def _display(stats, plot=False):
    """
    Take stats dictionary and display on same format as nanowrimo.

    plot - make a compact plotting format
    """
    if plot:
        # this is a more compact format for the plot
        output = \
"""
    Day {current_day} / {target_time_period}
    Words: {total_words_written} / {target_word_count}
    Today: {words_written_today} words
    Rate for deadline: {needed_words_per_day} wpd
    Current Rate: {average_words_per_day} wpd
    Current finish: {finish_date}
"""
    else:
        # same layout as nanowrimo
        output = \
"""
 Period: {starting_date} - {ending_date}

 Your average per day:  {average_words_per_day}
 Words written today:   {words_written_today}
 Target word count:     {target_word_count}
 Target average word
        count per day:  {target_average_word_count}
 Total words written:   {total_words_written}
 Words remaining:       {words_remaining}
 Current day:           {current_day}
 Days remaining:        {days_remaining}
 At this rate you
       will finish on:  {finish_date}
 Words per day to
       finish on time:  {needed_words_per_day}
"""
    return output.format(**stats)