So does Jami!
As a successful "pantser," she writes her stories by the seat of her pants rather than by plotting scenes in advance. But in real life, she's a former project manager who lives for plans and checklists.
Now as a bonus for all of us, she puts her organizational skills to work by creating worksheets, templates, and more!
The writing community is fortunate to have many great resources. Based on things she learned from phenomenal teachers like Larry Brooks, Michael Hauge, and Martha Alderson, Jami developed these worksheets* to help all writers, from plotters to pantsers (those who write by the seat of their pants).
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Most Worksheets Listed on This Page Are Freely Available!
(No Email/Sign Up or Purchase Required 
)
Let Jami know at her Contact page if there are other worksheets you’d like her to create. Sign up for her newsletter to receive her blog posts and hear about all additions she makes to this page.
Scroll down to see all of Jami's worksheets,
or click to jump to the section you want…
* With the exceptions of the Save the Cat Beat Sheet (which was developed by Elizabeth Davis) and the tools offered by her guest posters, all worksheets on this page were created by Jami Gold.
NOTE: Jami loves sharing these worksheets, and if you want to share too, be sure to bring others here to this page rather than sharing a link to just one of the worksheets. That way you won't need to wonder if the link will work for them, and they’ll be able to download all they want. Thanks!
Beat sheets are simply a tool for tracking events (story beats) in our story. By highlighting the structure of our story, we can ensure we have all the beats necessary for good storytelling, check for increasing tension/stakes, and look for pacing issues.
Most beat sheets focus on plot events (plot-arc oriented), but a few focus on character or romance arc events.
Plot-Arc Focused Beat Sheets & Templates
Elizabeth Davis created this spreadsheet based on Blake Snyder's Save the Cat writing craft book. His beat sheet is great for organizing a story during drafting or revisions, and this spreadsheet makes the process easier.
Jami talks more about how to use the Save the Cat spreadsheet for revisions here.
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Download the Save the Cat Beat Sheet:
Elizabeth's website no longer exists, but her files are available above.
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
Inspired by Elizabeth's Save the Cat spreadsheet, Jami decided to do the same with Larry Brooks's story structure from Story Engineering, using turning points (plot points and "pinch points") in the proper location to make the strongest story.
Jami talks more about how to use the Story Structure spreadsheet here.
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Download the Story Engineering Story Structure Beat Sheet:
Adapted from Larry Brooks's Story Engineering by Jami Gold
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
For those who can't decide how to approach story planning, check out the spreadsheet Jami created to combine Elizabeth's Save the Cat spreadsheet with Larry's story structure from Story Engineering. This spreadsheet includes both the beats from the Save the Cat beat sheet and the parts and milestones from Story Engineering.
Jami talks about how to use this Master Spreadsheet here.
(See below for a matching Scrivener template.)
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Download the Master Beat Sheet by Jami Gold:
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
Jami designed this Scrivener template to go along with the beats from the Master Beat Sheet (a combination of the Save the Cat and Story Engineering). We can input the target word counts for each beat from the Master Beat Sheet and then track our progress while we draft.
Check this post for instructions on using this template with your story and word count targets.
(Need import and usage instructions for Scrivener templates?
Note: Scrivener template files can't simply be "opened.")
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Download Jami Gold's Master Beat Sheet Scrivener Template:
Get Instructions for Scrivener Templates!
Scrivener template files can't simply be "opened," but Jami created this step-by-step guide to help you with download, import, and usage instructions. (Also includes word-count worksheet!)
Beat sheets can be intimidating for those who write by the seat of their pants or those new to beat sheets. All those beats with odd names to fill in can be downright confusing. That's where the Basic Beat Sheet can help. It includes just 4 major beats and 4 optional minor beats. No clutter. No confusion. Don't let those other beat sheets intimidate you.
(See below for a matching Scrivener template,
and check out the workshop
Beat Sheet Basics: Know Your Story's Structure
to learn more about how to use this tool.)
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Download Jami Gold's Basic Beat Sheet:
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
*psst* Check Out Jami's Workshop for the Basic Beat Sheet:
Don’t know what beat sheets are or how to use them?Beat Sheet Basics: Know Your Story’s Structure
Never fear—learn the terminology, uses, and ways to adapt beat sheets to our writing methods.
Jami designed this basic Scrivener template to go along with the beats from the Basic Beat Sheet (4 major beats and 4 minor beats). We can input the target word counts for each beat from the Basic Beat Sheet and then track our progress while we draft.
Check this post for instructions on using this template with your story and word count targets.
(Need import and usage instructions for Scrivener templates?
Note: Scrivener template files can't simply be "opened.")
(click for larger image)
Download Jami Gold's Basic Beat Sheet Scrivener Template:
Get Instructions for Scrivener Templates!
Scrivener template files can't simply be "opened," but Jami created this step-by-step guide to help you with download, import, and usage instructions. (Also includes word-count worksheet!)
Character-Arc Focused Beat Sheets
Our characters must go through an internal journey that should mesh with the external plot. Most plotting techniques concentrate on the external plot points but don't explain how the internal conflict is resolved during the story. Michael Hauge's workshop, "Using Inner Conflict to Create Powerful Love Stories," provides us:
- a framework for strong romances (or love interests),
- a way to show that strong relationship, and
- a method to combine that inner journey with the external plot.
(Janice Hardy explains how this same method can apply to non-romance stories here.)
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Download the Six Stage Plot Structure Beat Sheet:
Adapted from Michael Hauge by Jami Gold
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
Note: These worksheets are available exclusively to attendees of Jami's Lost Your Pants workshop.
These worksheets are plot-arc and character-arc focused.
Jami created these worksheets to help writers build their story up from essential “need to know” plot points and character development steps. This story-development process establishes the big picture for our story—and especially helps those who write by the seat of their pants make “fast drafting” techniques work for them.
Note: These tools are available only to attendees of Jami’s workshop: Lost Your Pants? The Impatient Writer’s Guide to Plotting a Story.
*psst* Check Out Jami's Workshop Sharing These Tools:
Offered as an OnDemand Workshop for a Limited Time!Lost Your Pants? – On Demand
Do you write by the seat of your pants?
Do you want to write faster?
Learn techniques and receive tools developed especially for pantsers.
Romance-Arc Focused Beat Sheet & Template
In a romance, we have the external (plot) arc, at least two internal (character) arcs for the two (or more) protagonists, and the Romance Arc—the growth of the relationship over the course of the story. That's a lot of arcs and plot points to juggle on a standard beat sheet. By focusing strictly on the romance arc, and how the relationship develops between the characters, we can see our romance stories on a deeper level.
(See below for a matching Scrivener template,
and check out the workshop
Between the Sheets: Create a Deeper Romance with the Romance Beat Sheet
to learn more about how to use this tool.)
(click for larger image)
Download Jami Gold's Romance Beat Sheet:
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
*psst* Check Out Jami's Workshop for the Romance Beat Sheet:
Not sure how to use Jami’s popular Romance Beat Sheet? Learn romance-specific story structure to create more-compelling character arcs and a deeper romance arc.Between the Sheets: Create a Deeper Romance with the Romance Beat Sheet
Jami designed this Romance Scrivener template to go along with the beats from her Romance Beat Sheet. We can input the target word counts for each beat from the Romance Beat Sheet and then track our progress while we draft.
Check this post for instructions on using this template with your story and word count targets.
(Need import and usage instructions for Scrivener templates?
Note: Scrivener template files can't simply be "opened.")
(click for larger image)
Download Jami Gold's Romance Beat Sheet Scrivener Template:
Get Instructions for Scrivener Templates!
Scrivener template files can't simply be "opened," but Jami created this step-by-step guide to help you with download, import, and usage instructions. (Also includes word-count worksheet!)
- Have a story idea? Great! However, that's just the first step in creating a good story. At some point—either during drafting or revising—we want to ensure our story has "good bones" and all the elements it needs.
- Ever read a scene that didn't feel like it had a point? Avoid that problem in your writing by making sure your scenes—especially ones that seem "blah" during the revision process—include several reasons for existing.
Whether we're just getting started or revising what we have, these worksheets can help us get our story and scenes into shape.
Story Improvement: Story Strengthening Worksheets
If we've ever wondered whether one of our completed stories contained all the essential elements or had the "bones" of a good story, this worksheet might help. If we have all these elements, we likely have a story—and not just any story, but a story that’s already strong, has a purpose and arc, and can be made even stronger by bringing out the aspects that will create resonance within readers.
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Download the Essential Elements of a Story Worksheet:
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
Based on John Truby's insights in The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller, this spreadsheet contains two tabs that cover four big-picture aspects of our planning and revision process:
- Story Ideas (brainstorming)
- Story Premise (the "what")
- Character Arc (the "who")
- Plot Arc, Story World, and Symbols (the "how")
We can use the questions on this worksheet to develop our stories before drafting, or we can use the questions to more fully develop our stories, characters, and themes during revisions.
For more information, check out Jami's post introducing this worksheet and John Truby's insights.
(STORY PREMISE DEVELOPMENT: click for larger image)
(CHARACTER & PLOT ARC: click for larger image)
Download the Story Development & Revision Worksheet:
Adapted from John Truby by Jami Gold
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
Writing Craft: Scene Strengthening Worksheets
To ensure our scenes aren't too heavy with info dump or backstory, we should include at least three major elements in each scene. This is a simple checklist of the breakdown of potential elements by level of importance (as Janice Hardy explains here).
Jami talks more about these scene elements and why we should pay attention here, and she shares more insight into how to evaluate these elements here.
(To check multiple scenes, the Elements of a Good Scene Worksheet below might be more helpful.)
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Download the Elements of a Good Scene Checklist:
Files are available for MS Word '07/10 (and later) versions in .docx
and for earlier MS Word versions in .doc
This spreadsheet covers the same scene elements as the checklist above but formats the information so we can work on multiple scenes at once. This worksheet combines information from Jami's post here and Janice Hardy's post here, and more insights can be found here.
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Download the Elements of a Good Scene Worksheet:
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
Sometimes as writers, we need help organizing and improving more than just our storytelling or writing-craft skills. These worksheets cover a few non-writing aspects of our publishing career:
- working with beta readers (can also be used for self-editing)
- developing a business plan for our writing career
- decision-making tool to help us choose and prioritize
Based on the contest scoresheets used to analyze stories, Jami created a "master list" of points to consider when we beta read or when we ask others to beta read for us. We can use the questions on this worksheet to organize our thoughts, prompt discussions, or self-edit our work.
For more information, check out Jami's post introducing this worksheet and sharing more beta reading tips.
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Download the Beta Reading Worksheet:
Files are available for MS Word '07/10 (and later) versions in .docx
and for earlier MS Word versions in .doc
Even artists such as writers can benefit from creating a business plan. We can use the sections on this worksheet to recognize what’s important to us, brainstorm our goals, and design a plan to get from Point A to Point B while avoiding distractions.
For more information, check out Jami's post introducing this worksheet and sharing more tips on what we can include on our business plan.
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Download the Business Plan for Writers Worksheet:
Files are available for MS Word '07/10 (and later) versions in .docx
and for earlier MS Word versions in .doc
Facing a decision and you're not sure which choice to make? This tool helps us make decisions by ranking which options are most important to us—especially helpful for figuring out our goals and priorities.
For more information, check out Jami's post introducing this worksheet and sharing more tips on how we can use it to help us figure out our priorities.
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Download the Paired Comparison Analysis Worksheet:
Files are available for MS Excel '07/10 (and later) versions in .xlsx
and for earlier MS Excel versions in .xls
Jami is passionate about helping others along their writing journey, and the more writers she can assist, the more fulfilled she feels. That means the best (non-monetary) ways to show appreciation all involve letting even more writers know how you've found her resources helpful:
- Share a testimonial about how Jami's resources helped you in order to inspire other writers.
- Share links to Jami's site and resources to let others know what help is available.
- Suggest Jami's site to "best of" lists for writing resources (such as the annual Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers list) to ensure more writers are aware of her resources.
Or Buy a Book for You or a Friend! *grin*
