Planning Setting Instructions

Planning your setting with the CQ StoryHammer crafting methodology requires three different areas to jot down information. This can be done with paper and writing utensil or digitally – either way works fine as long as you allow yourself three separate areas for containing information. The areas should be titled: Plot Puzzles, Concepts, and Elements.

Cryptiquest has provided two tools to help with these three areas: the Crafting Table and the Utility Drawer.

  1. Crafting Table: worksheet that can carry out various planning functions.
  2. Utility Drawer: worksheet with a layout to quickly jot down notes about potential content to plan.

Using the Crafting Table for Plot Puzzles

There are two major sections for the Crafting Table. At the top of the page you write the table type (in this case, it is titled “Plot Puzzle”), the Story Name (a temporary “code name” is fine), and the name of the Storycrafter (your name).

In the table, there are four columns with dotted lines serving as borders. Using your writing utensil, draw a solid line over the vertical, dotted lines for each column, making four distinct columns. The first column has the title of “ID.” You need to write the titles for the other three columns as: PUZZLE | SOLVED | NICKNAME.

Now that the page is ready, you will list out each puzzle for the setting you are working on and as you ideate and expand, you will track the progress towards clarity. Essentially, each puzzle you list is a question or deliverable about the setting that needs to be answered in order to reach clarity.

Steps for each puzzle

  1. Write the ID number in the ID column. The first one will start with 1 and increment numerically as you create more puzzles.
  2. Write the puzzle in the form of a question or statement in the PUZZLE column, keeping one statement or question per ID number. Keep the puzzle in the PUZZLE column. If you run out of space in the PUZZLE column, continue writing on line below. Keep doing this as you need to in order to finish writing the puzzle.
  3. Draw a horizontal, solid line over the dots under the final row taken up by the puzzle.
  4. In the NICKNAME column, write a one-to-three word nickname for this puzzle.
  5. You will eventually come to clarity in the puzzle after ideating and expanding. Once that happens, the puzzle is solved which can be documented by writing an X in the SOLVED column.

Using the Crafting Table for Concepts

Like above, there are two major sections for the Crafting Table. At the top of the page you write the table type (in this case, it is titled “Concept”), the Story Name (a temporary “code name” is fine), and the name of the Storycrafter (your name).

In the table, there are four columns with dotted lines serving as borders. Using your writing utensil, draw a solid line over the vertical, dotted lines for each column, making four distinct columns. The first column has the title of “ID.” You need to write the titles for the other three columns as: CONCEPT | RATING | NOTES.

Now that the page is ready, you will start writing questions and answers for the puzzles you are working on, marking false leads or dead ends and noting reminders or reasons. Essentially, each concept answers questions to uncover the path toward clarity.

Steps for each concept

  1. Write the ID number in the ID column. The first one will start with 1 and increment numerically as you create more mysteries.
  2. Write one concept in the form of a question or statement in the CONCEPT column, keeping one statement or question per ID number. Keep the concept in the CONCEPT column – if you run out of space in the CONCEPT column, continue writing on line below. Keep doing this as you need to in order to finish writing the concept.
  3. Draw a horizontal, solid line over the dots under the final row taken up by the concept.
  4. If you determine at some point that the concept is a false lead or dead end then mark it with an X in the RATING column (do not cross out the line as these ideas might be useful in the future).
  5. Write any quick notes about the concept in the NOTES column. Typically these kinds of notes are things like reasons it was X’d in the rating or reasons why it pushes toward clarity.

Using the Utility Drawer

There are two major sections for the Crafting Table. At the top of the page, write the support type (Drawer 1), the Story Name (a temporary “code name” is fine), and the name of the Storycrafter (your name).

The table is split up into several individual compartments. Any time you discover new content that needs to be fleshed out, you will document the content in a new compartment and add details to it as you ideate and expand. Essentially, each item you mark here is a potential new content type that needs to be researched.

Steps for each element

  1. Write the element name over the word “NAME” in a new compartment.
  2. Write the element type (setting/plot/character/antagonist/etc.) for the element in gray line.
  3. Write the purpose(s) for the element on the line(s) below. Each line should contain only one purpose though an element might only have one purpose. (Example purposes: “guards fortress”, “lair of antagonist”, “clue leading to antagonist’s lair” etc.).
  4. Add to the purpose lines or change names or update the compartments as needed while crafting your content.