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An Overview of the Novel Factory

The Novel Factory’s key features and functions are split into sections, which are loosely grouped as follows: The Roadmap Planning and Structure Premise and Synopses Plot Manager Subplot Manager Your Manuscript Supporting Data Characters Locations Items Notes Statistics The Roadmap The Roadmap contains a step by step guide to writing a novel. This consists of…

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How Panels Work

The Novel Factory is made up of sections, such as Premise and Synopses, Plot Manager and Subplot Manager. Each section can be accessed via the main navigation. Within each of these sections, the data is further organised into panels. For example, in the Premise and Synopsis section, you will find panels for Premise, Short Synopsis…

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The Roadmap

The Roadmap is a step-by-step guide to writing a novel. The Roadmap section has four components: The checklist The articles The videos The tasks The Checklist On the left of the screen you will see a side panel with the title Contents. Under that is list of 15 topics, with checkboxes next to them. (If…

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Premise and Synopses

The Premise and Synopses section is where you pin down the heart of your novel. It contains the following panels: Premise Short Synopsis Extended Synopsis Premise The premise panel is where you write the premise of your novel – a single line summary of the core concept. There are many ways to write a premise,…

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Plot Manager

The Plot Manager works like a corkboard or white board, where you can add index cards or sticky notes which describe key parts of your plot, then shuffle them around. This can be useful for planning a novel before writing it, or for easily rearranging scenes of an existing draft. In this post we’ll look…

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Subplot Manager

Subplot Manager Overview The Subplot Manager is designed to help you keep track of multiple subplots, by creating a flexible cross-referenced grid. You can find it by clicking the fourth option down in the main navigation. This is what the subplot manager looks like: Along the left in a single column are your index cards.…

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Manuscript

The Manuscript section is the most important part of the software, as this is where you write your novel. You can get to the Manuscript Section by clicking the icon in the main navigation that looks like a hardback book. At its core is a page, on which to write your story, but there are…

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Characters

Overview The Characters section is where you can create and keep track of your cast of characters, using visuals and prompts to bring them to life. You can view all of your characters as a group, and you can open up individual characters to view and edit them in great depth and detail. You can…

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Locations

Overview The Locations section is where you can create and keep track of your locations, using visuals and prompts to bring them to life. You can view all of your locations as a group, and you can open up individual locations to view and edit them in great depth and detail. The Locations prompts go…

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Items

Overview The Items section is where you can create and keep track of the important items that appear in your story, using visuals and prompts to bring them to life. You can view all of your items as a group, and you can open up individual items to view and edit them in great depth…

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Notes

The notes section is where you can keep research and any other information that doesn’t fit into the other sections. You can add notes of the following types: text, link, image, and checklist. You can get to the notes section by clicking the icon in the main navigation that looks like a note. Adding a…

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Statistics

Overview The statistics section has been designed to give you useful data relating to your novel, and help keep you motivated and on track. It includes the following panels: Word Count Targets Word Count by Date Word Count per Scene Words Written by Day Rolling Seven Day Average Word Count You can get to the…

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