I have started, but never finished, a novel many times. This is because I prefer to write as the muse takes me, rather than to any formula or plan.
This, of course, is not the way to write a book. At the very least it will cause your editor to develop early stage dementia trying to fix all the inevitable mistakes.
So I asked the completely free Ollama 3.2 AI for a solution using a spreadsheet as the tool of choice, and here’s what it came up with (including the formatting of the output, which you can copy and paste directly into WordPress and it all looks good):
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a character and plot timeline for your fiction novel using a spreadsheet:
Software Recommendations
You can use any spreadsheet software like Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, or LibreOffice Calc. For this example, I’ll use Google Sheets.
Step 1: Create a New Spreadsheet
- Open Google Sheets and create a new spreadsheet.
- Give it a title, such as “Character and Plot Timeline” or “Story Plan”.
Step 2: Set Up Columns and Rows
- Divide your spreadsheet into the following columns:
- Character (Columns A, B, C)
- Age
- Background
- Goals
- Motivations
- Conflict
- Plot Twist (Optional)
- Create rows for each character in your story. You can also use a separate sheet for your plot timeline if you want to keep them organized.
Step 3: Populate Your Character Columns
- For each character, fill out the following columns:
- Age: The age of the character at the beginning and end of the story.
- Background: A brief description of the character’s past, family, and upbringing.
- Goals: What are the character’s main goals and motivations in the story?
- Motivations: Why is the character driven to achieve their goals?
- Conflict: What internal or external conflicts will the character face throughout the story?
Step 4: Create a Plot Timeline
- In a separate sheet or column, create a timeline of your plot.
- Divide the timeline into sections for:
- Inciting Incident
- Act 1: Setup and exposition
- Act 2: Confrontation and rising action
- Act 3: Climax and resolution
- Denouement (Optional)
- For each section, include key events or plot points, such as character introductions, turning points, and the final confrontation.
Step 5: Link Your Character to the Plot Timeline
- Create a separate column in your main sheet that links each character to specific sections of the plot timeline.
- Use numbers or letters (e.g., A1, B2, C3) to indicate which section of the plot the character is involved in.
Here’s an example of what your spreadsheet might look like:
Character Sheet
| Character | Age | Background | Goals | Motivations | Conflict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protagonist | 25 | Raised by a single mother, grew up poor | Become a successful entrepreneur | Desire for financial freedom and independence | Fear of failure, loss of identity |
| Antagonist | 30 | Wealthy businessman with a hidden agenda | Eliminate competition and gain control over the industry | Ambition and greed | Fear of being exposed and losing power |
Plot Timeline
| Section | Key Events |
|---|---|
| Inciting Incident | Character discovers a conspiracy, decides to investigate |
| Act 1 | Introduces supporting characters, sets up the investigation |
| Act 2 | Investigator faces obstacles, gathers evidence |
| Act 3 | Confronts the antagonist, uncovers truth |
Character-Plot Timeline Links
| Character | Section A1 (Inciting Incident) | Section B2 (Act 1) | Section C3 (Act 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protagonist | Investigates conspiracy | Meets supporting characters, gathers evidence | Confronts antagonist, uncovers truth |
| Antagonist | Hides behind a mask of innocence | Uses manipulation and intimidation to silence others | Reveals true intentions, threatens the protagonist |
By creating this timeline, you’ll have a clear visual representation of your character’s journey and how they fit into the larger plot.