Tracking Consistency
Keep your story consistent with Project Notes and the Continuity Tracker—tools designed to help you remember important details as your manuscript grows.
Project Notes
Project Notes are quick reminders you attach to a book. They appear as colored banners at the top of your Chapters, Scenes, and Drafts lists—so you see them exactly when you need them.
When to Use Project Notes
- World rules — "Magic doesn't work after midnight"
- Style reminders — "Keep dialogue snappy, under 3 lines"
- Research to-dos — "Verify historical dates in Ch. 8"
- Revision notes — "Foreshadow the betrayal earlier"
Adding a Project Note
- Open your Book Form (click the edit icon from your Books list)
- Scroll down to the Project Notes section
- Type your note and press Enter or click outside the box
- The note will now appear on your Chapters, Scenes, and Drafts pages
Tip
Keep notes short and actionable. If a note grows complex, consider creating a Continuity Item instead.
Continuity Tracker
The Continuity Tracker helps you manage story details that change over time—character attributes, plot threads, timeline events, and more. It's designed to catch potential inconsistencies before they become problems.
What to Track
- Character changes — "Sarah's hair color changed from blonde to auburn in Ch. 5"
- Plot threads — "The missing key—introduced in Ch. 2, needs resolution"
- Timeline events — "Three days pass between the party and the funeral"
- World details — "The tavern is on Oak Street, not Elm"
- Open questions — "Did we establish if Marcus can swim?"
Creating a Continuity Item
- Navigate to Book Tools → Continuity Tracker from your book view
- Click Add Continuity Item
- Fill in the details:
- Name — A brief label (e.g., "Marcus's injury")
- Type — Character attribute, plot thread, timeline, world detail, or open question
- Severity — Low, medium, or high priority
- Content — The full description of what needs tracking
Linking to Scenes
Each continuity item can reference:
- Introduced In — The scene where this detail first appears
- Resolved In — The scene where it's addressed (optional)
- Related Element — Connect to a character, location, or other element
This creates a trail you can follow when editing, making it easy to verify consistency.
Resolving Items
When you've addressed a continuity issue:
- Open the continuity item
- Add the Resolved In scene
- Update the status if needed
Resolved items remain in your tracker for reference but are visually distinguished.
Continuity Alerts
Continuity items with specific chapter or scene assignments appear as alerts on your relevant list pages. High-severity items display prominently so you don't overlook critical issues.
Project Notes vs. Continuity Items
| Feature | Project Notes | Continuity Items |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Entire book | Specific scenes/elements |
| Visibility | Always shown on list pages | Shown contextually by chapter/scene |
| Complexity | Quick, simple reminders | Detailed tracking with metadata |
| Best for | Style guides, global rules | Plot threads, character changes |
Tips for Consistency
- Create items as you write — When you introduce something that might matter later, add a quick continuity item
- Review before major edits — Check your tracker before starting a revision pass
- Use severity wisely — High severity for plot-critical issues, low for minor details
- Link to elements — Connecting to characters or locations makes items easier to find later
Remember
The goal isn't to track everything—it's to track what matters. Start with major plot threads and character changes, then add more detail as your project grows.
What's Next?
- Understanding Structure — How scenes and chapters work together
- Writing with Elements — Create characters and locations to reference
- FAQ — Common questions answered