19d • General discussion
I Am Back & Scene Tracker Tip
Been quiet a while on Visa run to renew Vietnam Visa and other priorities. Anyhow here is a great hack I have created in GPT and as I progress my book I get GPT to cross check for my Google Sheets workbook. I hope this helps.
One of the biggest breakthroughs in getting Digital Alcatraz back on track wasn’t writing more…
It was organising the story properly.
I built a simple but powerful Google Sheets structure to manage the entire book — scenes, pacing, tension, and character progression — all in one place.
Here’s how it works:
Core Columns I Use:
- ACT / DAY → Keeps the timeline tight (critical for high-tension stories)
- SCENE # / TITLE → Quick reference and easy navigation
- LOCATION → Ensures continuity and avoids logical gaps
- POV (Point of View) → Tracks narrative consistency
- PURPOSE → Why the scene exists (this stops filler instantly)
- OUTCOME → What changes by the end of the scene
- TENSION LEVEL → Helps control pacing across the book
- KEY EVENT / BEAT → The memorable moment in the scene
- CHARACTERS INVOLVED → Avoids character drift or disappearance
- NOTES / FIX LATER → Keeps writing flow uninterrupted
Why This Works
It turns your book into something you can see — not just feel.
You instantly spot:
- Slow sections
- Missing tension
- Repetitive scenes
- Weak transitions
It also makes it incredibly easy to:
- Write fast
- Edit cleanly
- Stay consistent across 100,000+ words
How You Can Use This (Any Genre)
This isn’t just for cybercrime or thrillers.
You can tailor it easily:
- Romance → Add columns like Emotional Shift, Relationship Progression
- Fantasy → Track World-Building Elements, Magic Rules, Lore Introduced
- Crime/Thriller → Add Clues, Red Herrings, Investigation Progress
- Memoir → Use Reflection, Lesson, Emotional State
- Self-Help → Structure by Core Idea, Example, Takeaway
Simple Rule That Changed Everything
👉 Every scene must have a clear purpose + outcome
If it doesn’t… it doesn’t belong.
This one system has taken me from scattered ideas…to a structured, finishable book in days.
If you’re stuck writing — don’t write more.
Organise first. The writing becomes easy after that.
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I Am Back & Scene Tracker Tip
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