In midst of devising your literary masterpiece you find yourself unable to keep track of the ever-more complex action. What is a writer to do? What practical tools do other writers use to track their story's main plot, sub plots, and time lines?
Unfortunately, these questions might arise at a time of frustration, just when your task seems overwhelming. What you need is a little preparation. You need to develop some organized, chronological guide that you can refer to while you are creating. As each writer’s style and creative processes are different, so may be the solutions they come up with.
Some solutions include index cards, outlining, time lines, story boards, and writing software.
Index cards are one of the most popular tools used by writers. Index cards are useful, especially if you're initially unsure of the exact order of the events in your story. Each time you come up with a new scene, write it on a card. Include a title and write a description of the scene. The next step is creating the order. You can try using color-coded sticky notes, with a different color for each plot line. Stick them on the wall or mount them on a white board. Move them around as you develop your story.
Then there’s the simple outline. Most word processing programs have a function that allows you to create an outline simply by pushing a button. Create your outline in advance, so that you can use it as a guide. Some authors like to print out the latest version of their outline and keep it in something like a notebook or binder, so that they can make additions or corrections to it as they arise. Tip: Try converting your outline into different formats, such as a table or an Excel spreadsheet, with one row per plot line or scene.
Another alternative is a time line. The creation of a time line can be as simple as getting a plain piece of paper, drawing a horizontal line across the middle, and mapping the events of your story in chronological order, from left to right. A time line can be created in conjunction with an outline. Keep them together and use them as great visual reference tools.
Finally, there are dozens of available versions of effective writing software. Once you've utilized a program, the results can be impressive. Beyond tracking story plots, they provide character profiles, detailed scene lists, and a variety of functions to display each of these elements in different formats. If you decide to go this route, be sure to check out some of the free versions of the software. Then, at least you’ll have a chance to try the interface before being stuck in one while trying to create.
Try these techniques out for yourself in any combination until you find what works for you. By experimenting, you might just find a process that you'll use for years.