Overview
The Corkboard displays each section as an index card showing:
- Section title
- Synopsis (editable inline)
- Word count
- Status indicators
Cards can be dragged to reorder sections visually.
Opening Corkboard View
- Press Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+C
- Or go to View > Corkboard
- Or click the Corkboard icon in the view switcher
The Card Layout
Card Contents
Each card shows:
- Title: Section name (click to edit)
- Synopsis: Brief description (click to edit)
- Word count: Words in the section
- Status: Visual indicator if set
Card Size
Cards are displayed in a responsive grid that adjusts to your window width. More cards fit as you widen the window.
Working with Cards
Viewing
Scroll through your cards to get a bird's-eye view of your book structure. The visual layout helps you see:
- Pacing (longer sections vs shorter)
- Gaps in your outline
- Overall story flow
Editing Synopsis
- Click on a card's synopsis area
- Type your synopsis text
- Click away or press Tab to save
The synopsis is a brief description for planning purposes—it doesn't appear in your exported book.
Editing Title
- Click on the card's title
- Edit the text
- Click away to save
Reordering
Drag cards to rearrange your sections:
1. Click and hold a card
2. Drag to the new position
3. Release to drop
The section order updates in both Corkboard and Binder.
Navigation
Opening a Section
Double-click a card to open that section in the editor.
Returning to Editor
- Press Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+E to return to the editor
- Or click the Editor icon in the view switcher
- Or double-click any card
Use Cases
Outlining
Use Corkboard to plan your story:
1. Create sections for each planned scene
2. Write synopses describing what happens
3. Arrange cards in narrative order
4. Fill in the actual content later
Restructuring
Reorganize your existing content:
1. Open Corkboard to see all sections
2. Identify pacing issues or misplaced scenes
3. Drag cards to better positions
4. Return to editor to continue writing
Progress Review
See your book at a glance:
- Cards with content show word counts
- Empty cards (just synopses) show what's left to write
- Visual density reveals pacing
Story Mapping
Map your story structure:
- Group related scenes mentally
- Identify act breaks
- Spot missing connective scenes
- Balance subplot distribution
Filtering
The Corkboard shows sections from the current book based on your binder selection:
- Select a book to see all its sections
- Matter type grouping (front/main/back) is preserved
Comparison with Other Views
| View | Best For |
|---|---|
| Editor | Writing and editing content |
| Corkboard | Visual overview, reordering, synopsis editing |
| Outliner | Hierarchical view, metadata editing |
Switch between views based on your current task.
Tips
- Write synopses first when outlining a new project
- Use short synopses - just enough to remind you what happens
- Reorder freely - the visual interface makes restructuring intuitive
- Check word counts to balance scene lengths
- Double-click to dive in when you're ready to write a scene