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Plan with the Corkboard and Outline

See your sections as index cards or as a table, reorder them, write a synopsis for each, and track status and word targets.

Time
4 minutes
Steps
6

Before (and while) you write, it helps to step back and see the whole argument. The Corkboard shows each section as an index card with a short synopsis. The Outline shows the same sections as a table with their status, words and citations. Both are views of the same manuscript: change something in one and it changes everywhere.

  1. Choosing Corkboard at the top of the Writing lens

    Step 1Open the Corkboard

    In the Writing lens, choose Corkboard at the top (next to Editor and Outline). Each section is a numbered card with its title, synopsis, words, status and citations.

    Use Cards to switch between Medium and Large cards. The Board menu starts at Whole manuscript; a card with subsections lets you open them, and Up a level brings you back.

  2. A card's menu with Move earlier

    Step 2Drag cards to reorder

    Drag a card by its handle to a new place, or open the card's ... menu and choose Move earlier or Move later. The order changes in the Structure panel and in the compiled manuscript too. The same menu has Open in editor.

  3. Write a synopsis and Suggest synopsis on a card

    Step 3Write a synopsis

    Choose Write a synopsis on a card and say what the section argues, in two or three sentences. A card that already has one says Edit synopsis. The foot of the board counts the sections still without synopsis.

    Tip: a synopsis keeps you honest. If you can't say what a section argues in two sentences, it may be two sections.

    You can also press Suggest synopsis, which shows about how many credits it will use. The AI drafts a synopsis for the section from your papers; it arrives as Suggested synopsis, and you choose Use it, Write my own or Discard.

  4. Label by Status, with the status colours

    Step 4Label cards by status

    Set Label by to Status to colour each card by how far along it is: To do, Draft, Revised or Final. Choose Nothing for plain cards. Change a section's status in the editor, or in the Outline.

  5. The Outline table with synopsis, status, words and cites

    Step 5Switch to the Outline

    Choose Outline. Each row is a section with its Synopsis, Status, Words and Cites. Click a synopsis or status to change it, or click a row to open that section. Use Columns to hide what you don't need, and the status menu to show only sections with one status.

    Under the table, the summary shows your Words, your Citations, Unused papers (papers in the project you have never cited) and the AI contribution (how many AI suggestions you kept).

    The Evidence column is not filled in yet: evidence for each section comes in a later update.

  6. Export outline as a spreadsheet or Markdown

    Step 6Export the outline

    Choose Export outline, then Spreadsheet (CSV) or Markdown. The file is made in your browser and saved to your computer, ready to share with a supervisor.

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