Using Premium Project Templates

Premium Project Templates (such as the Romance Roadmap) are complete Plottr project files designed to jumpstart your writing. Unlike standard templates that only affect the Timeline, these packs include pre-built Scene Cards, Character Archetypes, and research Notes tailored to specific genres. Because these are full project files (.pltr    ), you do not "install" them inside the app—you download, open, and duplicate them.

Table of Contents

Getting Started

Here are a few things to know about Premium Templates before you begin:

  • Files, not Features: Premium templates are standalone project files (.pltr   ). You open them like any other book.
  • The Original File: Treat the downloaded file as a permanent template. Never write your book inside the original file. Always duplicate it first so you have a fresh copy for every new story.
  • Classic vs. Pro:
    • Classic (Offline): You save the file to your computer and open it.
    • Pro (Cloud): You must upload the file to your Dashboard to save it to the cloud.

Downloading & Setup

To use your new templates, you need to get them out of the .zip    file and into Plottr.

  1. Download & Unzip
    1. Download: Click the link in your purchase email to download the template pack (e.g. Romance Roadmap.zip)  
    2. Unzip: Navigate to your Downloads folder.
      1. Windows: Right-click the file and select Extract All.
      2. Mac: Double-click the file.

Warning: Do not open the files while they are still inside the Zip folder. Plottr cannot save changes to zipped files. Always extract them first.

  1. Register the Template:

Follow the steps for your version of Plottr:

For Plottr Classic (Offline)

  1. Move: Drag the unzipped .pltr    files to your permanent Documents/Template or Plottr folder.
  2. Open: Open Plottr.
  3. Check: Look at your Recent Projects list.
    1. If the template is there: You are done. Skip to "Starting a New Project."
    2. If the template is missing: Click Open Existing File.
  4. Select: Navigate to the folder and open the template (e.g. Romance (Contemporary)).  
  5. Close: Once it opens, close it. It is now registered in your Recent Projects.

For Plottr Pro (Cloud)

  1. Upload: Go to your Pro Dashboard.
  2. Click: Select Upload/Open Existing File.
  3. Select: Choose the unzipped .pltr    file from your Downloads folder.
  4. Wait: Plottr will upload the template to your cloud account. It is now saved in your Recent Projects list.

Starting a New Project

Important: The downloaded file is your "Original" copy. Never write your book inside the Original file.

  1. Go to your Dashboard.
  2. Hover over the template file.
  3. Click the Duplicate icon (two overlapping squares).
  4. Name your new project (for example, My New Romance Book).
  5. Click Save.

You can now work from your duplicated copy while keeping the original template file untouched.

Where to Find the Content

Once you have duplicated the project, here is where your new tools are located inside Plottr:

  • The Beats (Timeline): Click the Timeline tab to see your plotlines. Click any scene card to open it, then select the Attributes tab. This is where you will find the Goals, Key Points, and Traps for that specific beat.
  • The Archetypes (Characters): Click the Characters tab. You will see character profiles (e.g., "The Hero," "The Rival") pre-filled with motivation, conflict suggestions, and shadow traits. They will be listed under the Attribute tab.
  • The World (Places): Click the Places tab to find genre-specific setting templates and location ideas.
  • The Guidebook (Notes): Click the Notes tab. This section contains the "Instruction Manual" for the template, including definitions of the beats, research guides, and tips for the genre.

How to Purchase the Premium Project Templates

Premium Project Templates are available for purchase directly on our website.

Where to Buy

You can purchase templates from their dedicated sales pages.

Currently available:

To purchase:

  1. Visit the template page.
  2. Click the purchase button.
  3. Complete checkout.
  4. Follow the access instructions provided after purchase.
  5. Review this page on how to use your Premium Project Template.

New Premium Templates are released regularly, so check back for updates.

Known Limitation

Premium Project Templates currently do not appear in the Template menu inside Plottr.

This is a known limitation.

Plottr’s built-in Template system is designed to save Timelines only, not full project files. Premium Project Templates are delivered as complete project files, which means they must be opened like a standard project rather than selected from the Template menu.

How to Create Your Working Copy

After downloading and seeing it on the Recent Project list:

  1. Go to your Dashboard.
  2. Hover over the template file.
  3. Click the Duplicate icon (two overlapping squares).
  4. Name your new project (for example, My New Romance Book).
  5. Click Save.

You can now work from your duplicated copy while keeping the original template file untouched.

We’re aware this process adds an extra step and are reviewing ways to improve this in future updates.


If you need additional assistance, please contact us via support.

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