Free template · Writing & Storytelling
Story Bible Template
A story bible is a single reference that records the facts of your story: who each character is, where things are, what happened when, and the rules of the world. Writers use it to keep details consistent across chapters and drafts, especially in long books and series.
Who it's for: Novelists, series writers, and anyone who has ever changed a character's eye colour by accident in chapter twelve.
Free, no email needed. Google Sheets: download the .xlsx, then File > Import > Upload.
Preview
These are the real columns with example rows. Click Try it here to type your own rows and download them.
| Entry | Type | Key facts | First appears | Changes over story | Linked to | Continuity notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mara Voss | Character | Left-handed, scar over right brow, 34 | Ch. 2 | Loses the family estate in Ch. 19 | Harlow House, Eli Voss | Ch. 7 says right-handed: fix |
| Harlow House | Place | Three floors, east wing closed since the fire | Ch. 1 | Sold in Ch. 19 | Mara Voss | Fire year is 1998 everywhere |
| The Ledger | Object | Green leather, missing pages 40 to 52 | Ch. 5 | Found by Eli in Ch. 14 | Eli Voss | |
| The fire | Event | Night of 3 March 1998 | Ch. 1 (mentioned) | Shown in flashback Ch. 11 | Harlow House | Check season in flashback |
What goes in each column
| Column | What goes in it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | The thing being recorded | Mara Voss |
| Type | Character, Place, Object, Event, Rule | Character |
| Key facts | The details that must stay consistent | Left-handed, scar over right brow, 34 |
| First appears | Chapter where readers first meet it | Ch. 2 |
| Changes over story | How it is different by the end | Loses the family estate in Ch. 19 |
| Linked to | Related entries | Harlow House, Eli Voss |
| Continuity notes | Things you have already contradicted or must watch | Ch. 7 says right-handed: fix |
Why these columns: Continuity errors come from facts that live only in your head or scattered through drafts. One row per fact, with where it first appears and how it changes, is the smallest structure that catches them.
How to use it in 5 steps
- Start with entries you already know you keep checking: names, ages, places.
- Add a row the moment you invent a fact in a draft. Later you will not remember it.
- Use Type to filter: characters while drafting dialogue, places while writing scenes.
- Record every contradiction you spot in Continuity notes, then fix them in one editing pass.
- Before sending to beta readers or an editor, read down Continuity notes and clear it.
Spreadsheet, dedicated software, or Notion?
| Option | Best for | Falls short when |
|---|---|---|
| This spreadsheet | Fast to fill in, easy to search | Long character notes get cramped; no pages per entry |
| Scrivener or a writing app | Drafting manuscripts | Reference notes are harder to filter and cross-link |
| Notion version | A page per character or place, linked to chapters and a timeline | Needs Notion |
If the free spreadsheet does everything you need, stick with it. The Notion version is for when you want the pieces connected.
Want it connected? Novelist & Book Writer OS
The spreadsheet is one table. The Notion system links it to everything around it:
- Story bible, chapters, characters and world linked, so each chapter shows who and what appears in it
- Plot and chapter planning in the same workspace as your reference notes
- Drafting to publishing tracker for revisions, beta readers and launch
- A full page per character or place, not a cramped cell
Also a fit: Writer's Bundle
Instant duplicate link after purchase.
Questions
What should a story bible include?
At minimum: characters, places, important objects, a timeline of events, and the rules of your world. Add anything you have had to look up twice.
Is a story bible only for series?
No. Any novel long enough to forget details benefits, which is most novels.
When should I start one?
As early as possible, ideally while outlining. Starting mid-draft still works; begin with your main characters.
What is the difference between a story bible and a series bible?
A series bible is a story bible that spans several books, with extra focus on what readers already know by each book.