> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guides.livingwriter.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guides.livingwriter.com/product-documentation/mobile-app-guide/boards/planning-board.md). # Planning Board The Planning Board helps you organize and manage your work through the Standard Grid and the Freeform Grid. You can create planning points for specific scenes, elements, outlines, or chapters, and customize them however you like. It’s designed to give you an easy, flexible way to track your plot and keep your story moving in the right direction. ## Standard Grid The Standard Grid is a structural tool designed to give writers a clear, organized overview of their manuscript. It works by arranging chapters, plots, and scenes into columns, so each element can be tracked side by side. This column-based layout makes it easier to see how different storylines progress, where they intersect, and whether pacing feels balanced.

You can add a Planning Point by clicking the “+” icon in the column. This action opens a new window where you’ll be prompted to choose from five distinct options, each serving a different organizational purpose: * **Outline**: Insert any outlines you’ve already created within your manuscript. Useful for keeping the big-picture structure visible. * **Scene**: Select a scene from one of your existing chapters to anchor the grid with actual narrative content. * **Custom**: Add something specific that doesn’t fit neatly into the other categories—like a note about a character. * **Element**: Pull in any existing elements from your manuscript, like a character, object, or place. * **Empty**: Create a placeholder that functions as a pause or scene break, giving you flexibility in pacing and transitions. This system ensures that every Planning Point you add contributes to a more structured, navigable manuscript. It’s not just about filling columns—it’s about giving yourself a clear roadmap where outlines, scenes, and creative notes coexist in harmony.

If you wish to modify your Plot Point, you can simply tap on it or tap on the 3 dots at the right. You can also add it to your manuscript, or delete it.

You can add as many Planning Points as you need, giving you complete flexibility in shaping your manuscript's structure. Each point can be moved up or down within the column, allowing you to reorganize them at any time. This means you’re not locked into a fixed order—whether you want to adjust pacing, rearrange scenes, or shift the focus of a chapter, you can easily drag Planning Points to reflect the flow you envision.

Now, let's talk a bit about the columns on each side. You can create new columns on either the right or left side of your grid, expanding the layout to better organize your manuscript. If you decide to rearrange them, simply tap the six dots located at the top right of a column and drag them left or right. This drag‑and‑drop functionality gives you full control over the structure, letting you group related plots, scenes, or elements together and adjust the visual flow of your manuscript as it evolves.

Lastly, you can also modify your board's name by pulling up the bottom menu and clicking on the 3 dots on the right.

## Freeform Grid The Freeform Grid gives you a more interactive way to shape your manuscript. Instead of being bound to a strict column layout, it opens up a flexible space where you can drop in chapters, weave in elements, and build connections between them. Notes can be added wherever they’re needed, and the overall structure becomes something you can see and adjust at a glance You can access it from the bottom menu:

Now, the Freeform Grid functions similarly to the Standard Grid. You can add elements to your board by tapping on the icons at the top:

You can easily connect your board's elements by tapping on them and dragging the dots. This is an easy way to keep track of the connection between them.

Now, let's talk about Groups. Groups are a way to visually box in and organize your elements within the Freeform Grid. By placing related chapters, notes, or story components inside a Group, you create clear sections that keep everything neatly contained. This makes it easier to manage complex manuscripts, since you can cluster connected ideas together rather than leaving them scattered across the grid. Think of Groups as containers: they don’t change the content itself, but they give structure to how you see and interact with it. Whether you’re tracking character arcs, thematic threads, or plotlines, using Groups helps maintain clarity and keeps your Freeform Grid from becoming overwhelming. You can create a group by tapping on the icon in the top menu:

You can drag your elements into it, as well as expand the box to fit as many as you like. You can remove it as well simply by clicking on the ''X'' at the top right. Also, you can modify the Zoom by tapping on the option at the top, or simply dragging the screen with your fingers. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://guides.livingwriter.com/product-documentation/mobile-app-guide/boards/planning-board.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.