The Novel Moodboard is a ready-made Storyflow board where writers gather the visual and tonal references behind a novel: character looks, settings, color and mood, themes, and inspiration, all on one infinite canvas.
About this template
The Novel Moodboard gives your story a visual home before and during the draft. Instead of scattering Pinterest pins, screenshots, and notes across folders, you pull character faces, location photos, period details, and tonal references onto one canvas and arrange them next to the writing that explains why each one matters. Seeing the world side by side makes it easier to keep a character's look consistent, lock in the atmosphere of a scene, and catch when a chapter drifts away from the mood you set out to create.
It is built for novelists, short-story writers, and fan-fiction authors, and it works just as well for screenwriters and worldbuilders who think in images. Whether you are pantsing a first draft or plotting a series, the board holds the texture of your story in a place you can return to whenever a scene needs grounding.
On the board you will find labeled zones for characters, settings and worldbuilding, mood and color, themes and tone, and a research or inspiration corner. Drop in reference images, paste links to articles and music, and write notes beside each block to capture intent. Storyflow's AI assistant can read the active board, so you can ask it to suggest sensory details for a setting, brainstorm character traits from the references you have collected, or talk through the themes taking shape.
How to use the Novel Moodboard Template
- 1
Open the Novel Moodboard template and rename the board to your working title.
- 2
Drop reference images into the character and setting zones: faces, locations, period or costume details, and objects that anchor your world.
- 3
Add notes beside each block to capture why it fits, then paste links to music, articles, or inspiration in the research corner.
- 4
Use the mood and color zone to set the atmosphere and tone you want the prose to carry.
- 5
Ask the AI assistant, which reads your active board, to suggest sensory details, brainstorm character traits, or pressure-test the themes you are collecting.
- 6
Invite co-writers or beta readers to the canvas to react and build the world together.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Novel Moodboard?
A Novel Moodboard is a visual board where a writer collects the references behind a story: character looks, settings, color and mood, themes, and inspiration. This Storyflow template gives you a ready-made infinite canvas with labeled zones for each, so you can arrange images, links, and notes in one place.
Who is this template for?
It is made for novelists, short-story and fan-fiction writers, and worldbuilders, and it suits screenwriters and any author who thinks in images. It works for both first-time drafters and writers planning a long series.
What goes on a novel moodboard?
Reference images for characters and settings, period or costume details, color and tone samples, theme notes, and links to music, articles, or other inspiration. You write short notes next to each block to capture why it belongs and how it should shape the prose.
How does the AI assistant help with my novel?
Storyflow's AI reads your active board, so you can ask it to suggest sensory details for a setting, brainstorm character traits from the references you have gathered, or talk through the themes taking shape. It helps you think and draft faster; it does not write the whole novel for you.
Is the Novel Moodboard template free?
Yes. Storyflow is free to start and runs in your browser, so you can open the Novel Moodboard template, customize it, and invite collaborators. Some advanced features are part of paid plans.
