Front Matter

Writing fiction is tough. Modern novels typically contain between 70,000 and 100,000 words and can take a year or longer to write and edit. Starting a project of such magnitude without a plan is an invitation to disaster, but how do you plan something as complex as a novel?

StoryCAD (distributed by storybuilder.org) is an outlining tool for fiction writers. It’s Computer Aided Design for fiction writers. The purpose of the outline is to manage complexity, a task made easier when you can visualize the structure of your story and individually address each of its many moving parts. The parts of good fiction are realistic, three-dimensional characters who are engaged in meaningful and gripping problems, dramatic and suspenseful plots, and settings that appeal to the senses. You fill in the blanks to create these story elements.

StoryCAD eliminates writer’s block by providing thousands of suggestions or examples for the details of story elements. A collection of tools assists you in creating conflicts, understanding your characters, and building your plot. StoryCAD simplifies the outlining process, inspires, and keeps ideas flowing. Each story element has a list of key questions: a checklist to help you refine your work.

StoryCAD helps you begin your story, but you can work on any part of it at any time; you can add scenes, develop characters, or improve the conflicts. Whatever your story needs, for any form of fiction or any genre, StoryCAD can help.

StoryCAD frees your creativity and makes it fun. Mistakes in a StoryCAD outline aren’t costly; you don’t fill your trash can with them. You’re free to change and revise, to make mistakes, and to experiment.

We hope you enjoy StoryCAD and find it useful to your craft.