Just as a sort of visualization, I've been looking for a timeline program that would allow me to map out my arcs and put everything in my head right in front of me.
This isn't as a replacement to Scrivener, more like a partner in crime.
Have any of you used timeline programs before? What did you think of them?
I hand-wrote a timeline for my ms to iron out any continuity issues while working on the first draft, but not to organise or map out my plot. I write everything in my wp but prefer to be more hands-on with the timeline, because it's faster, and easier to change.
Only thing I've used are so-called mindmapping software like Headspace and its brethren (there are many). I've never found it particularly useful. More just as a way to think about/do something with my manuscript while not actually working on it.
Would be curious about actual timeline software, though, built specifically for the purpose, if such a thing exists.
Hey Cures and Remedies,
Are you using the three act structure plotting method? If so, then 40-50 index cards are the easiest way to go if you're writing at home or a place with lots of space. Atleast with the index cards, the plot can be laid infront of you and rearranged whilst you're writing. I then use my camera phone to photograph the different incarnations of the story for reference and for me to think about when I'm on the train etc.
A peice of software that is expensive ($99), but I find useful is "Save the cat!". It's not the most intuitive or well written program, but atleast you can get the plot down in some form and work with it from there. The Save the cat method also gives you the basics of the hero's journey structure also, so for me it's a double bonus. Yes, the "Save the Cat" method to plotting does have a bit of a learning curve, but Snyder's books are pretty straight forward and helpful in setting up your stories. The "Save the Cat" program also produces a beat sheet in PDF form which I have found useful as a guide for the story and for me to see the plot in its three acts.
There's a storyliner app also. Nothing to write home about and it isn't really intuitive.
Cheers
-Chi
Thanks, Chi! I'll look into it.
Scrivener makes a companion app called Scapple for simple mapping and stuff. I don't use it, and it's still in beta, but you might have a look. For my timelines, I literally just create a document in Scrivener and leave it open in a pane on the right for reference, one line per event with the date/year, in chrono order. My last novel was very nonlinear with some complex time details I had to keep straight, and that worked fine for me. I also color-coded the labels of each document/chapter/section to be able to eyeball certain things (specifically past versus present tense) once it was all put together in the Binder.
Scapple is just Mac though, right? I think there's a Mac one called Aeon as well. I believe also Liquid Storybinder has a timeline feature, I never played with that program enough to figure anything out. That's a 'read the fucking manual' required program.
Personally I use the legal pad/index card on cork board approach usually, been using Excel for the bigger project too, which has been cool but also so easy to add in complete new layers into an outline when a thing's pretty well started. Maybe the in-depth Excel sheet is better for revision, rather than outline or mid-draft sort of thing. Unless you've got the brain the size of a watermelon, or other such large fruit, and can hold all that narrative in your head.
I use Freemind just to keep the chapters in chronological order and see how they match up against the other plotlines. Not a timeline, really, but I guess you can do that in Excel in, like, 2 seconds. Just make a row for character/plotline and columns for time periods and then color the cells accordingly. Seems less of a hassle than installing software just for that and having to learn the ropes.
Freemind is a great tool to, for example, map characters and factions. You can do a mindmap and then export the shit out of that list. I actually have all of my world-building in it.
Like this (it's a tiny screencap):
