Plot Foundry

Preface.

I'm Brian Palmer, founder of Plot Foundry and creator of Scribi Writer's Studio. Long before I wrote a single line of code, I was (and still am) an author. I've published under various pen names like B.C. Palmer, Brian C. Palmer, and Simon Strange, and I've ghostwritten over a hundred books across genres ranging from romance and cozy mystery to urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic thrillers. Romance was my entry point into indie publishing like it has been for so many of us, but fantasy has always been my true passion.

Early in my career, while focusing on romance, I developed a reliable storytelling process that became second nature. But when I shifted to urban fantasy with the Saint Moreno series, starting with New Shoes (later retitled Saint of Dead Gods, because it turns out a title about shoes isn't all that marketable in urban fantasy!), that process no longer fit. The goals were different, the characters more complex over a longer arc, and the story's scope far broader. I loved the challenge, but it meant at times relearning everything from scratch.

Plate 1:

When I began the second book, I thought I was prepared. The first Saint Moreno book was full of plot threads and hints of backstory. I reread it multiple times, and assembled a small forest of sticky notes. When I actually started planning book two, I lost most of those notes. I tried using a Word doc and a Google doc, but without having that tab pulled up all the time I just forgot it existed, and it wasn't indexed in any meaningful way. I hated having to dig for everything and I hated having to remember to write things down. My brain doesn't do that automatically.

That was where the idea for Scribi first came from. I wanted a tool to help me wrangle my brain, organize my story bible without working so hard for it, and give me tools to track and see the bigger picture without having to dig. I needed something that would be searchable, that would let me relate characters to one another, to locations, to time, to the story itself. And there were a few tools out there that did some of the work but none that did all of the work; and those that came close just required too much effort to use consistently. I don't want to be a master of organization, I want to tell stories! And for me to do that, I have to stay focused on telling the story. Every little distraction is a potential rabbit hole, and that can be ten minutes or it can be two months, a new hobby, and a missed deadline.

When I couldn't find what I needed, like any good ADHDer, I decided to build it myself. Over seven years (before AI code assistance existed, so, on my own) I experimented with programming languages. I built the earliest version with Java, but it was ugly. I tried JavaScript but I didn't want it to be a browser application. I tried C++ but I just don't like the language and making things pretty is too hard. I built versions for web and desktop, changed database architectures, and basically just made it over and over again until I was a competent, full-stack software developer. All the same, it was a tall order, so I did eventually shop around for a firm to take over development and considered a Kickstarter or something. Then there was this pandemic thing that happened and it was back to the drawing board, which was for the best. None of the developers I spoke with understood what was actually needed.

Which made sense: they were coders, not authors. Without the author's perspective, it's hard to create a tool that actually serves the author, you know? So when I got the first ugly working version put together a couple of years ago, I can't tell you how it felt to write with it the first time. Writing with Scribi became a joy, and not just because it managed details for me but because that management felt like it set my creativity free. I could just write again.

I don't want to be a master of organization, I want to tell stories!

Before Scribi, writing felt like juggling storytelling, marketing, and publishing all at once. Scribi eased that pressure, letting me focus on the writing, on the story in front of me. I want other authors to feel that same joy, that renewed eagerness to write, to watch their story worlds come alive, and to take pride in the clever twists and hidden gems they plant for readers. Especially now that there are tools in easy reach that threaten to take the pleasure of the craft away from us.

It's been a journey. Late nights, lots of caffeine, moments of frustration and exhilaration. I've written a few books using various versions of Scribi now, refining features each time, shaping it to serve the storyteller. At this point I've got cloud experience, front-end experience, UI/UX skills, DevOps experience. I've got a portfolio here that you can download and use! I could probably get myself a developer job. But I won't. I built this to fall in love with writing again, and I have! And I believe you will, too.

Scribi is a labor of love. It is a fusion of my passion for storytelling and coding, and a love letter to indie authors everywhere. They are a community that has been so warm and supportive in my journey as an author, and I have wanted to give something back. I hope you feel the same spark when you use it, and that it becomes a trusted companion on your journey to craft stories only you can tell. Especially in these times when the rise of AI feels like it could just replace us entirely one day.

Scribi is just the beginning. My vision is to grow Plot Foundry into a powerful platform not just for planning and writing, but for connecting authors with readers, simplifying publishing across major storefronts, and fostering collaboration among creatives. I have such a vision about where this all will lead, and I hope that you'll join me on that journey.

A note on the assistant.

When ChatGPT arrived, it reshaped the world almost overnight. Soon after, even more powerful large language models emerged, sparking heated debate in indie publishing about AI's role in storytelling. As both an author and a coder, I saw both sides. I understood authors' fears about AI replacing human creativity, and honestly, I share those concerns. At the same time, I recognized AI's potential to be a powerful tool for authors if used in the right way, to enhance the creative process by offloading tasks that take attention away from the core act of storytelling.

Here's what I believe: AI should never write your books for you. The writing process itself, the struggle, the discovery, the crafting of words, that is where the art lives. When we hand that over to an algorithm, we're giving up the very thing that makes storytelling meaningful. Recent studies have shown that people who use AI to complete writing tasks instead of doing the work themselves retain less information¹ and show measurable declines in vocabulary and communication skills.² The writing process isn't just about the end product. It's about the cognitive engagement, the mental exercise, the growth that happens when we wrestle with language and ideas. It's important.

My vision for Plot Foundry has always been to lift authors up, to make the craft more rewarding and enjoyable; not to take the soul out of it. AI has tremendous potential when used thoughtfully: as a librarian of your catalog, an app manager, a practical assistant who can help you stay organized and focused on the work at hand. It can help you track world-building details, spot inconsistencies, or offer a sounding board at 3am when you're stuck and no one else is awake. But it should enhance your creative process, not replace it.

That's why every AI feature in Scribi, from the built-in assistant to the Claude desktop integration, is built to respect the author's voice and honor the craft. Scribi will never generate prose for you. It won't write your scenes or chapters. What it will do is support you: help you organize your thoughts, remember details across a sprawling series, and give you tools to become a better writer. The words, the creativity, and the storytelling will always remain yours. Because at the end of the day, that's what makes your stories worth reading.

1. Dubey, A. (2025, January 7). MIT Study: Relying on AI Makes You Worse at Thinking and Writing. Time.
2. Herold, B. (2025, January 6). Brain Activity Is Lower for Writers Who Use AI. What That Means for Students. Education Week.

A note on access.

Scribi is a tool I built with love for a community I love. My primary interest is making sure authors who want it have access to it. If someone out there wants to look at how Scribi works and build their own version, that's their prerogative. I can't stop them, and if they don't want the backend services, the ongoing updates, and the tested, vetted infrastructure I provide, that's fine. But I do want to be honest about something.

Desktop applications have direct access to your computer: your files, your saved passwords, your personal data. If you download a cracked copy of Scribi or a free knockoff from an untrusted source, you could be handing all of that over to someone you've never met. This isn't a scare tactic. It's the reality of how desktop software works, and it's why I put so much effort into the security architecture behind Scribi and Plot Foundry.

So please, don't pirate it. It's not worth the risk. And if cost is a genuine barrier, email me directly at brian@plotfoundry.com. I'd rather work something out with you than have you download something dangerous. We can figure out a license that works for your situation. I built this for authors, and I want authors to have it. I've priced it to reflect what it can do for you, and committed to never charging users for the next version like some other writing software is known to do. But I also understand that not everyone has the same financial situation, and I want to be as flexible as possible to make sure cost isn't a barrier for someone who really needs it. Just reach out.

Brian Palmer

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