{"id":19051,"date":"2021-04-24T04:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-24T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/?post_type=guides&#038;p=19051"},"modified":"2024-01-08T21:24:34","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T21:24:34","slug":"how-to-outline-novel","status":"publish","type":"guides","link":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-outline-novel\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write the Best Novel Outline of 2024: 6 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Here\u2019s how to write the best novel outline: <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-writing\/\">Write something<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any outline is better than no outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for more guidance, I outlined 6 easy steps in glorious detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Should you write an outline for a novel?<\/strong> You should write an outline when writing your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if it isn\u2019t the most detailed outline, outlining your story has many benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Better pacing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No plot holes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improved character arcs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scenes in order<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Direction and focus when you write<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time saved in the editing phase<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less writer\u2019s block<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t feel trapped by an outline. Your novel outline is meant as a guide, a map. You can veer from it any time you want\u2026 change your mind\u2026 be spontaneous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what \u2014 you need an outline for your novel. It will <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-write-a-book\/\">make you a better writer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You'll need to choose a software to write it as well, and I've got a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VrLhy65Ginw&ab_channel=Kindlepreneur\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video all about that<\/a> too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"toc\">\n\nIn this article, you will learn:\n\n<ol>\n\n<li>What a novel outline is<\/li>\n\n<li>Novel outline templates<\/li>\n\n<li>Pros and cons of outlining<\/li>\n\n<li>6 types of novel outlines<\/li>\n\n<li>Best software for outlining a novel<\/li>\n\n<li>6 steps to outline a book<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Links in this article may give me a small commission if you use them to purchase a product. And there\u2019s no extra cost to you!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-8\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>What is a novel outline?<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>A novel outline is a document or series of documents that plan out your novel\u2019s structure, plot, character arcs, spatial relationships, the order of sequences, and so much more.<\/p>\n<p>You need a novel outline to avoid problems with pacing, plot holes, directionless writing, and writer\u2019s block.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Some of my favorite novel outline templates include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The Novel Factory\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.novel-software.com\/genrestorytemplates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Novel Outline Templates for Multiple Genres<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evernote\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/evernote.com\/blog\/12-creative-writing-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">12 Creative Writing Templates<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kid Lit\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/kidlit.com\/novel-outline-template\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Novel Outline Template<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Derek Murphy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creativindie.com\/plot-outline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Free Fiction Template to Help Outline Your Novel<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Josh Fechter\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/joshfechter.com\/novel-outline-template\/#Which_Novel_Outline_Template_is_the_Right_One_for_You\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Which Novel Outline Template is Right for You<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you can find novel outline templates in popular book writing software like <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/scrivenerall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Scrivener<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/templates.office.com\/en-us\/book-manuscript-tm10263529\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MS Word<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/styles.ulysses.app\/styles\/gemmell-novel-5-x-8in-J27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ulysses<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/bibisco.com\/blog\/this-is-why-you-need-a-novel-writing-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bibisco<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every good outline should answer these 3 questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>What is the \u201cmain contract\u201d of the story?<\/strong> You must fulfill the promises you made to your reader by the end of the novel. If you promised dragons, deliver dragons. If you promised steamy romance, deliver steamy romance. If you promised a <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-write-a-mystery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">thought-provoking mystery<\/a>, you better deliver it! Make sure you deliver on the contract within the outline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What sort of time pressure is working on your characters?<\/strong> The ticking time bomb is a famous Alfred Hitchcock analogy. The time pressure gets readers engaged and ups the story\u2019s intensity. Work out what time pressure works against your character within the outline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What is at stake for the protagonist of the novel?<\/strong> Your protagonist cannot be a passive observer or someone to whom the story\u2019s conflict does not matter at all. If the antagonist were to win, the protagonist has to lose something\u2026 possibly everything. An outline is a perfect place to clarify what is at stake for the protagonist.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to check out this video about <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DPFsuc_M_3E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alfred Hitchcock On Mastering Cinematic Tension<\/a> too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                        <div class=\"col-md-2\">\n                <div class=\"icon\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/paper-pencil_icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div><!-- col -->\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-6\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>Why is a novel outline important?<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>A novel outline is essential because it gives your story direction, avoids a \u201cmid-novel slump,\u201d saves time in the editing process, and so many other reasons.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve written many books, maybe you can write less of a physical novel outline because you have so much of the outline in your head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>But new writers need to write a novel outline.<\/strong> In the next section, I tell you all about the benefits of writing a novel outline. Read all those reasons to write an outline, and then tell me you don\u2019t want to reap any of the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hear the outline deniers ask, \u201cDid you know Stephen King doesn\u2019t outline his novels? He sells one million books every day, or something like that. So that means I don\u2019t have to outline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, Stephen King has also said that you need to write 12 full-length books before you can sell one. (Maybe he should have used an outline when he began as a writer.)<br>Also, Stephen King does outline \u2014 only it\u2019s in his head because he\u2019s a master storyteller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And doesn\u2019t Stephen King get flack all the time for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thathashtagshow.com\/2018\/09\/11\/the-10-worst-endings-to-stephen-kings-best-books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing bad endings<\/a> to his great books? Maybe an outline would help him build to better conclusions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-benefits-of-creating-a-novel-outline\">Benefits of Creating a Novel Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What are the pros of creating a novel outline?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Visualizes the big picture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improves pacing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Removes plot holes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tracks character arcs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Orders scenes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keeps the storyline on track<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gives your writing direction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoids \u201csagging middle\u201d or \u201cmid-novel slump\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helps you set up late-book payoffs in the beginning chapters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identifies foreshadowing opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saves time <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-editors\/\">editing<\/a> after the fact<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can get you over writer\u2019s block<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In almost every case, you need a novel outline. Some authors are supposedly born with the \u201cgift\u201d of knowing everything about their story in their heads. In my experience, these writers simply go through a more extended editing phase without an outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-downsides-of-creating-a-novel-outline\">Downsides of Creating a Novel Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What are the cons of creating a novel outline?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Feels formulaic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hinders creativity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leads to more telling rather than showing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Character choices may feel inorganic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Takes a long time and is tedious<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m writing these downsides as if I actually believe them. However, I disagree that many of these downsides are correct \u2014 only that some authors may feel this way sometimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, when you\u2019re writing the story\u2019s actual words, it is important to \u201cshow, don\u2019t tell\u201d and make your characters\u2019 choices seem logical, plausible, and organic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How long does it take to outline a novel?<\/strong> It can take months to outline a novel. Sometimes, authors start writing the beginning before they\u2019ve outlined the end. Others wait till they have a good idea of the whole book\u2019s story. The outlining process may involve brainstorming before you write a single word of the physical outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                        <div class=\"col-md-2\">\n                <div class=\"icon\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/publishing_icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div><!-- col -->\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-6\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>Types of Novel Outlines<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>You can structure an outline for a novel any way you\u2019d like \u2014 <strong>whatever outlining method works for your novel writing style.<\/strong><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>But you should organize your thoughts into a formal structure, or your novel will probably end up an unevenly-paced stream of consciousness that few people enjoy all the way through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s more than one way to skin a cat (can someone please explain what that means?). And there\u2019s more than one way to outline your novel. Pick the type of novel outline that works best for you and your writing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors may fall anywhere on a spectrum of planners and non-planners, also called plotters and pantsers, or architects and gardeners. (\u201cPantsing\u201d refers to \u201cby the seat of your pants.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your outline may be meticulous or very vague. The level of detail depends on personal preference, and that's okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are 6 types of novel outlines you can experiment with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Mind map<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Synopsis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beat sheet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skeleton<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Character-led<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scenes and sequences<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mind-map-outline\">Mind Map Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A mind map visually displays the spatial relationship between characters, story beats, and chapters. You can map out any number of story elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an excellent method for large-scale stories where characters are in different locations throughout the novel. Epic fantasy and sci-fi come to mind, but political thrillers may also benefit from a mind map outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-synopsis-outline\">Synopsis Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A synopsis outline looks the most like an essay. When you <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-write-a-synopsis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">write a synopsis<\/a>, you need to summarize everything that matters to the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It will include character arcs, conflicts, resolutions, and background info. A synopsis should be 2 or 3 pages of dense story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make that into a full novel, you just take a sentence or a paragraph from the synopsis and add suspense, mystery, character development, world-building, and beautiful prose \u2014 all that delicious \u201cfiller\u201d that makes reading fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-beat-sheet-outline\">Beat Sheet Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This type of novel outline lists the \u201cbeats\u201d of the story into individual paragraphs or bullet points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u201cbeat\u201d is a change in tone, motivation, character, etc. Whenever you switch to a new story beat, this adds emotional weight and importance to your story. Beats also help with pacing and character arcs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since story beats are so important, it is natural for some writers to break up their outline by beats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-skeleton-outline\">Skeleton Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is probably the most bare-bones approach. (Forgive the pun) A skeleton outline lists out the key plot points in a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, your main character needs to get from her hometown to the capital city, to the enemy hideout, and finally to her wayward father\u2019s hovel. A skeleton outline would remind you what direction your story needs to be going, but it lets you figure out the best way to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-character-led-outline\">Character-Led Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you care about the people in your story, their development, and their arcs more than anything else, focus on your characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A character-led outline puts characters first. List out the beats in your character arcs. Instead of overall plot points, you can organize your novel into character development beats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or, try free-writing about your character using a stream of consciousness approach, writing whatever comes to mind about your character. See what you discover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/milanote.com\/templates\/creative-writing\/character-profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this template<\/a> for character profiles or <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/character-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this tutorial\/cheat sheet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-scenes-and-sequences-outline\">Scenes and Sequences Outline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>List out all the scenes and sequences in your story. This outline can be detailed or vague.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I know authors who outline by chapter, listing each event that needs to occur in a chapter for the story to progress in the right direction. For some chapters, they write down 2 pages of notes. For other chapters, they only write, \u201cProtagonist needs to solve the mystery in an emotional way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some authors may benefit from taking notes on scenes as they pop into their heads. These scenes can be out of order, but you can use a scenes and sequences outline to order them when you get around to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                        <div class=\"col-md-2\">\n                <div class=\"icon\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/keyboard-pencil_icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div><!-- col -->\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-6\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>Best Software to Write a Novel Outline<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>I use <a href=\"http:\/\/atticus.io\">Atticus<\/a>\u00a0to write all my fiction books, but it\u2019s not for everyone. There is a myriad of methods you can use to outline your novel.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of authors choose to outline their novel <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/best-outline-software\/\">in a different software<\/a> than their book writing software<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some writing software offers a bunch of handy built-in templates that help the outlining process. But many authors prefer software designed explicitly for outlining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And don\u2019t forget: If you like using a physical notebook and pencil, more power to you. There is an undoubtable magic when you create a story putting pencil to paper, lead to ledger, graphite to graph paper<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VrLhy65Ginw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this video<\/a> where I break down the best story outlining software out there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-software-for-writing-novel-outlines\">Software for Writing Novel Outlines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Plottr<\/strong> is a cool outlining tool that offers templates such as 8 Sequences Method, <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/heros-journey\/\">Hero\u2019s Journey<\/a>, Save the Cat, 12 Chapter Mystery Formula, and many more. Read my <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/plottr-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full review of Plottr<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/plottr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">download Plottr today<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plot Factory<\/strong> is a novel outlining software that comes with awesome, straightforward templates, character creation functionality, world-building capabilities, and so much more. Read my <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/plot-factory-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full review of Plot Factory<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/plot-factory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">download it now<\/a>. Use my coupon code <strong>KINDLEPRENEUR<\/strong> for 35% the first 12 months!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Novel Factory<\/strong> is a structure-heavy novel outlining software. It is easy to use, includes genre-specific templates, and can export to most other word processors. But it isn\u2019t yet available on Mac. Read my <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/the-novel-factory-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full review of The Novel Factory<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/the-novel-factory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">download The Novel Factory today<\/a>. Use my coupon code <strong>KINDLEPRENEUR<\/strong> to get 20% off your subscription.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Squibler<\/strong> offers lots of superb templates that help the outlining process go smoother. They provide a general novel outline but also templates for specific genres.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microsoft Word is the gold standard word processor for a reason. It offers a bunch of book outline templates that make outlining easier. If you download a novel outline template from the web, chances are you can open it with MS Word.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Google Docs<\/strong> is the hero of <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/author-networking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">collaboration<\/a>. If you work across multiple devices or with another person on your book outline, Google Docs is a fantastic tool that autosaves to the cloud every couple of seconds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Evernote<\/strong> lets you take notes but in a sophisticated, modern way. You can write down your notes in several ways, share notes with others, and access Evernote across multiple devices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ulysses<\/strong> creates documents out of fragments \u2014 a structure that lends itself to outlining in small segments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>bibisco<\/strong> is a book writing software that puts emphasis on character development. Before you start writing, bibisco encourages you to fully map out your character beats, which is great for character-led outlining.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scrivener<\/strong> offers ready-made, built-in templates for all sorts of books, screenplays, and other works. Using these templates, you can organize your thoughts into a novel outline. Check out my <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/scrivener-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full review<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/scrivenerall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">download Scrivener today<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                        <div class=\"col-md-2\">\n                <div class=\"icon\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/formatting_icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div><!-- col -->\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-6\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>How to Write a Novel Outline in 6 Easy Steps <\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>You can outline a novel with 6 easy steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\nCreate the premise<br \/>\nCraft the setting<br \/>\nConstruct the characters<br \/>\nDevelop your plot<br \/>\nOrganize the scenes<br \/>\nReview your outline &#038; make changes<\/ol>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there are many methods to outlining. Use these step-by-step instructions as a roadmap, not a hard and fast list of must-dos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-create-the-premise\">1. Create the Premise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The premise of your novel should guide your outline, just like the outline will guide your writing. It follows that step 1 is creating the premise for your novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To create a good story, you must have a good premise. To create the premise of your novel, you should start your book outline by writing down the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The hook <em>(how is this book different than every other book)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Main <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grammarly.com\/blog\/protagonist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">protagonist<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Main antagonist<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Important secondary characters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Main characters\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/character-motivation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motivations<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inciting incident<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conflict<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resolution (can be very vague)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Central theme<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, you can craft a one-sentence premise of your book. Think of it as an elevator pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You\u2019re able to tell anyone in 30 seconds what your story is about.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When someone asks what your book is about, you should be able to answer with one or two sentences that hook any potential readers, editors, agents, and\/or publishers.<br><br><strong>Examples of 5 effective premises:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>The What If premise: \u201cWhat if children thought they were being tested with simulations of interstellar wars, but the battles were actually real?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Inciting Incident premise: \u201cWhen Frodo finds the evil One Ring, he must fight Orcs, sneak past Uruk-hai, survive epic battles, and traverse Mordor to destroy it.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Ticking Clock premise: \u201cFinn and Rose have to find a master codebreaker to disable the First Order\u2019s hyperspace tracking before the Resistance runs out of fuel and the First Order exterminates the galaxy\u2019s only hope.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Mistaken Belief premise: \u201cAndrea Sachs believes she wants to work in the fashion industry more than anything until she realizes that the fashion industry will destroy her life in an instant if it means the editor gets her coffee.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Character-Driven premise: \u201cA mild-mannered chemistry teacher finds out he has cancer, so he slowly becomes a sociopathic drug kingpin to pay for his chemo.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-craft-the-setting\">Craft the Setting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After you\u2019ve created the premise, it\u2019s time to craft the setting of your story. The setting is the \u201cwhere?\u201d of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The setting should be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Logical<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interesting\/creative<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evocative of emotion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Important to the central theme<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Important to your character(s)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Well-researched and\/or well-fleshed out<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When crafting your setting, consider the time of year, the seasons, the time of day for individual scenes, and how your character views the setting vs. how it is in reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brainstorm how the characters\u2019 introductions, midpoints, turning points, and conclusions can be improved by the setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WikiHow has a fun article I recommend on this topic: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Write-a-Setting-for-a-Book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Write a Setting for a Book: 9 Steps (with Pictures)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-construct-the-characters\">3. Construct the Characters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The currency of novels is character.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Readers relate to your characters and cheer when the good guy gets what they want. If you want an effective novel outline, you should construct your characters at this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the most satisfying part of a book for most readers is a great character arc, you should know the basics of character development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Give each central character:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Goals and motivations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>External and internal conflict<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Backstory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengths and weaknesses (character flaws are critical!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Distinctive traits, including physical and personality traits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Relationships with other characters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you can source your characters from real life. For instance, you may base your character\u2019s looks on a woman you used to work with. You might even base your character\u2019s mannerisms on a celebrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, <strong>do not base one character entirely off of one person<\/strong>. Take inspiration from multiple real people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve got a handle on your characters, 2 things need to happen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Your characters need to make choices that advance the story.<\/strong> You don\u2019t want your main character to be an observer. They need to take an active role in the plot progression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>You need to write tough situations for them to endure.<\/strong> Writers have to be cruel to their characters. Break their leg, throw them off a cliff, end their marriage, close their favorite hangout spot \u2014 the story\u2019s conflicts need to directly affect your main characters. That\u2019s what makes ordinary books into page-turners.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip: <\/strong>Though some criticize Blake Snyder\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Save-Cat-Last-Screenwriting-Youll-ebook\/dp\/B00340ESIS\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Save the Cat<\/em><\/a> book for its oversimplification of storytelling, its central story idea is still sound. For any character you want to be likable, have their first action in the story be to \u201csave the cat\u201d \u2014 or do good for someone else, preferably in a weaker position than them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a character saves a cat from a tree, buys a homeless orphan a meal, protects a woman from an abusive husband, blows the whistle on a corrupt politician, etc., the reader immediately roots for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-develop-your-plot\">4. Develop Your Plot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you have your premise, setting, and characters, you can start to develop a plot outline. It helps to have a plot structure (templates included below), especially if you\u2019re a new author.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can develop your plot by making index cards, drawing a rough timeline on a sheet of paper, or using many awesome novel outlining tools. Many authors find it useful to write down their beginning at one end of some notebook paper and their conclusion at the other end. Then they fill in the blanks of how their characters get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For complicated stories, a sprawling cast, multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/point-of-view\/\">point of view<\/a> characters, and huge worlds, you may want to organize your plots and subplots by time and location \u2014 as J.K. Rowling did with <em>Order of the Phoenix<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this step, you can use any of these templates (or none of them):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/a761264f84ac176a17ff801a3\/files\/fa86076d-edd7-4476-8112-3e2ac501536d\/3_ACT_STORY_STRUCTURE_PRINTABLE.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Three-Act Story Structure<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.novel-software.com\/CMS\/FILES\/Plot%20Outlines\/HerosJourneyPlotOutline.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hero\u2019s Journey Template<\/a> (by Joseph Campbell)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.savannahgilbo.com\/blog\/plotting-save-the-cat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Save the Cat Beat Worksheet<\/a> (by Blake Snyder)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writersdiscord.com\/snowflake-method-spreadsheet-for-google-docs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Snowflake Method<\/a> (by Randy Ingermanson)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pshoffman.com\/novel-outline-template\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The One-Page Outline<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, I\u2019ve included questions to answer for the beginning, middle, and end of your story\u2019s plot \u2014 a fundamental version of the 3-act structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-beginning-of-the-plot\">Beginning of the Plot<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>What happens on the first pages?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is the setting?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is the exposition? As in, how do you introduce the setting, characters, etc.?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How will readers care about your main character in the first few pages?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is essential to set up for later payoffs?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Do not start your book off with a cliche. Some readers \u2014 and most editors \u2014 will put down your book if they read the first page and it contains waking up, looking in a mirror, lots of dialogue, a big block of exposition, or a dream sequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-middle-of-the-plot\">Middle of the Plot<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>What is the inciting incident? What single event starts the central conflict of the book?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What twists and turns occur that lead to the climax?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How are you delivering on the premise?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How are you avoiding the mid-novel slump? Hint: Have the character continue to make choices and continue to put your main character through hardships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is the climax?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-end-of-the-plot\">End of the Plot<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>How does the climax resolve?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What needs to happen after the climax to get you to your ending?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What questions still need to be answered? What setups still demand payoffs?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which character arcs still require resolution?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterclass.com\/articles\/writing-101-what-is-denouement-learn-about-the-difference-between-denouement-and-epilogue-with-examples#quiz-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denouement<\/a>? As in, what is the very last thing that happens in your story?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-organize-the-scenes\">5. Organize the Scenes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After you develop your plot, you can organize plot points into acts, then into chapters, and even into scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This might get too specific for some authors who prefer to fly by the seat of their pants. But organizing your plot into individual chapters or scenes can prevent writer\u2019s block before it even strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scenes are critical to your story. They should determine pacing, transition smoothly into one another, prevent timeline problems or plot holes, build on your central premise or theme, and organize your plot into digestible chunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-tips-for-creating-scenes\">8 Tips for Creating Scenes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/literarydevices.net\/in-medias-res\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>In media res<\/em><\/a> is your friend.<\/strong> This is the concept of starting in the middle of a scene to instantly engage the reader and provide mini-mysteries that your reader will quickly learn the answer to.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Write something.<\/strong> If you\u2019re not confident, you can change it later. It\u2019s usually better to have something to edit than nothing, triggering writer\u2019s block.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Identify the scene\u2019s purpose.<\/strong> Ensure the scene doesn\u2019t outstay its welcome.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make sure every scene transitions smoothly into the next.<\/strong> Readers shouldn\u2019t be able to recognize the seams of your scene organization \u2014 at least not on the first read-through.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Switch up the order of scenes<\/strong> to see if they work better in different sequences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Each scene or chapter should end in a cliffhanger, disaster, or twist<\/strong> \u2014 however small \u2014 to keep the reader engaged and wanting more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Have your characters make decisions.<\/strong> I can\u2019t say it enough. Your main characters should never be just observing the plot. They should make bold decisions that advance the plot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep scene synopses brief.<\/strong> For example, you don\u2019t have to write suspense into the outline. A 4,000-word chapter about your main character being hunted can have a short description: \u201cShe gets hunted by the lizard men in the woods. It\u2019s suspenseful.\u201d In other words, you don\u2019t have to write in the suspense until you type out the actual chapter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                        <div class=\"col-md-2\">\n                <div class=\"icon\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/checklist-computer_icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div><!-- col -->\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-6\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>Review Your Outline &#038; Make Changes<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>Your story isn\u2019t perfect. Your outline is flexible. Remember that your story outline is a living document. You\u2019ll review your outline and make changes along the way. Don\u2019t be afraid to alter your outline.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Bestselling author George R.R. Martin isn\u2019t the biggest outliner. However, it\u2019s still notable that in a novel as intricate as <em>The Winds of Winter<\/em>, he famously <a href=\"https:\/\/asoiaf.westeros.org\/index.php?\/topic\/150989-grrm-wow-twist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">came up with a twist<\/a> years into writing it, long after he would have made his general outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you learn more about your characters, your world, and what is most interesting about your story, your outline will change in small ways all the time. There will even be some big changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you review your outline, you may want to consider adding specific dates to your scenes and chapters. You may not write these dates in the text, but your readers must trust you to make logical decisions about the timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the magical things about novel outlines is that an outline is you can review it frequently and make small and big changes as needed. When reviewing your outline, pay attention to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Two scenes that need more transition or connection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A setup you never pay off<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plot holes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timeline problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long stretches of no character development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No conclusion to a character arc<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scenes that do not advance both the plot and central theme<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                        <div class=\"col-md-2\">\n                <div class=\"icon\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/woman_icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div><!-- col -->\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-6\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>Real Novel Outlines<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>These beautiful handwritten outlines are examples of actual novel outlines by authors you may have heard of\u2026<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Salter_Ransom_LightYearsoutline_BLOG-1-671x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Outline for James Salter's Light Years\" class=\"wp-image-19052\" width=\"503\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Salter_Ransom_LightYearsoutline_BLOG-1-671x1024.jpeg 671w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Salter_Ransom_LightYearsoutline_BLOG-1-197x300.jpeg 197w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Salter_Ransom_LightYearsoutline_BLOG-1-768x1171.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Salter_Ransom_LightYearsoutline_BLOG-1.jpeg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">James Salter\u2019s Handwritten Outline for <em>Light Years<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/rowling_outline2-750x536-1.gif\" alt=\"JK Rowling outline for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix\" class=\"wp-image-19053\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">J.K. Rowling\u2019s Handwritten Outline for <em>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Faulkner-Wall-Writing-L-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Outline for Fable by William Faulkner\" class=\"wp-image-19054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Faulkner-Wall-Writing-L-1.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Faulkner-Wall-Writing-L-1-300x106.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Outline for <em>Fable<\/em> by William Faulkner (written on his bedroom walls)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"501\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/jennifer-egan004-1000pp_w720_h501-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Jennifer Egan\u2019s Black Box outline\" class=\"wp-image-19055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/jennifer-egan004-1000pp_w720_h501-1.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/jennifer-egan004-1000pp_w720_h501-1-300x209.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One of the outlined pages for Jennifer Egan\u2019s <em>Black Box<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"section dark_bg chapter-header\">\n    <div class=\"outer-container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n                        <div class=\"col-md-2\">\n                <div class=\"icon\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/book-pencil_icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div><!-- col -->\n                                        <div class=\"col-md-6\">\n                            <div> <span class=\"category-label\">Chapter 1<\/span> <\/div>\n                \n                                    <h2>Are you ready to write your outline?<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"text-content\">\n                        <p>After reading this article, you should be more than ready to write your novel outline! Once you\u2019ve written your outline, onto the first draft.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div><!-- col -->\n\n            <div class=\"col-md-3\">\n                <div class=\"ug-sidebar-wrap\"><\/div>\n            <\/div><!-- col -->\n        <\/div><!-- row -->\n    <\/div><!-- container -->\n<\/div><!-- section -->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>How do you write a proper outline? You write a proper outline how you want \u2014 you can plan meticulous details or give yourself a vague direction to aim for. There are different types of outlines for different types of fiction writers, such as the mind map, the scenes and sequences, the skeleton, and synopsis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve provided you with templates, screenshots, and lists of outline types to help get you on track to write an extraordinary story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your novel outline is critical to the development of any good book. Whether you use an app or put pen to paper, use these steps to outline the right way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":19203,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[3902],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Write the Best Novel Outline of 2024: 6 Easy Steps<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your novel outline is critical to the development of any good book. 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