#novel planner

[just-a-local-dreamer]

Creative writing template (Notion!)

Time to swap ugly gdocs and phone notes for something more aesthetic (and functional)?

LINK TO THE TEMPLATE

[home-ward]

My life looking tidy thanks to Notion 🗞️☁️

Here’s my fall theme, which I hope to keep a bit longer before winter sets in! 🧡

While I use this for planning my novel, I also organize my notes for Homeward, my newsletter. (It’s as irregular as it is intriguing, like a letter from a good friend).

See more of my writing content here and my main blog @heather--moors

MY PINTEREST, AKA MY HAPPY PLACE

[just-a-local-dreamer]

Notion is the answer!!

It's like making a webpage for your wips but you don't have to code anything (!) And it's free (!)

It combines note-taking, databases, calendars, and to-do lists. You can build exactly what you need—a writing hub, a plotting database, a journal, or a complex project tracker. You can add text and images and playlists and videos, embed pages within pages, and make custom databases for all sorts of things. It's rather great, really (i am biased)

The only shortcoming with Notion is that you start with a blank canvas, and have to build everything yourself. The learning curve can be steep, so I suggest you find some templates to start with.

Talking of which, may i interest you in:

A dark academia project template

The same but in a different font, and a bit neater

A master page, a writing hub where you can develop multiple books at once

(Did you notice I made a gradient?)

[just-a-local-dreamer]

How to set up your notion project page (for writers) (with examples/inspo + free templates) ✒️✨

1. Choose a format

I prefer to make a separate database as a home for all my project pages, but you can also start with a new blank page

2. Make a section for basic information

Title, genre, themes, loglines, summary, word count goal etc. I prefer to add them to the top of the page, so they're always visible

Inspo:

3. Outline space

If you prefer databases:

Start a new database in the table view. Add sections for chapter, summary, pov, status. Optional: word count, setting, scenes, date (if you have a set timeline)

Examples of a plotter's dream:

Example of a simpler version:

Example of using a gallery view database:

If you prefer pantsing:

start a toggle list where every heading is a chapter/plot point/act. You can write what happens inside each toggle. Personally, I use this method quite often.

Toggles are handy because they don't take up much space, but simple text will also work:

4. Characters

Add a gallery view database.

Create a new default template in which you can either make or paste a character worksheet. Here's what mine usually look like:

5. Setting + worldbuilding

Any database view will work. Create separate pages for important settings in the story. If you're creating a fictional world, you will probably need to add pages about geography & nature, politics, magic/technology, culture, religion, history, etc.

Examples:

6. Notes board

This is a place where you can drop new ideas, concerns, to-dos, and so on. I usually create a board view with sections such as "needs changing" "new ideas" "character ideas" and "unsorted".

I've made a filter that removes the note from view when I click the checkbox in front of "Handled". If you want an explanation on that lmk.

7. Word count tracker

Add a new database, make sections for date, word count, and description. Click sum under the word count section, it will calculate your total wc.

Pro tip: add a filter to see the total wordcount in a specific time frame. I usually have two tabs -- monthly and yearly wc.

8. Customization -- moodboards, pics, quotes, widgets

I don't think I need to explain this one ;)

Some of my pages:

You can check my shop out here

I also have some smaller free templates here

[just-a-local-dreamer]

Hey. I made a thing.

Your new writing headquarters! (Perhaps. Maybe.) It keeps all your projects in one place, with spaces for characters, worldbuilding, plotting, inspiration, resources etc etc.

The design is intuitive and not too crowded. You have enough to worry about in your writing, clicking through hundreds of gdocs to find one piece of information should not be one of them!

Tl;dr: It’s structured, aesthetic, and made by someone who’s been writing for years. (It me. Hi.)

See it on Etsy

[just-a-local-dreamer]

Dreaming of your own writing workspace?

I might have something for you!

Built for writers by a writer, a 100% customizable templates with lifelong updates, and besides Notion is free and a great tool for any creative person. Enough of google docs and notes apps, consider this:

LINK TO MY ETSY

[just-a-local-dreamer]

Finally, a properly dark academia-esque writing template. I've been trying to create one for ages.

Pics <3

You can check it out here!

[just-a-local-dreamer]

Hey! Hello! (Notion writing template update!!) <3

I've updated the plotting tools of this template. It consists of two parts now:

Chapter outline

and scene cards

These are interlinked! So you can start plotting from either one :)

If you prefer to look at the big picture first, start with the chapters. I’d suggest you write out one main thing that happens in each of your chapters, then start breaking the main idea into scenes. When you add a scene to the chapter outline, it will automatically appear in the scenes database as well.

If you have many vivid scene ideas, start with the scene cards. Write each scene you have in mind on a separate note card, then start sorting them under chapters — it's like moving sticky notes around!

You can check it out here!