Overview

Plot Thread Events record when a scene touches, advances, changes, resolves, branches, splits, merges or abandons a plot line.

They help PlotDirector:

• Draw plot lines on the timeline.
• Show where plot threads progress.
• Show where threads branch, split, merge, resolve or stop.
• Warn about forgotten or unresolved story promises.

Use them when a scene changes what the reader knows, what a character wants, or where a story promise is heading.

Adding A Normal Event

Use normal events for ordinary plot movement: Start, Progress, Reveal and Twist.

1. Open the Scene Inspector for the scene. 2. Find the Plot Thread Events section. 3. Choose a Plot Line or Existing Plot Thread. 4. Optionally enter New Thread Title and Thread Type. 5. Choose Event Type: Start, Progress, Reveal or Twist. 6. Add an Event Title. 7. Add a Description if useful. 8. Click Add Thread Event.

The Plot Line is the larger story lane. An Existing Plot Thread is a smaller strand already being tracked inside that lane. New Thread Title creates a new strand from this event, useful when the scene introduces a new clue, suspicion, promise or subplot beat.

Branch Events

Branch starts another plot line while the current plot line continues.

1. Choose the source Plot Line or Existing Plot Thread. 2. Set Event Type to Branch. 3. Choose the Target Plot Line. 4. Add a clear Event Title. 5. Click Add Thread Event.

On the timeline, the source line continues, the target line begins from this scene, and a connector shows the branch.

Example: A murder investigation continues, but a new suspect subplot begins.

Split Events

Split ends the current plot line and starts two or more independent plot lines.

1. Choose the source Plot Line or Existing Plot Thread. 2. Set Event Type to Split. 3. Select two or more Target Plot Lines. 4. Add a clear Event Title. 5. Click Add Thread Event.

On the timeline, the source line ends, the selected target lines begin from this scene, and connectors show the split.

Example: A shared investigation separates into Beth following one lead and Maggie following another.

Merge Events

Merge ends the current plot line by feeding it into another plot line.

1. Choose the source Plot Line or Existing Plot Thread. 2. Set Event Type to Merge. 3. Choose Merge Into Plot Line. 4. Add a clear Event Title. 5. Click Add Thread Event.

On the timeline, the source line ends, the target line continues, and a connector shows the merge.

Example: Beth's story and Maggie's story merge when they discover they are sisters.

Resolve Events

Resolve means the plot line reaches its outcome.

1. Choose the Plot Line or Existing Plot Thread. 2. Set Event Type to Resolve. 3. Add a clear Event Title. 4. Add a Description explaining the payoff. 5. Click Add Thread Event.

No target plot line is required. A resolve-only thread may show a warning marker. This is not an error. It is a prompt to check the thread has enough payoff for the reader.

Abandon Events

Abandon means you intentionally leave the thread unresolved or terminated.

1. Choose the Plot Line or Existing Plot Thread. 2. Set Event Type to Abandon. 3. Add a clear Event Title. 4. Add a Description explaining why. 5. Click Add Thread Event.

Use this rarely. PlotDirector may show a warning marker because abandoned threads can disappoint readers unless the choice is intentional.

Timeline Warning Markers

Neglected means there has been no plot event for 10 or more scenes. The thread may have been forgotten. Add another event if the thread progresses later, or resolve, merge, split or abandon it if it has ended.

Dangling means the plot line is still unresolved at the end of the current timeline view. This may be fine for series-wide threads. Treat it as a prompt to check whether the open ending is intentional.

Questionable Resolution means the plot line was resolved without a merge, split or branch. This can be fine for red herrings or smaller threads. It asks you to check that the payoff is satisfying.

Abandoned means the plot line was explicitly abandoned. This should usually be intentional, so add a description explaining why.

Editing And Removing Events

Existing events appear in the Plot Thread Events list.

Use Edit to change the Event Type, title, description or targets. Use Remove to delete an event from the scene.

Removing an event can change the timeline drawing and warning markers because PlotDirector uses these events to understand the shape of the plot line.

Related Guides

• Plot Threads
• Plot Lines
• Timeline Plot Lines
• Scenes