A paper-first reading field guide
Build a Chapter-by-Chapter Tension Line
Use three linked fields: pressure enters, choice made, and pressure after. Keep each field brief and attach the page or chapter landmark that supports it.
Follow pressure through a novel using one conflict marker per chapter instead of rewriting the plot. A compact three-anchor trail keeps the note useful when you return later or discuss it with someone using another edition.
Step 1
Anchor the location
Record the page or chapter before interpreting the moment. Add the current reading boundary when later knowledge could change the note.
Step 2
Pressure enters
Name the pressure active at the chapter opening.
Step 3
Choice made
Anchor the choice that changes it.
Step 4
Pressure after
Record whether pressure rises, falls, or changes direction.