About the Chapter Planner
A chapter plan keeps a long project manageable. Instead of facing a 60,000-word book, you face one 4,000-word chapter with a clear purpose. This planner gives each chapter a title, a one-line purpose, key points, a target word count and a status, and it keeps running totals so you always know where the book stands.
Add chapters by hand, or import a full structure from the Book Outline Generator. Reorder chapters with the Up and Down buttons, update status as you write, and watch the progress bar fill. Everything is saved automatically in this browser, and nothing is uploaded.
When you need your plan elsewhere, export it as a CSV for a spreadsheet or as a plain text file for your writing app. To turn your total word target into a schedule, try the book deadline calculator.
How It Works
Chapter numbers update automatically as you add, remove and move chapters.
Total target words is the sum of every valid chapter target. A target that is not a number is flagged on that chapter and left out of the total until fixed.
Progress is the number of chapters marked Done divided by the number of chapters. The status breakdown shows how many are drafting, revising or not started.
Formula
- Total target
- Total words = sum of all chapter targets
- Progress
- Progress = Chapters marked Done ÷ Total chapters
Example
Importing a Standard self-help outline on "morning routines"
- Import from outline adds 10 chapters with 45,100 target words in total.
- Mark chapters 1 to 3 as Done (3,600 + 4,500 + 5,000 = 13,100 words).
- Progress: 3 ÷ 10 = 30%.
The summary shows 10 chapters, 45,100 target words, 3 done (13,100 target words complete) and 3 of 10 chapters done on the progress bar.
Important Notes
- Your plan is stored in this browser's local storage. Clearing site data or using another device or browser will not show it, so export regularly.
- Clear all asks for confirmation and cannot be undone. Removing a single chapter can be undone right away.
- Progress counts chapters, not words actually written.
- The planner holds up to 200 chapters, with up to 500,000 target words per chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my chapter plan private?
Yes. It is saved only in your browser on this device and is never uploaded.
How do I move my plan to another computer?
Export it as CSV or text. You can then keep it in a spreadsheet or writing app on any device.
What happens when I import an outline?
If the planner is empty, the outline's chapters are added. If you already have chapters, you choose whether to replace them or add the outline after them.
Why is a chapter's word target not counted?
Targets must be whole numbers, such as 3000 or 3,000. If a chapter shows an error under Target words, fix the number and the total updates.
Can I use this for fiction?
Yes. Use the purpose field for what the chapter does in the story and the key points for scenes or beats.
What do the status options mean?
Not started, Drafting, Revising and Done. Only Done counts toward progress, so the bar reflects chapters that are truly finished.
Related KDP Tools
- Book Outline GeneratorGenerate a structured chapter outline with word targets for your book.
- Book Deadline CalculatorWork out daily word targets or your finish date from your writing pace.
- Word Count CalculatorCount words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, with page and reading-time estimates.
- KDP Page Count CalculatorConvert word count to estimated pages, or pages to words, by trim and font size.
- Book Launch ChecklistAn interactive checklist from manuscript to post-launch, saved in your browser.
- Book Title GeneratorGenerate title ideas from your genre, topic, audience, tone and keywords.