Turn Your First Draft Into A Great Story
A new online tool for serious fiction writers. Be your own structural editor. Become a better writer.
(No credit card required)
What writers are saying about Fictionary:
“I have used Fictionary to revise my current work in progress, entitled MindField, an espionage technothriller due out in early December 2017. My feeling is that Fictionary helped me to improve the manuscript significantly, and I will use it on all my subsequent novels. I am trained as both a novelist and screenwriter, but I focus exclusively on producing novels. And, that is where Fictionary is most useful. The toolbox within Fictionary helps a novelist see exactly where their work is weakest and strongest, and pushes me to work on fixing my problems.”
“Revising my second novel was a formidable job. I’d spent years studying novel writing while polishing my first manuscript. I dreaded the overwhelming task of wrestling 80,000 words into coherent shape again.
Fictionary was a huge time-saver, and allowed me to geek out on the charts and statistics about my book. I loved the ability to identify plot holes, label the beginnings and endings of each chapter, and view character details. Completely online and mobile, I didn’t need to tote around a marked-up manuscript covered in sticky notes to work on revisions. The author tips are a helpful guide, because I’m still learning my way around the world of fiction writing. Fictionary allowed me to visualize the story structure of my draft before I made changes. I’m excited to rewrite!”
“Within a few seconds of loading your manuscript into the program, you will be amazed by a stunning array of information that will help you catch mistakes, hone your plot, or tighten your story to the pace you want it. Authors of all experience levels will find this tool incredibly useful.”
“No matter the stage you are in as a writer, Fictionary is a dynamic, innovative app that guides you through the revision process with ease. This is such a great tool for writers looking to get their manuscript in top structural shape before publication – while saving them time and money on editing services. It’s a must-have for writers looking to visualize their manuscript’s big picture so they can telescope in with precision and confidence to craft a story that will keep readers turning the pages!”
“Let me just say that the Story Arc report alone makes this an outstanding tool. I uploaded my manuscript and poof, Fictionary showed me my initial inciting event was too far out and my climax resolved too soon. Yes, my betas probably would have caught it, but it feels good knowing my manuscript is in better shape before exposing to anyone else.”
“I’ve been privileged with a sneak peek of Fictionary. It’s brilliant! Hands down the most innovative structural editing app for writers you’re going to see anywhere anytime soon!”
Visualize and Evaluate Your Manuscript
The Story Arc, Automated!
Visualize the structure of your story and decide on the best placement for plot events. See where your characters enter and exit your story in relation to key events.
Cast of Characters
Automatically generated on import of your manuscript. See how many characters are in your story and the number of scenes each character is in.
Word Clouds
Consider the purpose of your scenes based on the words and character names used most.
Scene by Scene Evaluation
Keep track of your characters, evaluate your plot, and create engaging settings. Ensure your story works by making every scene count.
Word Counts
Evaluate the pacing of your manuscript based on word count per scene. Shorter scenes increase the pace, longer scenes slow things down.
Built-In Rewrite Tips
Insightful tips for improving your story exactly when you need them! No more searching for writing advice.
Progress Tracking
Keep track of your big-picture edit and know when you've completed a comprehensive rewrite.
Features
Import Manuscript
Organizes your manuscript by chapter and scene for viewing in the app
Rewrite Guide
Guides you through a comprehensive, scene-by-scene structural rewrite
Scene Evaluation
Captures and evaluates Key Elements of Fiction for Character, Plot, and Setting
Rewrite Tips
Explain the Key Elements of Fiction and how each is best applied to your writing
Progress Tracking
Status for scenes and key elements keeps you on track to complete your rewrite
Community
Share Fictionary results and advice with other writers
About Us
Kristina Stanley
Creative and Design
Best-Selling Author
Micheal Conn
Product Development
Indie Author
Mathew Stanley
Customer and
Business Development
IN THE BEGINNING
Creating Fictionary (originally called Feedback) began when I (Kristina) finished the first draft of my first novel. By then I’d read over 50 how-to-write and how-to-self-edit books. I’d taken writing courses and workshops, and had 100s of writing and rewriting tips swirling about in my head.
I knew I had to begin the rewriting process and improve the quality of my draft before sharing my work but I didn’t know how to go about it..
HOW TO REWRITE?
How was I supposed to remember the torrent of advice and apply it to each scene? A spreadsheet, that’s how!
I created a spreadsheet with a chapter-by-chapter, scene-by-scene structure. Then I listed the different writing advice I needed to consider for EVERY scene. I ended up with over 35 “Key Elements of Fiction”. I used the reports from the spreadsheet to visualize my novel.
VALIDATION
After the hard work of self-evaluating and rewriting my drafts, the high quality of my fiction was validated when my first two novels were shortlisted for prestigious crime writing awards and I landed my publisher (Imajin Books).
My first editor said: “If every manuscript was this good, my job would be so easy!”
The next exciting moment came when DESCENT, my first novel, hit #1 on Amazon’s hot new releases. I’ve since sold the German rights to Luzifer-Verlag for publication in Germany. Imajin Books also published BLAZE and AVALANCHE.
THE SEARCH
Along came Michael with MAXWELL HUXLEY’S DEMON and THE RIGHT TURN, and we ran the same spreadsheet. By this time we’d covered the mystery, horror, and young adult genres.
Surely we weren’t the first authors to struggle with rewriting our first drafts, so we searched for an app to address our problem but found nothing. We did discover that many writers struggled with rewriting drafts and ended up using tools such as spreadsheets, whiteboards, or yellow stickies.
THE IDEA
That’s when it hit us. We thought other writers could benefit from our immediate approach to evaluating and rewriting first drafts.
The excitement was too much for Mathew to sit by and watch, so he decided to get involved. He knows technology and how to run a business.
THE PROTOTYPE
Michael, Mathew, and I worked on the concept and developed Fictionary.
Now, we’d love to hear from you, understand your rewriting issues, and incorporate your ideas into Fictionary. To share your thoughts, contact us via Kristina@Fictionary.co.
