Scapple

Let’s welcome back monthly columnist, Vanessa Kier as she shares with us “Three Tools for Planning Your NaNoWriMo Novel.” Enjoy! Learn the five simple steps to get you comfortable with Scrivener so you can get back to writing your novel. Join us for this webinar training with Vanessa Kier! Novel Writing Month, aka November, is fast approaching. Writers across the globe are jotting down plot ideas and character notes. In this post, I’m going to introduce you to three tools you can use for planning your novel or simply storing random ideas: Scapple, Plottr, and Scrivener.SCAPPLEScapple is a mind-mapping software created by Literature and Latte, the same people who created Scrivener.What the heck is mind-mapping software? It’s a visual tool for linking ideas. You create boxes, fill in some text, then link and arrange the boxes however you like. Oh, and did I mention that you can make each box a different color? Or choose from four border styles? Yep, you can. Of the three tools in this post, Scapple is the most customizable regarding appearance. Which is why I love it so much.I use Scapple to brainstorm ideas, to work out character development, and before I invested in a bunch of action figures and toy cars I used to use Scapple to work out the logistics of car chases and action scenes.But it’s best if I show you.This is a screenshot of a character development map I made for Kirra, the heroine of WAR: Opposition. I now fill out one of these maps for my hero and heroine in each book.This is a screenshot of a document I created in order to brainstorm what happens to the weapon that’s at the center of my WAR series.And this is a screenshot of a map I used to figure out where the various vehicles were at a certain point in a pivotal car chase in WAR: Disruption.As you can see, I like to use colors. I use three of the four box styles: Rounded (has rounded corners), Cloud, and Jagged depending on how much emphasis I want to place on the text within.You can do minor formatting of text within the boxes, such as change font size and color, do bold/underline/italics and change the alignment (although alignment affects ALL text inside the box, not just a selection).If you have Scrivener installed on the same machine, you can select all or a

Portion of your Scapple boxes and drag them over to the Scrivener binder and they’ll be added as individual text documents. You’ll need to rearrange the order in Scrivener, but I like not having to retype the information.You can also export your Scapple document into a variety of formats, including PDF and PNG.PLOTTRWhile Scapple is simply a place to put ideas and connect them, Plottr is a tool meant to help you plot your novel. The premise is that you set up cards to describe pieces of the plot. Then you assign those cards to a scene and a plot line. You can also set up characters and settings and tags (for marking the mood, time of day, etc.). Each plot line can have a different color. You can view the structure in either a linear timeline, with each plot piece as a separate box, or in an outline form.If you decide that you really want one piece of the plot to occur in a different scene, you can easily drag a card to a new position.Here’s the timeline view. The titles at the top represent key scenes and the titles along the left represent plot lines. To see more detail on a plot point, hover your mouse over it. To edit the details double click on the box.Here’s the outline view. The yellow, black, and pink boxes are mood tags I created.Unlike Scapple, in Plottr you can’t change the text formatting inside the boxes or give the boxes different borders. Plottr also doesn’t interface with Scrivener or have an export function.SCRIVENERI teach an entire online course on how Scrivener helps writers store and organize their ideas. For the purposes of this post, I’m going to focus on the two most visual aspects. The corkboard and the outliner views. But before I show you how these look, you need to understand that in order to actually see something in these views you need a two-tiered hierarchy in your binder. This can be as simple as your manuscript folder having one scene document inside it. Or a chapter folder having multiple scene documents. Click on the higher level folder, then choose either the corkboard or outliner view to see the underlying documents in that visual layout.With the corkboard, the text on the front of each index card comes from the Synopsis area in the Inspector. To add or edit text from

More. Visio is an effective tool for explaining complicated concepts and procedures because of its extensive collection of connectors, templates, and shapes. Users may easily add diagrams to their documents and presentations by integrating it with other Microsoft Office programs. Its collaborative tools enable modification and feedback in real-time. Businesses and professionals who need to improve project planning, communicate and analyze information and intricate operations turn to Microsoft Visio.CanvaCanva is a feature-rich visual design tool that now allows you to make flowcharts and diagrams. Canva is mainly recognized for its design features, but it also provides a variety of flowchart templates and user-friendly design tools, so users of all skill levels can utilize it. Flowchart sharing and real-time collaboration are made possible by its cloud-based platform. Canva’s extensive collection of icons, shapes, and text possibilities makes it easy for users to build visually appealing flowcharts, even if they are not graphic design specialists. This makes it a practical alternative for anyone wishing to combine the ease of design with the power of visual communication.ScappleFor Windows and macOS, Scapple is a cutting-edge and intuitive mind-mapping and brainstorming application. Its simple and easy-to-use interface enables users to swiftly and efficiently organize and collect thoughts. Scapple lets you connect and organize your notes or ideas to create freeform, non-linear visual diagrams. It’s very helpful for planning projects, creative writing, and brainstorming sessions. The program is a useful resource for people who prefer a straightforward, uncomplicated approach to idea generation and management because it offers a flexible canvas for your ideas without imposing rigid structures. Scapple is a popular option for creative thinkers because to its ease of use and adaptability.MindMeisterMindMeister is a web-based mind-mapping tool designed to help individuals and teams brainstorm, organize ideas, and collaborate on visual projects. It offers a user-friendly

Or business plan for $10 USD/month per user and $24 USD/month per user to enjoy premium features. For larger teams who need extra support, controls and security, the enterprise plan starts from $499 USD/month for 10+ seats.Additionally, there are also plans available for classrooms priced at $99 USD/year for up to 35 students per instructor. Non profit organizations can also apply for a nonprofit discount to any Venngage plan. 2. ScappleScapple offers a refreshing approach to brainstorming with its freeform mind mapping capabilities. It provides a digital canvas where users can freely jot down ideas, concepts and connections. Simplicity and intuitiveness are the hallmarks of Scapple. The brainstorming software is an ideal tool for users who prefer a clean slate for their thoughts, making it especially popular among writers, researchers and creative thinkers. While Scapple’s strength lies in its simplicity, this also means it lacks some of the advanced features found in more specialized brainstorming tools. Users seeking features like advanced collaboration or complex diagramming may find Scapple less suitable.Main features: Freeform mind mapping, drag-and-drop interface.Pros: Simple and intuitive, versatile brainstorming.Cons: Lack of advanced features.Who’s it for: Writers, researchers, creative thinkers.Pricing: Scapple offers a 30-day free trial while the standard license is available for a one time purchase of$20.99. For students and academics, the educational license is available at $16.79 with institutional affiliation required. 3. IdeaBoardzIdeaBoardz is all about straightforward, collaborative brainstorming. With its virtual sticky notes and real-time collaboration features, it’s a no-fuss tool favored by small teams, educators and remote collaborators. While its simplicity is a strength, the free brainstorming tool may be considered basic in terms of interface and features. Users who need more advanced functionality or advanced organization capabilities may find it lacking.Main features: Virtual sticky notes, real-time collaboration.Pros: Easy to use, collaborative, no login required.Cons: Basic interface.Who’s it for: Small teams, educators, remote collaboration.Pricing: Ideaboardz is a free product. 4. CoggleCoggle shines in collaborative mind mapping, offering real-time updates and an intuitive interface. This makes it a top pick for project managers, educators and creative teams. The online brainstorming tool strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. It’s visually appealing and offers teamwork features that facilitate collaborative brainstorming. Users appreciate its intuitive approach and the ability to create aesthetically pleasing diagrams.While Coggle provides a free version, it has limitations and users with more demanding needs may consider upgrading to a paid plan to access advanced