Mapping your story with columns and beats

The Plot Board is a drag-and-drop corkboard. Columns give it structure, beats are the moments that fill it in.

The Plot Board gives your story structure a visual home, separate from the manuscript itself.

The Plot Board with three act columns filled with beat cards, mapping The Great Gatsby's structure.

Columns

A column represents whatever unit of structure fits how you plan. Acts, chapters, or themes are all common choices. Add a column from the Plot Board toolbar and give it a title.

Beats

A beat is a single card inside a column: a moment, event, or turning point in your story. Add a beat to any column, give it a title, and optionally a short synopsis for more detail than the title alone can hold.

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