Plottr Alternatives for Writers in 2023
We've heard from you – discover the most common alternatives below
As
Seen
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5 Plottr Alternatives for Planning Your Books and Series
Plottr Alternative #1
Plan with Index Cards
Who doesn't enjoy index cards? They're compact, they're affordable, they look good when pinned to a corkboard. We love them for staying organized... until you lose that one about the villain. Or the ink fades. Or they rip. Also, papercuts. Listen, you know we're right.
- Visualize your plot, characters, and world (with writing and drawings), and arrange your story ideas in any order
- Ideal for tactile learners, who benefit from hands-on work
- Easy to lose or damage individual index cards
- Integrating with word processing tools can be time-consuming
5/5
"Goodbye index cards and corkboard! I haven't touched it in months because the Plottr interface makes the process so much easier."
Bill Cokas
Author
5/5
"Such a time saver! I used to write scenes on 5x7 index cards and take over the dining room table for plotting. Now I can see the whole...plot on my screen."
Joni M. Fisher
Author
Plottr Alternative #2
Work with Spreadsheets
Excel and Google Sheets are great for organizing data, and are highly customizable. Some math-oriented writers love it. But the idea of organizing creativity with functions and pivot tables isn't exactly, well... sorry, we're actively panicking. Be right back.
- Manage your story data in a structured and systematic way
- Customize the layout and design to suit your writing method
- Not designed for managing books and series with complex casts of characters, locations, and worldbuilding
- Hard to visualize and link plotlines, scenes, and story details
- Functionality and flexibility can be overwhelming
5/5
"What I like most about Plottr is that it takes the overwhelm out of writing! I no longer have to search through notes, spreadsheets, note cards, and a book bible - Plottr puts everything in one place."
KJ Warawa
Author
5/5
"I used to use Excel and index cards. Excel can be tedious and cards can go missing. No more. Everything is conveniently at my fingertips and I know I can access the information whenever I need it."
Terry P.
Author
Plottr Alternative #3
Organize with Notebooks
Physical notebooks can be a great, affordable option for many writers to plan their books – especially if they're designed for authors. But they come with many of the pitfalls of index cards, and finding specific information can be a major challenge.
- Write and draw out your character, world, and plot ideas
- Enjoy a private, distraction-free, hands-on experience (ideal for tactile thinkers and learners) you can customize with stickers, etc.
- No ability to search or filter for individual pieces of information
- Hard to manage long series with many characters
- Notes can fade, tear, become hard to read, or lost
5/5
"Before Plottr, I had notebooks and scattered pieces of paper, which led to scattered ideas. Plottr keeps me organized and more productive."
Charlene Amsden
Author
5/5
"The series feature has been invaluable in tracking characters as well as plot points. It has allowed me to create series bibles without [using] Excel or a notebook."
Lark Brennan
Author
Plottr Alternative #4
Install a Whiteboard
Drawing out your story in shapes works really well for some authors (see: Kurt Vonnegut). The open canvas can be freeing and inspiring – at least, until you run out of space. Then, you can choose to erase your work or buy more whiteboards. Fun!
- Visualize your story and plot ideas with markers (and more) on a physical canvas to see the big picture
- Easy to revise your ideas, highlight details, and collaborate in person
- Fitting all your book and series ideas can be very challenging, and may require purchasing additional boards and space
- Content is likely to fade over time and can be erased by accident
- Installing a whiteboard in your home may be physically demanding
5/5
"Plottr is helping me write faster first drafts... This software mimics the big white board for me and organizes my thoughts in a way that I don't look like a delusional conspiracy theorist."
Robin Claire Barnes
Author
5/5
"Plottr is a straightforward, easy to use piece of software that... makes plotting a novel enjoyable and saves the confusion of countless scraps of paper and sticky notes."
Dionne Haynes
Author
Plottr Alternative #5
Sticky Note Everything
And then there's the nuclear option: sticky notes. Yes, they make it easy to jot down and color coordinate all of your ideas (and attach them to surfaces!) but we can't actually recommend this. One question, for example: What happens when they stop sticking?
- Affordable, easy to use, sticks to almost anything
- Prone to loss, damage, and adhesive issues, hard to transport
- Challenging to integrate with word processing software
Or... Join the 20,000+ Savvy Writers Who Plan for Success with Plottr
"Plan your work and work your plan.” – Napoleon Hill
With Plottr, I am allowed to realize the story my creativity is encouraging me to express. It's my go-to software when I’m writing a new series. The ease of use is a major selling point for me.
Michael AnderleAmazon Bestselling UF & Sci-Fi Author Founder, 20Booksto50k®
Plottr is an amazing program that has become an integral part of my planning and record keeping process. Not only do I use it to plot, but also as a series bible so I have series details easily organized and at my fingertips. LOVE Plottr!
Celia KyleNY Times & USA Today Bestselling Romance Author 
I will be using Plottr myself, going forward. It’s cool. It’s easy to use. The videos are easy to understand. In short, Plottr is terrific. I’m very happy to recommend it.
Randy IngermansonAuthor of How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method 
Plottr is [an] awesome outlining tool that will make your plotting experience easier. If you’re aiming for productivity (which many authors are) then this tool is the right one for you.
Dave ChessonFounder of Kindlepreneur and Publisher Rocket 
When I made a move to another genre after writing over sixty books, I knew I needed help in organizing my research and outline. Plottr has been amazing for helping me do that. It's now become a major tool in my writer's toolbox!
Donna AlwardNY Times Bestselling Author 
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Local Backups
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Your mission, should you choose to accept it: create a plan to finish your book. Our team is here to make it happen – contact us for support.
Who should use Plottr?
Plottr is a visual outlining, story bible, and worldbuilding software built for published and aspiring writers of all kinds – novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, academics, journalists, writing students, and beyond. Whether you’re an outlining pro or your journey is just beginning, Plottr can help you visually (and creatively) build a plan to finish writing your book!
What devices is Plottr available on?
Plottr is available as an downloadable software for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android – phones and tablets – that can be used either offline or online, and even as a standalone web app.
You can sync files across devices automatically using Plottr Pro or manually via a 3rd-party storage service (e.g. Dropbox) with Plottr Classic.
Is Plottr easy to use?
That's what folks tell us! Plottr is enjoyed daily by everyone from precocious high school students to professional published authors, hobbyists, and writers in virtually every category in between. We have a library of documentation, video tutorials, and demos to help you get started.
What kind of support do you provide?
We provide support via email Monday through Friday (10am to 6pm ET), along with a full suite of educational resources, including live training, video tutorials, written documentation, and demos.
You can also view (and contribute to) our roadmap and find important announcements both within the app and on the website!
What happens if my license expires?
If your license expires, you will still have access to the version of Plottr and files you had at the time of expiration. However, you will not be able to download updates and bug fixes afterwards without renewing your license.
What are some Plottr alternatives?
Some Plottr alternatives include: index cards, spreadsheets, notebooks, whiteboards, and sticky notes.
Where can I find reviews of Plottr?
You can find Plottr reviews here, as well as on independent software review sites like Capterra.
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