Category: Distractions

These posts are just distractions from the stress of writing. They include funny stories, photos, jokes, puzzles, book recommendations and reviews, etc.

Friday Fun-Day Writing Prompt: Mapping Your World

TGIF! Well, TGIS, now. Halloween is on Wednesday, NaNoWriMo starts Thursday, and Americans will soon begin the countdown to and preparations for Black Friday–oh, and Thanksgiving. It’s definitely a busy time of year. That doesn’t mean any of us should neglect our writing, though. (I’m pointing fingers at myself here.) That’s why I decided to bring back the Friday Fun-Day Writing Prompt this week, to help people to shift their focus back to their writing in time for NaNoWriMo. I also think that the topic of this week’s prompt is a rather fun one: mapping your world.

Fans of fantasy and science fiction are no strangers to mapping a fictional world. A lot of fantasy and science fiction writers have done it, including J.K. Rowling. It helps writers visualize their worlds and keep track of where different events in a book occur. It can also help with general world building as physical geography influences how different societies evolve.

However, mapping a world does not just help fantasy and science fiction writers; the benefits don’t even stop at speculative fiction in general. Any work of fiction in which the location is also fictional could benefit from a visual map. It can help writers remain consistent in where things happen, what those areas might look like, and, of course, where in the world certain landmarks are located. Unless you’re using a real location–in which case, you might want to look at a real map of the place–you’ll want to put your ideas onto paper as a sort of visual guide.

J.K. Rowling’s map of Hogwarts

Image retrieved from The Harry Potter Lexicon

That brings us to today’s prompt. Rather than focusing on actually writing, this one will be about planning. As usual, the prompt itself is simple. All I want you to do is map out the fictional world for your current WIP, or at least part of that world. You can draw the entire world or just one city, so long as key events for your WIP occur in this area. Sketch the key landmarks, cities, geographical features, etc. and label them. You can also label where major plot points occur, but this isn’t required. Just make sure that you are mapping out and labeling the major features and landmarks and the rest is optional.

While I’m sure there are some of you out there computer-savvy enough to whip something like this up on a program (I most certainly am not), this exercise is better done by hand on physical paper. It can be graph paper, notebook paper, printer paper, etc. and done with a pen, pencil, paint, whatever you want; what’s important is that you do it out by hand. You’ll reinforce the visuals of the map in your mind that way. (However, I would recommend pencil over pen so that you don’t have to worry about making mistakes or changing your mind later.)

Right now you might be saying, “But I can’t draw! Or paint! Or any of that!” You know what? Neither can I! Not very well, at least. (Surprising since my maternal grandfather was an artist who did everything from highly-detailed portraits to architectural plans.) Nevertheless, I’ve done this. In fact, I did one for the world in my current WIP a few years back when it was the setting for a different novel series that I had to put on the back burner. I had a lot of fun drawing it, and mapping out the world got my creative juices flowing and helped me figure out some plot points that weren’t working out logistically beforehand.

You don’t have to be a good artist in order to map your world; all you have to do is try. After all, unless it becomes a bonus feature of your published novel someday, you’re the only one who has to see and understand it!

Before you ask, I will update this post to include a picture of my map once I find it. In an ill-planned cleaning spurt a while back, I put the notebook that had it in a storage container and now I can’t find it for the life of me. Once I do, I’ll let you see it!

When you’re done mapping your world and if you’re feeling brave, feel free to post a picture of it in the comments below. I’d love to see what’s going on in everyone’s heads!

Happy mapping, and I hope to see some of you over on NaNoWriMo next week!



Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Introducing The Writer’s Lounge

Greetings, readers and writers! Long time, no read. I know I’ve been gone for a while, but there’s a reason for the absence. Several reasons, actually. The first is all the work I’ve gotten myself into lately. (Don’t get me wrong, I love the income, so keep the work coming!) Another is that the third year of my master’s program is starting soon, which has required some mental preparation on my part, not to mention our first feedback session is October 22nd. The most important reason, however, is that I have been working on some changes and updates for this blog. Namely, I’ve been working on an affiliated forum called The Writer’s Lounge.

The Writer’s Lounge is a lot like The Writer’s Scrap Bin but more interactive. This forum will allow you to meet your fellow writers, share advice and tips, exchange contest and submissions information, and post your works in progress for feedback. There’s a space to promote your work (using a reasonable number of posts) and let others know when you’re holding a contest, raffle, whatever related to your book. You can even discuss your favorite (or least favorite) books in the section titled Book Club or just shoot the breeze with other avid readers and writer in the General Discussion board.

For now, The Writer’s Lounge is only available in English. The Tapatalk Control Panel allows users to change their language but, unfortunately, this setting does not change any of the posts. So, until I discover some other solution, everything will be in English. My apologies to my international readers who rely on the Google translate tool WordPress provides in order to read this blog.

Also, if you wish to read and participate in the forum, you will have to register as a member. I have learned from past experience that it is best to set it so that only members can read the posts. Don’t worry, though; registering is absolutely free, and if you’re already a Tapatalk member, you can just log into your Tapatalk account to access the posts.

If you’re looking for a supportive group of writers with which to share your knowledge and get advice and feedback, please come check out The Writer’s Lounge. I will be checking on the forum regularly and look forward to meeting all of you!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about The Writer’s Lounge, please leaves your thoughts in the comments below or e-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com.


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

New “Hire Me” Page

Happy Hump Day, everyone! I’ve been working on some minor adjustments to this blog, and one of the bigger changes I wanted to let my readers know about is the new Hire Me page.

As many of you already know, I work as a freelance editor, writer, and beta reader. While most of my work has been through Fiverr, I also receive jobs through this blog and via e-mail. Previously, I bundled the Hire Me page with my Contact page. However, I have decided that that page has become too crowded and a redesign was needed.

Image retrieved from Metro Writers in Residence

In addition to separating my hiring information from the main contact information, the new Hire Me page includes a slideshow of works that I edited post-publication, another slideshow of works that I have edited or am currently editing before their initial publication, and a list of my basic rates. I have also decided to include an FAQ section which I will update as the need arises. You will find a selection of reviews I have accumulated on Fiverr as well, all of which have attributed to my 5-star rating as a Level Two Seller on that site.

Furthermore, I plan to start a new feature on the homepage: Featured Gig. This feature will include a brief description of one of the kinds of jobs I do, my starting rate for the gig, and ways in which one can contact me either to hire me or ask for more information on the gig. I don’t know when exactly I will launch this part of the homepage, but keep your eye out for when it finally starts.

If you have any questions about how to hire me, please check out the new Hire Me page. If you have any questions regarding this change to the blog or any which will occur in the future, you can reach me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com.



Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011


Special Announcement: Kickstarter for Natir Whitebridge

Happy Monday, everyone! It’s hard to believe that it’s almost September already. Funny how, as an adult, time has a way of escaping you. I only noticed that August is almost over because of deadlines and the fact that I’ll be starting the third and final year of my Master’s program in late September. Speaking of deadlines, I’m actually here to tell you of a Kickstarter campaign for Natir Whitebridge by Ameel Koro with a deadline of October 15th.

My regular readers are probably familiar with Ameel Koro already. He’s the author of the Sister of Echo novels, and my most recent post was an announcement for the teaser chapters for Natir Whitebridge. Like many of my readers, Ameel is a self-published author with limited funds. Unfortunately, as you all know, publishing a book takes money, a lot of it. From editing and cover design to actually printing the books or online publication, the costs add up pretty quickly. That’s one way in which writers can help each other.


Image retrieved from Ameel Koro’s website

This Kickstarter campaign, which has a goal of $15,000, will cover the costs of professional editing, printing, promotional products, and online marketing for Natir Whitebridge. The campaign also offers different displays of gratitude based on how much is donated:

  • Pledge $1 or more: Get your name put on the “Acknowledgements” page of the book
  • Pledge $100-$249: Your name on the “Acknowledgements” page plus a free, signed copy of the book and your choice of a Celtic necklace (fourteen options total)
  • Pledge $250 or more: Get your name on the novel’s “Honor List”, which will be at the beginning of the book, plus a free, signed copy, three Celtic necklaces of your choice, and one picture locket of your choice (three options total)

So, if you want to help a fellow writer publish his work in a professional, well-planned manner (and get some cool prizes to show off to your friends), follow this link and show your support. Even $1 will help. If you would like to sample the book first, you can find the teaser chapters here.

Remember, due to the nature of Kickstarter, all the funds for this campaign must be raised by October 15th or else Natir Whitebridge will not receive any of the money, so make sure to contribute and spread the word!

Are you trying to raise money to publish a book or know someone who is? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com with the details and your campaign might appear on this blog.


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Special Announcement: Teaser Chapters for Natir Whitebridge by Ameel Koro

Well, folks, I have another treat for you today. Ameel Koro, author of the Sister of Echo books, is writing a new novel called Natir Whitebridge: A Grain of Respect. In this latest endeavor, Koro explores a dark, ancient world of greed, violence, strength, slavery, and lost pagan cultures. If you enjoyed Sister of Echo, Natir Whitebridge will not disappoint.

Here’s a description of the book which can be found on Koro’s author website:

Natir’s life has been one of abuse and slavery, and it’s about to get even harder; she’s been sold in a new land to a ruthless man, Cahal, and once her master gets bored with his new property she can only expect the darkest fate for her and her daughter, like all of Cahal’s slaves to come before her.

Things take a turn for the worse when Cahal’s half-brother, Alfred, who ousted Cahal as Earl of the Toic, starts to show an interest in her.

Sensing an opportunity for revenge, Cahal changes his plans for Natir and forces her instead to become a sacrifice-pawn in an assassination plot to take back his throne.

With her daughter’s life at stake, Natir can only oblige to her master’s wishes, but she will soon discover that Alfred’s interest in her is nothing like what she had expected, and that the madness which reigns in him is about to unleash a very dangerous side of her which she herself never knew she had.

While still in the editing stage, Natir Whitebridge promises to be an exciting, fast-paced story with plenty of twists, turns, and questions to keep readers on the edges of their seats. Fantasy, paranormal, and thriller fans will certainly want to check it out once this book is released. However, you don’t have to wait for the official book launch to get a taste of this page-turner.

In a special promotion for the upcoming novel, Koro has made the first two chapters available for reading on both his website and Wattpad.


Image retrieved from Ameel Koro’s website

Trigger Warning: Natir Whitebridge by Ameel Koro contains adult content including, but not limited to, slavery, profanity, sex, rape, abuse, violence, and torture. If you are under the age of 18, are triggered by such depictions, or otherwise wish to avoid them, proceed with caution.

If you do read the teaser chapters, be sure to leave your thoughts about the story on its Wattpad page. Authors love feedback–just remember to stay civil!

The current anticipated release date for Natir Whitebridge is October 2018. In the meantime, keep checking The Writer’s Scrap Bin and Koro’s website for updates.

Do you know of any upcoming and/or indie titles that deserve more attention? Are you about to release a new novel or collection? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and an announcement might appear for it on this blog.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Orphaned Characters and Dysfunctional Parents in Children’s Books

Happy first day of summer, everyone! Since Father’s Day, one subject has been prominently on my mind: parents. More specifically, parents in children’s books. After all, these genres seem to treat the child/parent relationship rather…well, not always badly, but there’s almost always a hint of sadness, loss, or anger underneath it all.

Why do so many protagonists have horrible–or no–parents? Where are they? Where did they go? Why are some of them so nasty when they are around?

This phenomenon has existed since before children’s literature was children’s literature. Fairy tales and folk tales, for example, were not always meant for children. In fact, anyone who knows the original fairy tales and not just the Disney-ized versions will know they were pretty darn dark. Yet these stories are also where we get the trope of the orphaned or poorly-parented child. Look at some examples:

  • Hansel and Gretel – in the original tale, their mother had died and they were, in fact, living with their father and stepmother. The stepmother forced their father to get rid of them, and it was not until the stepmother was gone that the children and their father lived happily ever after.
  • Snow White – everyone knows that the stepmother is the main villain in this tale.
  • Cinderella – there’s a wicked stepmother and, depending on which tale you read, her father is either dead or oddly very uninvolved.


Image retrieved from GalleyCat

The list goes on. Fairy tales are not the best places to be a parent. More modern children’s books are not much better:

  • Anne of Green Gables – Anne is an orphan.
  • The Wizard of Oz – Dorothy is an orphan who lives with her aunt and uncle.
  • Harry Potter – much like Dorothy, Harry is an orphan who lives with his aunt and uncle.
  • Percy Jackson – while not an orphan, Percy is the son of a god and a human; his human mother is there and his human stepfather is in the first book, but Percy’s birth father is largely absent and his stepfather is horrible, both as a parent and a human being
  • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are all sent off into the country because of the war, away from their mother.
  • Matilda – Matilda’s parents are abusive jerks that don’t care about Matilda at all.

Clearly, the trope is prominent. But why?

One reason can be to increase the tension and emotional effects of the stories. Nothing tugs at the heartstrings quite like an orphan struggling to deal with the absence of his/her parents. An orphan or a child with bad parents can also feel isolated and lash out, which also increases the tension of a children’s book.

Another reason could be the lack of restrictions and guidance for the protagonists. They have to figure things out for themselves, at least for the most part. They must learn for themselves what’s right, what’s wrong, and what their limitations are. Some of the children have alternative adult figures to help guide them, like Harry Potter has Dumbledore and Arthur Weasley and Percy Jackson has Chiron, but room is still left for children to grow on their own.


Image retrieved from EW

A final reason which seems to apply more to modern children’s literature than, say, classic fairy tales is that the trope forces readers to rethink the image of the “traditional” family. When you don’t have parents or your parents are incompetent, you tend to form close bonds with “substitute parents”: grandparents, aunts and uncles, adult siblings or cousins, teachers, neighbors, adoptive parents, etc. Some children create surrogate families with other children. These bonds are no weaker than the bonds within a traditional family. Harry Potter’s bond with the Weasley family, Percy Jackson’s bond with Annabeth and Grover, Matilda’s bond with Miss Honey, none of them are “traditional” but they fulfill the children’s desire for a complete family.

The single-parent family is also put in a better light with this trope. For Percy Jackson, his life is better when only his mother is raising him without the toxic influence of his first stepfather. Hansel and Gretel live happily with their father after their stepmother is gone. Stepparents often get the short end of the stick in these stories. However, it’s worth noting that Percy’s mother adds a positive influence to his life with her new, loving boyfriend, so that’s not always the case.

As writers, we usually try to avoid using tropes. They’re seen as cliche and played-out. Regardless, there’s always a reason for their overuse. We might still need these tropes to perpetuate certain themes or we might not. The trick is, when we decide that we do need them, to present them in a way which does not seem cheesy or worn-out to the reader.

What do you think about this orphan trope? About tropes in general? What are their purposes, and do we need them anymore? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Are Bookstores Dying Out?

Riddle me this: can you name an independent bookstore in your area? How far from you is the closest Barnes & Noble? To be honest, I cannot even answer the first question. I know there’s a small bookstore–used books, I believe–on the drive to my PCP’s office. I don’t even know its name. The closest Barnes & Noble is about 16 miles from my house. If there are any other bookstores nearby, I don’t know about them. This raises an interesting question: are bookstores dying out?

I’m sure that my American readers at least remember the closure of the Borders bookstores back in 2011. Today, it seems, Barnes & Noble is struggling as well. The corporate giant Amazon has stolen many of this classic bookstore’s customers, and not without reason. Amazon is, overall, more convenient than traditional bookstores. After all, you can shop from home, get a hold of some indie and harder-to-find books not offered at brick-and-mortar stores, and you can buy a lot of other necessities and luxuries while you’re at it. But is Amazon the only reason for the decline of stores like Barnes & Noble? Certainly not.


Image retrieved from Tyler Shores

First of all, Amazon is far from the only mega-store that includes books in its inventory. Every physical Target store seems to have books as well as those found on the website, and Walmart recently entered the eBook industry by teaming up with Rakuten Kobo. (To be honest, I don’t really find the latter a big threat, considering the pathetic book display at my local Walmart.) Of course, none of these hold the same sort of weight as Amazon, but they are contributing factors.

Second of all, eBooks and audio books have changed the game. Yes, eBook sales are not holding quite as strong as when they were first introduced. However, audio books are on the rise, especially thanks to services such as Audible. Both formats have made electronic book consumption much more convenient than buying books at a physical store or even ordering physical books from online stores. Why wait a couple weeks or even a few days for a book that you can instantly have on your phone, tablet, or computer?

Finally, and perhaps the saddest factor of all, is that people just aren’t reading as much as they used to. I’m not sure about other first-world countries, but the United States has certainly hit an all-new low in regards to our disinterest in books. In fact, a recent Jimmy Kimmel segment showed that no American they asked could name even a single book truthfully or with any confidence in their answer. (Maybe it was just camera shyness, but it does illustrate the current reading crisis in the United States.) However, a recent study from Pew Research Center reveals that 1 in 4 American adults admit to not having read a book in the past year.

To be fair on that last cause, it probably isn’t just disinterest which has caused this decline in reading. As the study points out, many factors such as education level, race, and economic status also play a role. These factors also point to a larger cause of the decline in both reading and the survival of bookstores: the economy.

Economic disparity and hardship cause potential readers to spend less on books. Let’s be honest, even the most diehard book worms are going to choose food and shelter over books, if it comes down to that. An opinion article from The New York Times has also suggested that mega-stores like Amazon are crushing the life out of bookstores like Barnes & Noble with their lower prices, which are only meant to lure customers in so they will buy non-book products from them as well. The worse the economy gets and the more one-sided the competition gets, the more likely bookstores are to go out of business.


Image retrieved from The Mercury News

Do I really think bookstores are dying out? It’s possible. I personally shop more at Amazon than at Barnes & Noble. (Although, when the price is lower, I need a specific edition, or I just want the bookstore experience, I certainly go there.) I’ve even found myself buying directly from publishers more often than traditional bookstores. The times, they are a-changin’, and it’s getting harder for bookstores to keep up.

Do I think that their death is an inevitability? At this point, no. Nostalgia has begun to play a huge part in shopping habits lately. Hopefully, that will be enough to send people back to their favorite bookstores. (Unless their favorite store was Borders. Unfortunately, those people are out of luck.) The push to buy locally might also give bookstores a boost. Only time will tell. Until then, the entire bookstore industry will be on the rocks.

What do you think? Are bookstores doomed? Are they being crushed by the economy and corporate giants? Or can bookstores make a comeback? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Special Announcement: Gangs of Stockholm by Luke G. Dahl

I have some exciting news about an author whose work I have reviewed on this blog before, Luke G. Dahl. Dahl has just recently released a new book called Gangs of Stockholm, a true psychological thriller about a teenaged boy who becomes a member of one of Stockholm’s infamous gangs. In an exciting twist, Gangs of Stockholm has even been dubbed the #1 New Release in Amazon’s Teen & Young Adult Literary Biography eBooks category!


Check out Gangs of Stockholm on Amazon.

Eric is an ordinary boy with an ordinary life in Stockholm, Sweden. Then one day, a well-intended act of bravery leads him down a one-way road straight into Stockholm’s underworld. Seduced by the adrenaline and secrecy of gang life, it doesn’t take long for gang activity to become the driving force of Eric’s life. But what causes great excitement can also cause great pain–how will he survive it? Will he be able to keep his secret double-life from his family? And will Eric ever have to face the consequences of his choices?

Like Daddy’s Curse, this book is both heart-wrenching and compelling, most especially as it is based on real events. Eric is a very relatable character, and it’s hard to not feel for him when things begin to fall apart. Of course, I feel that there could be more to the story than what is told in this novel, but I suppose there’s only so much that can be done when a book is based on a true story.

Also, if you don’t like violence or can’t stomach it, you probably won’t want to read this. After all, it’s about gangs; there’s bound to be violence, and a lot of it. And if you don’t like emotional reads, this book isn’t for you, either. Eric is not only part of a gang but is also on the verge of adulthood; emotions run rampant, and there isn’t exactly such a thing as a “happy ending” in this world.

Regardless, if you like crime stories and coming-of-age novels, you’ll find Gangs of Stockholm to be very engaging and captivating.

You may have noticed another name on the Amazon page. Yes, I worked as editor for this novel and other works by Luke G. Dahl over the past few months. After I reviewed Daddy’s Curse, Dahl offered me some editing work in the revision of Daddy’s Curse and a couple of his other works. I am very grateful for this work, especially since I really enjoyed these stories and am glad to have been able to make them the best they could be.

In addition to the new book, one of Dahl’s other books, Daddy’s Curse, has just been named an Amazon bestseller in the Teen & Young Adult Literary Biography eBooks category.


Check out Daddy’s Curse on Amazon.

Please join me in congratulating Luke G. Dahl in the comments below.

Do you have a new book coming out? Know of another small-print or indie author releasing some new work? Drop a line in the comments or e-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and I might announce it in a future post.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Possible Products for The Writer’s Scrap Bin

As you might recall from the anniversary post, I am considering creating merchandise for The Writer’s Scrap Bin. These products, as explained in the Yop Poll on the same topic, would be used to help raise money to keep this blog going. Whether these products would be for sale, as an incentive for a routine pledge, or both, I haven’t decided. I might also use them as giveaways to my newsletter subscribers as well. Before I make these decisions, I want to show you some of this potential merchandise and get your opinion.

All merchandise will be made through Vistaprint. I’ve tried my hand at designing some products on there, and I’ve signed up for the monthly Promobox. All of this merchandise might end up for sale, or maybe only some of it.

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This first gallery has images of prototype merchandise I’ve designed with my logo. These include: a pen, sticky notes, a mug (front and back), and, just to show you everything I’ve been working on, my business cards. They’re very simple but because they have my logo, I’m fairly fond of them. I will probably make adjustments, including fading my logo on the sticky notes and creating a higher-quality image of the logo for use on merchandise. However, these images should give you an idea of what will be available.

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The second gallery depicts the products from my first Promobox. This Promobox included: a t-shirt, flat notecards, small stickers, and a premium pen. As they are part of the Promobox subscription program, they were designed by one of Vistaprint’s professionals with minimal directions from me like which colors and style I would prefer. These are, in my opinion, stunning. I am especially fond of the t-shirt and the flat notecards.

As the Promobox is monthly, I should have more options to present to you every month until I can no longer afford the $25/month. I will try to post about future Promobox products on the Facebook and Twitter accounts for The Writer’s Scrap Bin. However, I will most likely be updating this information on the blog’s new Instagram account.

What would you think? Would you buy any of the above products or pledge a monthly donation to this blog to get them? Can you think of any other kinds of products or design ideas which would persuade you to buy these? Would you sign up for the newsletter if these were one of the monthly giveaway options? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Writing Tools for the Modern Age: Plotist

Update 11/29/2019: As of December 1, 2019, Plotist will be CLOSED PERMANENTLY.

Technology can be a writer’s best friend and their worst enemy. Sometimes it makes life easier, such as being able to save all your files on one computer; other times it’s more trouble than it’s worth, such as spellcheck and its uncanny ability to sabotage even the most careful of writers and editors. Today, I am letting you know about one technological advancement, namely a website, which might help writers: Plotist.

I usually stick to the basics when it comes to technology and writing: Microsoft Word for writing and e-mail/flash drives for transporting files from one device to another. However, this method proves to be rather tedious after so many years, not to mention messy. I can’t always remember which stories I’ve sent via e-mail, which are on flash drives, and which are still only on my computer. I have notes and outlines strewn all across my digital devices (not to mention my notebooks, but that’s another can of worms entirely). Since I’ve started using Plotist, my writing life has become a little less of a tangled mess.


Image retrieved from Plotist

Now, I wasn’t actively looking for a site or program like Plotist when I found it. Frankly, I just came across the Plotist account on Twitter and decided to give it a try. Luckily for me, the site offers a free 30-day trial of their “Wordsmith” subscription, which is their premium package. A few days into the trial, I was hooked. The timeline and elements features in particular felt like a God-send. (You might call my typical planning methods “organized chaos.”)

Here are the basics of the features offered by Plotist:

  • Planning

For me, this feature is the best offered by Plotist. The website allows users to create “worlds,” which includes information on characters, events, and other “elements.” Genre writers in particular will find this feature useful. I’ve been using it to keep track of elements in my fantasy stories in particular, especially since you can assign multiple stories to a world. I’ve also found it useful for keeping track of the research I’m doing for some historical fiction.

All prose writers will want to check out the timeline feature within the planning feature. You can create color-coordinated timelines for the different characters which populate the world, which can be helpful no matter what genre you’re working in. Even non-fiction and academic writers will want to utilize the timelines to keep track of the chronological order of the events and/or concepts about which they are writing.

Of course, there is also the classic outline feature available. Within each story, you can outline based on chapters, book sections, whatever you want, and the summary of each chapter/section will be clearly labeled and shown above the space in which you write.

  • Writing

With the writing feature, you can write your chapter/section with your outline and chapter/section summary handy. If you don’t want your outline or summary to show, you can just hide them and reopen them as needed. I have found the writing feature as helpful as the planning feature because I no longer need to e-mail my files to myself or transport them via flash drive.

  • Collaborating

There are options to collaborate with other writers through the site. I don’t know much about this feature as I haven’t really collaborated with other writers yet, but there’s more information on the Plotist website.

  • Community

I haven’t explored this feature much, either. However, Plotist runs both a blog and a forum. The blog provides new information regarding Plotist, writing tips, and guides for gifts to give the writers in your life.


Image retrieved from Plotist on Tumblr

How much does a Plotist subscription cost? That depends on which subscription you use. Plotist offers four subscription options:

  • Free

As the name suggests, this subscription is free. You get unlimited public worlds, unlimited public stories, unlimited elements, unlimited timelines, and unlimited collaboration. However, you do not get any private worlds or stories. Essentially, the “public” worlds and stories can be seen by anyone using the site. “Private” worlds and stories can only be viewed by the user who creates them. With this subscription, everything is public.

  • Scribbler

With this subscription, you get all of the free features plus one private world and one private story.

  • Writer

This subscription, which is their most popular, offers all the free features, three private worlds, and three private stories.

  • Wordsmith

The Wordsmith subscription, which I got to try for free as part of a 30-day trial, gives users all the free features as well as unlimited private worlds and unlimited private stories. After the trial ended, I decided to subscribe to this option using the annual payment option. (It’s normally $99/year, but I caught a special price of $80/year in March. Either way, it’s cheaper in the long run.) Not everyone will find this expense necessary; I’m just a rather private person, especially when I’m in the initial planning and writing stages of a story.

You can also access the blog and forum for free.

Unfortunately, they do not have an app for iOS or Androids yet. However, you can still access Plotist through Chrome, Firefox, IE, and Safari, even on your phone or tablet. I’m hoping that they will have an app for iPhones soon but, for now, I can work with using it on Safari.

You can learn more about Plotist and pricing options on their website.

Have you ever tried Plotist or similar websites? What have been your experiences in this area? Any alternative sites, apps, or methods you’d like to suggest? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011