Subplot Review

[InklingBooks]

MacWorld has a review of a new novel and screen play planning program called Subplot:

macworld.com/article/163684/ … _plot.html

The developer has a bit more information here:

afkcreative.com/subplot/index.html

No voice over for the demo video though, something I find frustrating: “Tell me what you’re doing. Don’t just do it.”

Here’s a summary of what Subplot does:

Subplot isn’t a word processor-type program. It’s designed to be used with your choice of writing software, be it Word, Pages, Scrivener, or some other program. Subplot is one writing program in which you don’t actually write your story. Instead, Subplot acts as a sort of outline, a point of reference for your story.

Subplot rewards careful planning by forcing you to outline each character, their arc throughout the story, and even their locations in each chapter. While it may sound daunting, Subplot makes following your own story much easier, thus allowing you to write within the structure you’ve created yourself.

There’s no indication from what I read if you can export what you’ve done directly into Scrivener. Also according to the FAQ:

Your Subplot data is stored in your Mac’s Application Support folder; look in: /Users/YourLoginName/Library/Application Support - there is a Subplot folder created when the program first launches (please contact us if you have trouble locating the folder.)

The Subplot datafile is called SubplotDB.rsd. You can copy that file just as you would any other in order to keep it safe. Note that if you wish to use Subplot on more than one computer, this is the only file you need to copy; please ensure you copy it to the Subplot folder in Application Support on the second computer.

Keeping your data in an obscure file in what is in Lion a hidden system folder rules out using Dropbox synching between Macs, much less sharing that data between Macs and compatible apps on iDevices. Given that this is a brainstorming tool, I wonder if it might have been better as an iPad app.

From the descriptions, I see nothing to tempt me away from using TaskPaper on my Mac/iPhone to take down ideas or from watching for a few more features to Writer’s App to make it an effective tool. What I’d like to see in Writer’s App is storing data as OPML, so it could be synched with a compatible app on Macs and the chapter outline directly imported into Scrivener. Also, it needs scenes under chapters.

Writers App collects a similar set of data about characters, places and plot. It works on mobile devices and costs far less that Subplot’s $36. I suspect that Subplot might push writers to outline and plan a bit too much before writing. I always find I’m changing so much when I write that too much preparation is a waste of time.

If anyone’s already using Subplot, I’d be interested in their evaluation and, in particular, how well it meshes with Scrivener. And do keep in mind that this is version 1.0.2, so the feature set is likely to improve.

–Michael W. Perry, Seattle

[Stevenfield]

Had a quick look at this in the Mac App store.

In general I think it’s got its heart in the right place. I’ve read a lot of stories by writers who’ve been let down by their plotting (eg long strings of short, weak scenes where characters waft about with no clear goals) so this does at least force you to think about what your characters are doing and why (and where) and what’s stopping them.

I thought it was amusing that you’re invited to fill in a field naming the genre of your novel (as if you were likely to forget).

Seems a bit pricey at £25. Not a bargain for what appears to be a relatively simple, if useful, piece of kit.