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title, category, tags, contextKey, micro, quickTitle, quickSummary, screenshot
| title | category | tags | contextKey | micro | quickTitle | quickSummary | screenshot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenarios | Scenarios | scenarios, structure, revision, sandbox, scene order | scenarios.overview | Test alternate scene orders without changing the main timeline. | What are Scenarios? | Scenarios let you copy the current scene order into a sandbox so you can test structural ideas before applying them to the main story. |
Overview
Scenarios are planning sandboxes. They let you explore a different scene order without immediately changing the main timeline.
This is useful when a structural idea is promising but risky. You might want to move a reveal earlier, delay a confrontation, split a chapter, or test whether a subplot works better in another position. A scenario gives you room to experiment before committing.
Scenarios do not duplicate the whole story. They copy the order into a separate planning view so you can compare the alternative against the main version.
When Should I Use This?
Use Scenarios when you are considering a structural change that affects several scenes or chapters. If the change is small and obvious, editing the main timeline may be simpler.
Scenarios are especially useful during revision, when you are testing pacing, reveal order, suspense, emotional build or chapter endings.
How To Use It
Create a scenario from the current order. Give it a name that describes the experiment. Open the scenario timeline to review the alternate order, then compare it with the main version.
Only apply a scenario to the main story when you are confident the new structure is stronger.
Example
You create a scenario called "Reveal Later Draft" to test whether the identity of a key witness should be delayed until chapter six. You can compare the sandbox against the main structure before changing the project.
Writer Tip
Name scenarios after the story question they test. "Reveal Later" is more useful than "Scenario 3".
Common Mistakes
- Creating scenarios for tiny edits that do not need a sandbox.
- Applying a scenario before comparing its consequences.
- Forgetting that the scenario is a test, not automatically the new truth.
- Keeping old scenarios active after the decision has been made.