Using Templates with Scapple

Scapple can be a helpful adjunct to Scrivener. It allows you to approach your story in a more freeform way and helps you track the changes that occur to your characters and locations as you write. You need to track the story additions as the novel develops to keep your story consistent. I use Scapple templates for plotting as well. I will show you several of the reusable templates that help me construct and strengthen my story.

The beauty of Scapple is these Notes expand as you add information. I pin them on Background Shapes that I increase in size as my information for a character, location, or plot expands. I add occasional png shapes that can be expanded to pull my attention to this. This information can also easily be imported into Scrivener and placed inside Inspector notes to refer to, or a separate scene note document if needed. I can add images as well to flesh out my world.

Here is an example of a Character Card Template blank and my Motivations Card. I will show you examples of how I use these in an actual story from a book I am working on called One.

Now I use this for locations as well. I can organize information in a different way in Scapple and add peripheral notes as needed to help me visualize my ideas.

Below is an example of a location in my story that occurs in Utah. I have images, maps, and details all in one place and can expand as needed. This information could be placed in Scrivener, but this way gives it a different feel.

The other area where I find using reusable templates is helpful is in plotting. I have a Save the Cat template with all the fifteen beats with explanations of each one and Stacked notes to add information about how all the major characters fit the beats of the template as the story progresses. This version has added red note boxes of the particular beats adjusted for the horror genre. In this way, the basic reusable template is modified for the horror genre to make sure I am reminded to include the expected elements in my story. These blank templates can be used again and again and refined as your needs or methods change. I have included an overall picture with a coned down view to show this in action.

Note this is only a partial portion of the initial story information for these characters in the first story beat in Save the Cat. The image (above) was cropped for clarity.

The beauty of Scapple is this can be zoomed in on, or the reverse to get the big picture. Scapple Projects can be linked via Bookmarks to Scrivener documents directly as well.

I also make separate Scapple Projects for Plotting, primary characters and locations, and minor characters. This way it is easier to find the specific information I may want to review, modify, or expand on. I line up my character and motivation cards in groups by character associations. I may have allies or families in one group. With the plotting I do each act on a separate Background Shape to make it easy to cone down on what I need to find.

You can also use PNG images which can help you find what you need or mark key parts of the Project. (I can use checkmarks if finished, question marks, or Brain images to tell me I need to think more about an area.) I’ve included examples below which expand nicely, to help you navigate around your project quickly.

The possibilities are only limited by your imagination, and I hope this inspires you to create your own templates.