# PlotDirector

## Product Overview

PlotDirector is a web-based planning and continuity platform created for fiction writers. It is designed to help authors organise every aspect of a story while maintaining consistency across novels and book series.

The application combines planning, writing support and continuity analysis into a single environment. Rather than acting solely as a manuscript editor, PlotDirector models the structure of a story, allowing authors to understand how characters, locations, assets and plot threads interact over time.

The system is intended for projects ranging from short novels to large multi-book series.

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# Primary Goals

PlotDirector helps authors:

* Plan stories before writing.
* Develop books while writing.
* Detect continuity issues.
* Manage large casts of characters.
* Track objects and locations.
* Visualise story structure.
* Organise research.
* Schedule writing.
* Synchronise planning with Microsoft Word.

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# Story Structure

Stories are organised into a hierarchy.

Project

A project represents an entire fictional universe or series.

A project may contain one or more books.

Book

Each book contains its own chapters and scenes while sharing characters, locations and other information with the wider project where appropriate.

Chapter

Books are divided into chapters.

Scene

Scenes are the fundamental planning unit within PlotDirector.

Scenes can contain:

* characters
* locations
* plot thread activity
* notes
* writer guidance
* story metrics
* relationships
* knowledge changes
* assets
* attachments

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# Story Timeline

The Story Timeline provides a chronological overview of the story.

Authors can:

* visualise chapters and scenes
* identify pacing
* analyse gaps
* view plot progression
* display optional lanes for characters and assets
* view story metrics across time

The timeline is intended to give both high-level and detailed views of a manuscript.

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# Plot Threads

Plot Threads represent storylines that continue through multiple scenes.

A thread may represent:

* a mystery
* a relationship
* a conflict
* a character goal
* a subplot
* an investigation
* a journey

Threads can be marked with progression events such as:

* Start
* Progress
* Reveal
* Twist
* Branch
* Split
* Merge
* Resolve
* Abandon

This allows authors to visualise how individual storylines develop across the narrative.

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# Character Management

Characters are central to PlotDirector.

Each character may contain:

* biography
* appearance
* personality
* relationships
* timeline appearances
* photographs
* notes
* custom attributes

Characters can appear in scenes, participate in plot threads and influence continuity analysis.

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# Relationships

Relationships describe how characters know one another.

Relationships can evolve throughout the story.

This allows authors to understand how social connections change over time.

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# Character Knowledge

PlotDirector tracks what individual characters know.

Knowledge items may progress through different awareness levels.

This allows the application to identify situations where a character appears to know information before they should, or unexpectedly forgets information already established.

Knowledge tracking is one of the application's unique continuity features.

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# Locations

Locations represent places within the story.

Locations can:

* contain scenes
* contain floor plans
* participate in continuity analysis
* record occupancy

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# Floor Plans

Floor Plans allow authors to create visual layouts of important locations.

Plans support:

* multiple floors
* linked rooms
* transitions
* stairs
* occupancy analysis

These plans are intended for writers who need to understand how characters move through physical spaces.

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# Assets

Assets represent important objects within the story.

Examples include:

* documents
* jewellery
* weapons
* vehicles
* keys
* letters

Assets may change ownership throughout the story.

PlotDirector records these custody changes to help prevent continuity mistakes.

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# Continuity Explorer

The Continuity Explorer analyses story state at any point in the narrative.

It can report:

* character locations
* asset locations
* current ownership
* occupancy
* appearances
* continuity warnings

This feature is intended to reduce continuity errors in complex stories.

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# Story Health

Story Health summarises structural information about the manuscript.

Metrics may include information about pacing, balance, activity and other indicators that help authors evaluate the overall structure of their work.

Story Health provides guidance rather than automatic judgement.

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# Writer Workspace

The Writer Workspace helps authors focus on current writing tasks.

It organises scenes into practical queues based upon revision status, allowing authors to concentrate on drafting, revising or polishing work.

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# Writing Schedule Planner

The Writing Schedule Planner creates realistic writing plans.

Schedules are generated from:

* project scope
* deadlines
* available writing time
* desired writing pace

Plans can be adjusted as work progresses.

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# Microsoft Word Companion

The PlotDirector Word Companion is a Microsoft Word add-in.

It synchronises manuscripts with PlotDirector while authors continue writing inside Microsoft Word.

The companion can:

* recognise chapters and scenes
* synchronise word counts
* update scene information
* display planning information alongside the manuscript

This allows writers to continue using Microsoft Word while benefiting from PlotDirector's planning features.

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# Collaboration

Projects may be shared with collaborators depending on subscription level.

Permissions allow project owners to control who can contribute to planning data.

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# Import and Export

Projects can be exported for backup and transfer.

This allows authors to retain ownership of their planning information.

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# Intended Audience

PlotDirector is suitable for:

* novelists
* fiction writers
* series authors
* thriller writers
* mystery writers
* historical fiction authors
* fantasy writers
* science fiction writers
* editors

It is designed primarily for long-form fiction rather than screenplay production.

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# Design Philosophy

PlotDirector is built around several core principles:

* Stories become easier to manage when information is connected.
* Continuity should be assisted by software rather than memory alone.
* Planning and writing should work together.
* Writers should remain in control of creative decisions.
* Software should highlight possible issues rather than dictate how stories should be written.

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# Official Resources

Website

https://plotdirector.com/

Features

https://plotdirector.com/features

Help

https://plotdirector.com/help

Pricing

https://plotdirector.com/pricing

About

https://plotdirector.com/about

Contact

https://plotdirector.com/contact

Privacy

https://plotdirector.com/privacy

Terms

https://plotdirector.com/terms

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