Introduction to Plottr
Plottr is a powerful, visual software tool designed to help authors and writers efficiently plan, organize, and manage their writing projects. Available for both Windows and Mac devices, as well as in web and tablet versions, Plottr streamlines the writing process through its intuitive and user-friendly interface.
Key Features and Functionality
Visual Timelines
At the heart of Plottr is its Timeline feature, which allows users to visually organize their chapters, scenes, and plotlines using a drag-and-drop interface. This digital corkboard-like system enables authors to lay out the chronology of their story, rearrange scenes, add new events, and modify timeframes with ease. The Timeline is the central hub where users build out their story, linking scene cards to characters, places, and adding tags and notes as needed.
Outline Generation
The Timeline automatically generates an Outline of the book’s content, providing a structured view of the story. This feature helps authors ensure their narrative flows coherently and logically.
Character and Location Management
Plottr includes robust tools for managing Characters and Locations. Users can create comprehensive character profiles, track character progress, and maintain intricate character relationships. Similarly, the location and setting management features allow authors to organize and visualize diverse settings, ensuring coherence throughout the story.
Notes and Brainstorming
The Notes section is where authors can brainstorm, organize story lore, collect research, and jot down ideas they may want to incorporate into their project. This feature helps in keeping all relevant information in one place.
Series Bible
For authors writing in series, Plottr’s Series Bible tool is particularly useful. It allows users to organize all book details in one place, create and view separate timelines for each book in the series, as well as a timeline for the series as a whole. This feature is also beneficial for managing multiple books or stories within a single project.
Starter Templates and Customization
Plottr comes with over 30 starter templates based on proven storytelling structures such as the Three-Act Structure and the Hero’s Journey. These templates can be customized to fit individual story needs, allowing authors to save time and ensure their narrative has a coherent framework. Future updates include the ability to create Custom Templates, enabling users to set up their own plot and character templates.
Improved Editing Interface
The software features a modern editing interface that formats text visually, similar to programs like Microsoft Word or WordPress. This improvement makes formatting text within Plottr more user-friendly, eliminating the need for markdown.
Integrations and Export Options
Plottr integrates with various popular writing tools to provide a seamless writing experience. The Pro version offers cloud-based functionality, enabling secure and convenient access to your projects from anywhere.
Additional Features
- Act Structure: A feature in development that will allow users to group chapters into specific acts or structural elements, adding another layer of organization to the timeline.
- Software Integrations: Plottr integrates with other writing tools to enhance the writing process and reduce the complexity of managing multiple platforms.
In summary, Plottr is an indispensable tool for writers, offering a comprehensive suite of features that simplify the process of planning, organizing, and writing books. Its visual timelines, automatic outline generation, character and location management, and customizable templates make it an essential asset for any author looking to streamline their writing workflow.