Planning
Plan is where the draft takes shape before the caret moves. At /plan you work in an
outline: each section has a title, a status, a synopsis, notes and the works it depends on.
When a section is ready, Write this section opens the same draft in Write with that
section selected.
Plan and Write share one draft (?d= in the address) and one outline (?n= for the
selected section). Switch between them without losing your place.
The layout
Section titled “The layout”Three resizable panes:
| Pane | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Draft picker | Choose or create a draft to plan. |
| Outline | The section tree — add, reorder, pin works, attach research. |
| Aside | Collect (library search), Research (filed summaries), Topics, or Read (a PDF beside the tree). |
On a narrow screen the library moves into a Collect overlay; the outline stays central.
The outline
Section titled “The outline”Each row is one section. Select a row to edit its details below the tree:
- Title and status (
outline,draft,revised,done) - Synopsis — what this part of the argument is for
- Word target and progress against it
- Notes — free-text reminders; a work can be attached to a note
- Collected works — sources pinned to the section, with page references and roles (Cited / Context / Excluded)
Add section inserts a new row. The row menu offers insert above, below or inside; move up, down, in or out; collect works; delete (with confirmation if the section has children).
Drag works or captured passages from the Read pane onto a section or note. Drag sections to reorder (you cannot drop a section into its own subtree).
Keyboard shortcuts match the Write binder: arrows to move; Enter adds a sibling section; Tab / Shift+Tab indent or outdent; Ctrl+arrows move the section in the tree.
Collecting works
Section titled “Collecting works”Collect works (toolbar or row menu) opens the library aside. Search and filter, select works, then Add N to “section”. You can also drag a selection onto the outline.
Each pinned work can carry several page references:
- Type a locator by hand
- Pick from indexed Pages or Highlights (which also stores the quote)
- Capture a passage in the Read tab and pin it to the selected section
Research picker
Section titled “Research picker”The Research tab lists summaries, reviews and answers you have filed. Open one to read it beside the outline, then Add to section to attach it as a plan note with a link back to the document.
Read beside the plan
Section titled “Read beside the plan”The Read tab opens a work’s PDF. Select a passage and drag it onto a section, or use Pin to section on the capture bar. The locator and quote land on whichever section is selected in the outline.
Handoff to Write
Section titled “Handoff to Write”Write this section on a row opens /write?d=…&n=… with the same draft and section.
The Write Plan tab shows the whole outline read-only, with light edits to synopsis and
notes; structural changes belong here in Plan.
See Writing for the editor, research panel and citations.