plotthat

Plotthat is a software concept and open standard for representing narrative plots as structured data. It aims to provide a formal model for plotting events, character goals, and emotional arcs, enabling writers and developers to plan, compare, and visualize storylines.

In Plotthat, plots are represented as graphs with nodes for scenes, beats, or acts and edges describing transitions, causal links, or pacing shifts. Each node carries attributes such as point of view, stakes, tension level, and outcome. Characters can be modeled with state machines or separate linked arcs, allowing analysis of intersection points and how character goals influence plot direction.

The standard includes templates for common narrative structures (three-act structure, hero's journey, save-the-cat beats) and supports branching to explore alternate versions. It supports pacing metrics, moment-to-moment tension curves, and exporting to formats suitable for manuscripts or screenplay software. Tools include a web-based editor, a REST or GraphQL API, and client libraries in JavaScript and Python.

History and use: Plotthat emerged from an open-source community initiative in 2019 and has since been adopted by writers, educators, and game designers. The project emphasizes interoperability, allowing data to flow between writing apps, visualization tools, and game design pipelines. Reception has been mixed: praised for its explicit modeling of narrative structure but criticized for complexity and the learning curve.

See also: narrative theory, plot structure, data visualization, writing software.