Build a timeline

Use timelines in Plotting to organize scenes and chapters in a structure that fits your planning method.

Open or create a timeline

1. Open your story.
2. Go to the Plotting area.
3. To create a timeline, select the + tab.

The + tab opens Create New Timeline.

Create a new timeline

In Create New Timeline, use the Template field to choose Blank or another available template.

If you choose Blank, enter a Name, then select Create Timeline.

If you choose a template such as 3 Act Structure (Classic), Novelio shows a preview. You can click on examples to further explore and understand the structure. Select the Create Timeline button in the sidebar when you are ready to use it.

When timeline creation may be unavailable

You may not be able to create a timeline if:

• the story is locked
• your current plan or account state does not allow another timeline
• your current tier has reached its timeline limit

If your current tier has reached its limit, you may need to delete an existing timeline before creating another one.

Work inside the timeline

After creation, use the timeline workspace to arrange story items and review the available sidebars and lists.

Element items can be added, rearranged, and removed from within the workspace.

You can add, move, or remove Parts/Acts, Beats (the particular plot outline markers you want to hit in this story), Scenes, Notes, and Time Tags.

You can group-select items inside the workspace to move in tandem or to remove from the space. Removal of Scenes, Notes, or Time Tags from a workspace does not mean permanent deletion from the master lists.

Scenes can be dropped into Beats or dropped loosely into the timeline.

The sidebar includes Display Settings, +Add New, and From Library.

1. Display Settings let you customize how you view the elements in your plotting workspace.

   • Visible Content: choose which elements appear in the timeline or are hidden from view
   • Expand Text: choose which elements truncate their description content or expand their size to show all of their description text
   • Scene Bar Details: select what indicators and icons appear in the scene bars of your workspace.

2. +Add New is a set of icons representing every kind of element. Use these to drag newly created elements into the workspace.

   • Click on the element you want to create and drag it into the desired location in the timeline.
   • Click on the gray New Note Type icon to create a new color/type of Note. This allows you to color-code your notes. Each new type will then be available in the +Add New element box.

3. From Library is a source list for you to review or drag previously created elements into the workspace. It shows the same master source lists no matter what workspace timeline you’re working in.

   • Scenes: a master list of all Scenes you’ve ever created for this story, whether or not you’ve used them in this particular timeline. There is a “Create New Scene” option at the bottom of the master list.
   • Notes: a master list of all Notes you have previously created for this story. There is a “Create new Note” option at the bottom of the list.
   • Time Tags: a master list of all Time Tags you have ever created for this story. There is a “Create New Time Tag” option at the bottom of the list.
   • You can adjust which elements appear in that list using the small All, Unplaced, and Placed buttons. If you select Unplaced, then only the items that have not yet been dropped into the workspace will show in this Library list.
   • You can group-select multiple items at once to delete or drag and drop. Deleting items from From Library permanently deletes them and removes their placements from all timelines.

Use a template if you want a guided starting structure. Use Blank if you want to build the timeline yourself.

If you want to review scene or note material outside the timeline, see Use Element Library.