Story planning template

Starting a story often feels exciting, but it can quickly become overwhelming. Sometimes we jump into character ideas and plot twists, only to lose momentum without a solid creative framework in place. Without a system, our stories might stall in half-filled Google Docs or disorganized outline templates.

A story planning template solves this problem by providing a roadmap. You organize your story outline, characters, and plot structure in a single project. So whether you’re drafting a short story, planning a novel, or writing a screenplay, this story template makes the writing process easier so you can focus on your creativity instead of looking for misplaced notes.

Who benefits from story planning templates?

Writers often start with compelling story ideas but may struggle with how to develop them fully. Story templates help transform initial concepts into complete narratives.

Fiction writers

You can use this story writing template to map plot points, track character arcs, and visualize the hero’s journey. A customizable format works for both short stories and full-length novels.

Screenwriters

Rely on the template to manage story beats, dialogue drafts, and turning points. Adding sections for screenplay formatting ensures the story structure arcs across scenes.

Students and educators

Apply this story planner template for assignments, creative writing classes, or novel plotting exercises. Story planning worksheets organize your assignments and keep you on track.

Content creators

You can adapt the template for user storytelling to suit various platforms, including blogs, social media, and webinars. A story planner gives your writing project a framework to keep content creation on schedule.

Why use Asana’s story template?

An author told us how she once created a short story collection using notebooks, Word documents, and spreadsheets. Each story outline had a different format, and by the time she started editing, she felt the plots were disconnected. Once she switched to a story planning template, her writing process became more organized and faster.

With Asana, you manage creative work with the same efficiency as project management. The story template lets you set milestones, assign tasks, and track your writing journey like a roadmap.

Key benefits include:

• Organize your story outline, characters, and world-building in one project.

• Automate reminders for writing sessions or editing deadlines.

• Visualize your story structure with list, board, or timeline views.

• Collaborate with editors or writing partners in real time.

• Reuse the same customizable story writing template for your next writing project.

How to use this story planning template

An effective story planning template provides a roadmap for transforming early story ideas into a complete narrative. Instead of losing momentum when drafting, you can move step by step through the planning process, filling in details for characters, settings, and themes before writing the first page. 

By treating story planning as a workflow, you create a strong foundation for your writing project and keep every element of your plot organized from start to finish.

Step 1: Define role and skills

Begin with the Overview section to establish the overall narrative of your story. Here, you define the genre, target audience, and overall direction of your writing project. Laying out these details early clarifies whether you’re developing a short story, a novel outline, or a screenplay, and it helps you match your story structure to your creative goals.

Use this space to frame your narrative goals. For example, note whether you’re building toward a hero’s journey, a three-act plot structure, or another type of story outline. Identifying these elements upfront reduces confusion later and provides a reference point as your plot develops.

Step 2: Build strong characters

The Characters section helps you sketch out your main character, supporting cast, and their character arcs. You can log names, roles, and their importance to the narrative while also noting relationships and conflicts that will drive your plot forward.

Consider both role-specific traits and more subtle details, such as communication style or interpersonal strengths. By doing so, you move beyond surface-level descriptions and create believable people that shape your story ideas and keep readers engaged.

Step 3: Create a vivid setting

The Setting section anchors your story in a place and time. You capture whether your world is grounded in everyday reality or requires extensive world-building. Adding details like setting type and locations helps your readers visualize the backdrop of each scene.

Writers often find that settings influence plot points in unexpected ways. For example, a high school classroom shapes dialogue differently than a fantasy battlefield. Treat your setting as more than background; it’s an active part of your story planning that reinforces tone and theme.

Step 4: Map your plot structure

The Plot Structure section provides space to plan major plot points, turning points, and resolutions. You can break down your story outline into sequences that mirror a novel-plotting framework or a short story’s pacing.

When you visualize structure, you can avoid common pitfalls, such as rushing the middle or skipping character development. This step also gives you a chance to check whether your story outline aligns with your chosen genre’s conventions, such as mystery beats or romance arcs.

Step 5: Explore themes and motifs

The Themes and Motifs section helps you capture the deeper meaning of your story. Use it to identify recurring symbols, values, or messages that your characters and plot reinforce throughout the narrative.

Writers often underestimate the importance of this part of the planning process. Documenting themes now makes your narrative more cohesive and ensures that your creative writing reflects the core ideas you want readers to take away. From motifs in a short story to expansive themes in a novel outline, planning them strengthens your storytelling.

Step 6: Revise and prepare for publishing

Use the “Editing” section to assign revisions, track feedback, and polish drafts. Editors or writing partners can leave comments, ensuring changes are logged in real time.

You can also attach polished drafts or export-ready files for publishing. Whether you’re preparing for creative writing workshops, submitting a short story, or finalizing a novel outline, this workflow helps you deliver a stronger manuscript.

Recommended Asana features for story planning

Features in Asana help you transform a static outline into a dynamic planning system. They let you log details, manage progress, and automate your writing workflow. Explore the complete list of Asana features to discover even more inspiration.

Custom fields

Custom fields let you track character arcs, story beats, or editing stages. These fields give you a structured way to log progress and filter tasks by chapters or characters.

Project views

Project views show your work from different perspectives. The list view resembles a traditional outline, the board view functions like storyboarding, and the timeline view visualizes deadlines for chapters or scenes.

Milestones

Milestones help you mark key achievements, such as finishing a draft or completing world-building. Seeing these markers motivates progress and keeps your writing journey on track.

Workflows

Workflows streamline your story planning process. You can automate routine steps, such as assigning revisions when tasks reach “Review.” This automation reduces manual follow-up and saves creative energy.

AI features

AI features summarize long notes, surface themes across your draft, or suggest next steps. Writers use these insights to refine structure and keep their story outline balanced.

Recommended integrations for your story planner template

Integrations expand the functionality of your story template by connecting Asana with creative tools. They ensure your drafts, notes, and designs stay tied to your writing process. Browse the entire app library to find the software and platforms you use regularly.

Google Docs

Google Docs integrates with Asana, allowing you to draft chapters, outline templates, or short stories in real-time. Attaching docs directly to tasks keeps collaboration efficient.

Slack

Slack integration notifies you when writing partners leave feedback or when deadlines approach. This helps teams working on screenplays, case studies, or collaborative novels stay connected.

Dropbox

Dropbox integration allows you to store images, worksheets, or research materials alongside your writing project. Having everything in one workspace reduces time spent searching for files.

Figma

Figma supports creative tasks, including story maps, cover mockups, and character visuals. Designers and writers collaborate on visuals without leaving the story planner.

FAQs about story writing templates