Overview

A useful Floor Plan is clear enough to support the story. It does not need to be a perfect building survey.

Start Rough

Place the important rooms first. Add corridors, gardens, cellars and stairs when they matter. You can refine shapes and transitions later.

Model Narrative Spaces

Use blocks to represent spaces that matter to the story: where people stand, what they can hear, where an asset is hidden, or how someone gets from one room to another.

Do not over-model every architectural detail. A fireplace, alcove or cupboard only needs its own Location if the story treats it as a meaningful place.

Use Multiple Blocks For Awkward Shapes

If a room is L-shaped or irregular, use several blocks linked to the same Location. PlotDirector will visually merge the shared internal borders, so the room still reads as one space.

Corridors Matter

Use corridors, landings and halls as Locations too. They often control movement, sightlines, overheard conversations and who could plausibly arrive in time.

Secret Routes

Use hidden doors, secret passages and blocked routes when they carry story meaning. They are ideal for mystery houses, backstage areas, old buildings, hidden compartments and reveals.

Check Vertical Logic

Use the reference floor overlay before adding stairs. It is much easier to line up a staircase early than to fix a broken vertical route after several scenes depend on it.

Focus On Story Questions

Let the plan answer practical questions:

• who can see or hear whom?
• where are important assets?
• how does a character move through the space?
• what route is hidden from the reader or from other characters?
• does the scene still make sense when viewed from above?