) via an API. This ensures that text sent through the API is not used to train the AI models.Brainstorming
The primary use of AI in Plottr is for brainstorming, generating character ideas, scene suggestions, and plot points based on the user’s story context.Benefits of AI Integration
The AI features in Plottr are designed to be clear and easy to use, allowing writers to brainstorm ideas without fully relying on AI-generated content. This keeps the creative control in the writer’s hands while providing valuable assistance in generating ideas and organizing the story. Overall, Plottr combines visual planning tools, comprehensive character and location management, and optional AI assistance to streamline the writing process, ensuring that writers can maintain organization, clarity, and coherence in their stories. Plottr - Performance and Accuracy
Performance and Accuracy of Plottr
When evaluating the performance and accuracy of Plottr as a writing tool, several key points stand out:Ease of Use and Performance
Plottr is praised for its simplicity and ease of use. It offers a guided introductory tour that helps users quickly get familiar with its features, making the learning process smooth and straightforward. The software is highly customizable, with features like the ability to flip your view when plotting, aligning your timeline vertically or horizontally, and filtering chapters according to tags and characters. These features enhance productivity and make it easier to manage your outline.Accuracy and Organization
Plottr excels in organizing and outlining your story. It provides over a dozen plot planning templates based on proven storytelling structures, which can help you move your story from idea to execution. The “Places” tab allows you to develop your setting by noting important information and including real images of places in your story. The notes section is also user-friendly, allowing you to tag and filter your notes easily, ensuring you can keep track of your ideas and plot points accurately.Limitations
One of the main limitations of Plottr is that it is solely an outlining tool and does not offer a writing area. This means you cannot write your actual story within the software; instead, you need to export your outline and work on your draft in a separate word processor like Word, Google Docs, or Scrivener. Additionally, Plottr does not provide functionality for editing, formatting your book, or exporting an eBook file. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution, Plottr may not be the best fit.Areas for Improvement
The pricing structure of Plottr can be confusing, particularly the ‘year of updates’ caveat for annual subscriptions. Users have expressed a preference for a clearer, more straightforward pricing model. Some users have also reported occasional issues with the software getting stuck, though these are generally resolved with restarts and frequent updates from the developers.Engagement and User Experience
Plottr is well-presented and a pleasure to use, with a clean and intuitive interface. However, for authors who prefer to have all their writing tools in one place, the lack of a writing area might be a significant drawback.Conclusion
In summary, Plottr performs well as a specialized outlining tool, offering high accuracy and ease of use in organizing and plotting your story. However, its limitations, particularly the absence of a writing area and other functionalities like editing and formatting, mean it may not be the best choice for everyone, especially those seeking an all-in-one writing solution. Plottr - Pricing and Plans
Plottr Pricing Overview
Plottr, a popular tool for writers to organize and plan their stories, offers a streamlined and user-friendly pricing structure. Here are the details of the different plans and features available:
Plottr Lifetime (Offline Only)
- This plan is available at a flat rate of $199.
- It grants users unrestricted access to Plottr’s features without the need for a recurring subscription.
- This plan is offline-only, meaning it does not include cloud backups or real-time syncing.
Plottr Pro
- Priced at $15 per month or $150 per year.
- Includes story planning tools available in the cloud, with updates as long as the plan is active.
- This plan supports use on multiple devices, including desktop and web platforms, with cloud backups and real-time syncing.
Plottr Pro Education
- Priced at $27 per month or $270 per year.
- This plan includes all the features of Plottr Pro, plus additional educational resources and community support.
- Users get access to the Plottr Vault replays, a supportive private community, accountability sessions, and discounts on paid events.
- It also allows unlimited household devices and real-time collaboration.
Key Features Across Plans
- Timeline, Outline, Character Development, Plot Points, Scene Cards, Templates, Notes, Tags, Color Coding: These features are available across all paid plans.
- Collaboration: Real-time collaboration is available in the Plottr Pro and Plottr Pro Education plans.
- Cross-Platform Sync: Available in the Plottr Pro and Plottr Pro Education plans, allowing use on multiple devices with cloud backups and auto-syncing.
Free Trial
- Plottr offers a 30-day free trial, allowing users to test the software before making a purchase. Any projects created during the trial will be available after upgrading to a paid plan.
By choosing one of these plans, writers can select the level of support and features that best fit their needs and budget.
Plottr - Integration and Compatibility
Plottr Overview
Plottr, a plotting software for writers, offers extensive integration and compatibility across various platforms and devices, making it a versatile tool for authors.Platform Compatibility
Plottr is compatible with a wide range of operating systems and devices:Windows
It runs on Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11, with some users reporting success even on older versions like Windows XP.
Mac OS
It supports macOS versions from OS X v10.14 “Mojave” to the latest macOS 12 “Monterey”, including Apple Silicon (M1) systems with Rosetta.
iOS
Plottr works on iPhones and iPads running iOS 13 or later.
Android
It is compatible with Android devices running Android 5 (Lollipop) or later.
Chromebooks
Plottr Pro’s web app allows it to run on Chromebooks.
Linux
While not officially supported, Plottr Pro’s web app can be used on Linux devices. A native beta version may be available for 64-bit systems, and some users have successfully run the Windows version using Wine.
Device Syncing and Cloud Integration
For seamless workflow, Plottr offers different syncing options:Plottr Classic
This version requires using a third-party storage service like Dropbox, iCloud, or OneDrive to sync files across devices.
Plottr Pro
This version includes cloud-based functionality, allowing automatic syncing across all devices, including web and desktop platforms. It also provides cloud backups and real-time collaboration features.
Multi-Device Support
Plottr Pro stands out for its ability to sync work across multiple devices, ensuring that you can pick up where you left off whether you’re on your computer, phone, or any other device with a browser. This feature is particularly useful for authors who work on multiple devices or collaborate with others.AI Integration
Plottr incorporates AI features that are easy to use and do not require any knowledge of AI. These features include brainstorming tools that generate ideas based on the context of your story. The AI tools are optional and can be turned off if not needed. The AI integration ensures that prompts are generated based on the story context you provide, without using any of your information to train AI models.Community and Support
In addition to its technical features, Plottr offers a supportive community and resources. Users have access to educational events, networking opportunities, and a private community hosted on Mighty Networks. Support is available via email, even on weekends, ensuring quick and helpful responses to any issues.Conclusion
Overall, Plottr’s broad compatibility and integration features make it a highly versatile and user-friendly tool for writers across various platforms and devices. Plottr - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support
For any issues or questions, Plottr provides a dedicated support system. Here are some ways to get help:
- If you encounter problems such as a Firebase authentication error while logging in, you can clear your browser cache and try logging in again. For other login issues, you can reset your password through the login page.
- For general assistance, you can contact the support team via a support ticket. This is particularly useful if you have any issues during your 30-day free trial or need help with your account, purchases, or subscriptions.
Additional Resources
Plottr offers a range of resources to help you get the most out of the software:
Knowledge Base
The Plottr Knowledge Base is a comprehensive resource that answers common account-related questions, such as how to create an account, log in, reset your password, and manage your purchases and subscriptions.
Features and Tutorials
The Plottr website provides detailed information on its features, including visual timelines, scene cards, story bibles, starter templates, and series planning tools. These resources help you understand how to use the software effectively to organize and outline your writing projects.
AI and Data Handling
For users concerned about the use of AI features in Plottr, there is a detailed article explaining how AI handles your story data. This includes information on data transmission, storage, and the ethical use of your data, ensuring transparency and control over your creative work.
Plottr Notes
Plottr Notes is a feature that helps you track every detail of your story, from world-building to research notes. This tool allows you to organize, filter, and search your notes, making it easier to brainstorm, plan, and research your writing projects.
By leveraging these support options and resources, you can ensure a smooth and productive experience with Plottr, helping you to focus more on your writing and less on technical issues.
Plottr - Pros and Cons
Pros of Plottr
Visual Story Planning
Plottr offers a unique and intuitive visual timeline feature, similar to a digital corkboard, which allows authors to create and organize their plots easily. This drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to outline and rearrange scenes, chapters, and plot lines.
Character and Story Development
The software provides extensive tools for character development, including character templates and the ability to store detailed information about characters, such as their goals, motivations, and conflicts. You can also add custom notes, images, and links to enhance your character profiles.
Series Planning
Plottr is particularly useful for authors planning large series. It allows you to store information related to multiple books within one location, connect different plots, and tag characters and places across the series.
Customization and Flexibility
The software offers a range of pre-set templates and tools that are highly customizable. You can create your own plot lines, subplots, and scenes, and customize the appearance and layout of your timeline. It also supports tagging and filtering options to help you find specific elements of your story quickly.
AI-Driven Features
Plottr is introducing AI features to help with brainstorming, such as generating random character, scene, and place ideas, filling out character sheets, and summarizing your book. These features are intended to enhance your creative process.
Ease of Use
Users praise Plottr for its intuitive interface and ease of learning. The software includes short tutorials and is generally user-friendly, even for those who are not fond of learning new software.
Integration and Export
Plottr integrates with other popular writing tools and allows you to export your plot outlines to use in other writing software like Google Docs, Word, or Scrivener.
Cons of Plottr
Limited Functionality
Plottr is a specialized tool focused solely on outlining and planning, and it does not offer writing, editing, or formatting capabilities. You will need separate software to write and edit your story.
Cost
While Plottr is considered a valuable tool by many, it may be seen as an unnecessary expense for some authors, especially those just starting out. There are free or cheaper alternatives like Trello that can achieve similar results.
Additional Costs for Multiple Licenses
If you need to use Plottr on multiple devices, you may incur additional costs, which could be a drawback for some users.
Lack of Hot Keys
Some users have reported a lack of hot keys, which can make certain tasks less efficient.
No Writing Section
Since Plottr is purely for outlining, you will need to export your plot and use it in a separate writing application. This might not be ideal for authors who prefer an all-in-one solution like Scrivener.
By weighing these pros and cons, you can determine whether Plottr aligns with your specific writing needs and preferences.
Plottr - Comparison with Competitors
Unique Features of Plottr
- Visual Story Planning: Plottr stands out for its visual approach to story planning. It allows authors to create and manage their plotlines, characters, and locations in a visually intuitive way, which is particularly useful for writers of complex fiction, such as fantasy and sci-fi series.
- Series Management: Plottr is highly effective for authors planning multiple books within a series. It stores all the information related to a series in one place, making it easier to keep track of details and avoid inconsistencies.
- AI Integration: While Plottr’s AI features are still in the early stages, they include generating random character, scene, and place ideas, as well as summarizing your book. These features are intended to aid in brainstorming and idea generation.
Alternatives and Comparisons
Scrivener and Other Traditional Writing Tools
Unlike Plottr, tools like Scrivener focus more on the writing process itself rather than the pre-writing planning phase. Scrivener offers a comprehensive writing environment but lacks the visual plotting and series management features that Plottr provides.AI Writing Tools
AI writing tools like Jasper, KoalaWriter, and Writesonic are more focused on content generation rather than story planning.- Jasper: Jasper is excellent for generating both short-form and long-form content, including social media posts, blog articles, and more. However, it does not offer the visual plotting or series management capabilities of Plottr. Jasper’s strength lies in its ability to produce SEO-optimized content quickly, but it may require additional editing.
- KoalaWriter: KoalaWriter uses AI to generate high-quality content, particularly for SEO-optimized articles and social media posts. It does not have the visual story planning features of Plottr and is more suited for content creation rather than story development.
- Writesonic: Writesonic is known for its speed in generating content, but it lacks the detailed story planning and management features of Plottr. Writesonic is better suited for writers who need to produce a large volume of content quickly.
Potential Alternatives
For authors looking for alternatives that offer similar visual planning and management features, here are a few options:- Novelize: Novelize is another tool that offers a visual approach to story planning, though it may not have the same level of series management as Plottr.
- Aeon Timeline: Aeon Timeline allows for visual timeline creation, which can be useful for plotting, but it does not have the same level of character and location management as Plottr.
Conclusion
Plottr is unique in its focus on visual story planning and series management, making it an invaluable tool for authors who need to organize complex narratives. While AI writing tools like Jasper and KoalaWriter are excellent for content generation, they do not replace the specific needs that Plottr addresses. If you are an author looking for a tool to help you plan and organize your story visually, Plottr remains a top choice. Plottr - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Plottr and what is it used for?
Plottr is a visual book outlining and story management software. It is used by authors to plan, organize, and successfully finish writing their books. The software offers features such as timeline views, outlines, character development, plot points, scene cards, and more to help authors stay organized.
How much does Plottr cost?
Plottr offers several pricing plans:
- Classic: $60/year or $139 for a lifetime license.
- Plottr Pro: $150/year or $15/month, which includes cloud-based functionality.
- Plottr Pro Community: $270/year or $27/month, which adds community features and access to the Plottr Vault replays.
There is also a 30-day free trial available.
What are the key features of Plottr?
- Timeline and Outline Views: Allows you to view your plot in different modes.
- Scene Cards and Plot Points: You can create and customize entire plot lines, subplots, and chapters.
- Character Development: Track characters, places, and tags associated with each scene.
- Templates: Provides templates for writers to use.
- Notes and Tags: Easy-to-use notes section with tagging and filtering options.
- Export and Import Options: Export your plot to use in other writing tools like Google Docs, Word, or Scrivener.
- Collaboration: Includes live collaboration features in the Pro versions.
- Color Coding: Customize your plot lines with different colors.
Does Plottr have AI features?
Yes, Plottr includes AI features that are optional and turned off by default. These features are designed to be easy to use, requiring no knowledge of AI or prompt engineering. The AI tools help by generating prompts based on the story context you provide, and you can choose to customize these prompts if you have more advanced knowledge.
Can I use Plottr offline?
Yes, Plottr can be used offline. The Classic and Classic Lifetime plans allow you to use the software offline on one device. However, the Pro and Pro Community plans offer cloud-based functionality, which includes online access and syncing across multiple devices.
Is there a free trial available for Plottr?
Yes, Plottr offers a 30-day free trial that includes all the features of the software. This allows you to test the tool before deciding on a purchase.
How does Plottr handle updates and support?
Plottr provides updates for as long as your plan is active. For the Classic and Pro plans, you get a year of updates, after which you need to renew your subscription to continue receiving updates. The lifetime licenses include lifetime updates. Plottr also offers training and support through video tutorials, webinars, and a community forum.
Can I export my plot from Plottr to other writing tools?
Yes, you can export your plot from Plottr to use in other writing tools such as Google Docs, Word, or Scrivener. This feature allows you to keep your plotting and writing processes separate if you prefer.
Does Plottr support collaboration?
Yes, the Plottr Pro and Plottr Pro Community plans include live collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously. This is particularly useful for co-authors or for working with editors and beta readers.
Is Plottr compatible with different operating systems?
Plottr is designed to be cross-platform, meaning it can be used on various operating systems. It also has a mobile app for added convenience.
What kind of customer support does Plottr offer?
Plottr offers several forms of customer support, including training through video tutorials and webinars, a knowledge base, and a community forum. These resources help users get the most out of the software.