10.2.2 Order events with the timeline

The timeline sorts documents in a folder by time or order and shows them in a visual layout. It’s not for reading text; it’s for seeing structure and progress at a glance.

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What is the timeline view?

Select a folder and choose Timeline in the view switcher. Documents in that folder appear as cards on a horizontal axis. Each document is one event or step.

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What’s on the screen

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1️⃣ Axis (what you sort by)

The default is a horizontal axis.

• Documents are arranged by time or your sort order
• You can see sequence at a glance

You can switch to a vertical axis. With a vertical axis:

• Tracks are split by label (color) or another property
• Each label is one track
• Documents sit in the track that matches their property

So:

• Horizontal axis → check time flow
• Vertical axis → check balance of structure or attributes

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2️⃣ Document cards

Each card can show:

• Title
• Summary
• Status (draft / done, etc.)
• Label (color)

You can drag cards to reorder. Changing a label moves the card to the right track.

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3️⃣ Label tracks

In vertical-axis mode, each label group is its own track (e.g. no label, red, orange, yellow). Documents are grouped by label so you can see emotional beats, conflict phases, or character-focused events.

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When to use it

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Long-form fiction

• Check order of events
• Separate conflict phases
• See where the climax sits
• Split by emotional beat

With the vertical axis you can:

• See how colors (labels) are distributed
• See where one character’s events cluster
• Check balance of conflict vs. calm

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Planning and structure

• See stages and order
• Check execution order
• Check logical flow

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Rewriting

• Find slow or flat sections
• Spot repeated events
• Decide on reordering
• Fix structural imbalance

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What the timeline is for

It answers:

• Does the story rise naturally?
• Are there gaps in the middle?
• Is the climax too early or late?
• Is one label overused?
• Is the structure balanced?

You’re not reading text; you’re viewing story structure from above.

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Timeline vs. multi-view

Multi-view = reader view. Timeline = structural view.

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How to use it well

Write clear summaries for each document. The timeline relies on them. Cards should include:

• One-line summary of the main event
• Change in conflict or tension
• Turning point
• Link to the next event

If the summary is vague, the structure will look vague too.

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Summary

The folder timeline sorts documents by time or order and shows story structure at a glance.

• Cards on an axis
• Horizontal or vertical
• Labels and status
• Reorder and check balance

It’s most powerful when designing or rearranging structure, not while writing the first draft.