#plot mapping

I’m not sure if this is going to help anyone else, but in case anyone out there is looking for different ways to look at their outline and test its structural soundness, this is what I’ve been doing for The Stray Spirit.

It’s an adaptation of the subway plot mapping technique, which I learned about through Nanowrimo. Once I have my outline, I make a list of my character arcs and my big plot points, and map out how frequently I’m actually addressing them in each event. This has helped me figure out if I’m neglecting a character or plot point, or if I’m rushing through a certain plot point. 

I’ll give you a template and an example from The Stray Spirit (first few events only, to avoid major spoilers).

Map Template (using Google Sheets):

Sorry it’s a bit blurry. The top row of the chart reads “Event 1, 2, etc.” The left-hand column reads “Char Arc 1-3″ and “Question 1-2.” The colored cells within the chart represent whenever you touch on that specific arc or plot point. By using different colors, shades, and/or patterns, you can get a quick visual on what you’re hitting a lot and what you’re dropping.

This format is easily adaptable to other systems, like Excel, phyiscal sticky notes, Miro, etc.

The Stray Spirit Example #1: Lighter Version

(Apologies, I’m not sure how to get the image bigger on this dang site)

You’ll see here that I’ve filled in the Events row with more or less my chapter events: Emry and Aspen meeting, Emry performing at The Red Rat, the first day that Emry and Aspen begin to research the surges, etc.

On the left-hand side, you’ll see things like Cal’s arc, Aspen’s arc, as well as big plot questions like “Will they save the world?” “will Emry reunite with his family?” “Will Emry and Cal get together?” and “Will Emry join the Guild?”

You’ll spot that Cal’s arc is the least addressed here- but that makes sense, since we don’t actually introduce Cal until event #4!

You’ll also spot that “will they save the world?,” or plot point A, has the most frequent hits. Personally, I think that makes sense.

(If you’re wondering about Emry’s arc- that’s tied in with “will he reunite with his family.”)

The Stray Spirit Example #2: More Detailed Version

This is fundamentally the same as the lighter version, but I’ve added details on what the sub-events are within the cells.

For example- Aspen’s arc is about the spirit going from “get me back to my grove at all costs” to “I’m not going back to my grove at all, I’m staying with you.” Here, I’ve added Aspen’s mood/actions to their line. When Emry and Aspen meet, Aspen’s just been booted out of their grove by ostensibly a magical earthquake, and is insistent that they figure out how to protect it so they can go back to it permanently. On research day #2, they learn that someone outside the city has information that can help them, and they leverage their current position to coerce both Emry and Cal to take them to that person. This is early on in the book, so it makes sense that they haven’t reached a turning point yet.

I’ll be using this same method for my outline in book 2, as I have (regrettably) more characters, more relationship arcs, and more plot points to keep track of. I’m fully anticipating seeing massive holes in this chart when I set it up based off my outline.