Outlining Your Novel

1. Outlining transforms writing into efficient story-crafting

"Outlining allows me to ride the waves of my story with utter confidence, channeling the art into the craft to produce solid stories."

Efficiency and confidence. Outlining is a powerful tool that transforms the writing process from hit-and-miss creativity to a reliable method of story crafting. By creating a detailed plan before writing, authors can navigate their stories with confidence, ensuring a cohesive and well-structured narrative.

Benefits of outlining:

• Ensures balance and cohesion in the story
• Prevents dead-end ideas and plot holes
• Provides opportunities for foreshadowing
• Smoothes pacing and indicates preferable POVs
• Maintains consistent character voices
• Offers motivation and assurance during writing

Flexibility and creativity. Contrary to common misconceptions, outlines are not rigid structures that limit creativity. Instead, they serve as flexible guidelines that allow authors to explore their stories while maintaining a clear direction. Outlines can take many forms, from simple bullet points to detailed scene breakdowns, adapting to each writer's unique process.

2. Begin with a powerful premise and "what if" questions

"All stories begin with a premise (a battle in space, two people falling in love, a dog getting lost), and most premises begin with a 'what if' question."

Spark of inspiration. The foundation of any great story lies in its premise, often stemming from a thought-provoking "what if" question. This initial concept serves as the launching pad for the entire narrative, setting the stage for characters, conflict, and theme.

Developing the premise:

1. Ask "what if" questions to explore unique story possibilities
2. List expected and unexpected events to subvert reader expectations
3. Craft a one or two-sentence premise that encapsulates the story's essence
4. Create a log line to distill the core conflict and characters
5. Expand the premise into a brief story summary

Maximizing potential. By thoroughly exploring the premise through various exercises, authors can uncover hidden depths and exciting possibilities within their story ideas. This process helps identify strengths and weaknesses in the concept, allowing for refinement and expansion before diving into the full outlining process.

3. Create compelling characters through detailed backstories

"Before you can tell others your story, you have to tell yourself its prequel."

Character depth. Developing rich, layered characters requires a deep understanding of their past experiences, motivations, and relationships. By crafting detailed backstories, authors can create characters that feel authentic and relatable to readers.

Exploring backstory:

• Begin with the inciting event and work backwards
• Identify key events that shaped the character's personality and beliefs
• Explore relationships with family, mentors, and influential figures
• Consider education, career, and life experiences
• Uncover personal epochs and emotional wounds

Organic character development. While only a fraction of a character's backstory may appear in the final narrative, this wealth of information informs the character's actions, decisions, and growth throughout the story. By understanding a character's past, authors can create more consistent and believable character arcs.

4. Develop a strong story structure with conflict and theme

"Conflict fuels fiction, and frustration fuels conflict."

Narrative backbone. A well-structured story relies on carefully crafted conflict and a cohesive theme to engage readers and drive the plot forward. By identifying these elements early in the outlining process, authors can ensure their stories have a solid foundation.

Key structural elements:

• Character arc: Want vs. Need, Lie vs. Truth
• Conflict: Internal and external obstacles
• Theme: Central idea or message of the story
• Pacing: Balance of action and reflection
• Plot points: Inciting incident, key event, midpoint, climax

Balancing act. Effective storytelling requires a delicate balance between various structural elements. By planning these components during the outlining phase, authors can create narratives that seamlessly blend character development, plot progression, and thematic exploration.

5. Use general sketches to connect plot dots and fill holes

"The few scenes of which you're already aware are the dots in your connect-the-dots puzzle. Now, it's time for you to figure out how and why the lines follow this particular pattern."

Big picture view. General sketches provide an opportunity to explore the overall shape of the story, identifying key scenes and plot points while uncovering potential gaps or inconsistencies in the narrative.

Creating general sketches:

1. List known scenes and ideas
2. Color-code scenes based on completeness and importance
3. Identify plot holes and unanswered questions
4. Brainstorm solutions and connections between scenes
5. Explore character motivations and conflicts

Flexible exploration. This stage of outlining allows for creative freedom, encouraging authors to experiment with different plot directions and character interactions. By connecting the dots between known story elements, writers can discover exciting new possibilities and strengthen the overall narrative structure.

6. Conduct character interviews for depth and authenticity

"You can never know enough about your characters."

Character intimacy. Character interviews provide a structured method for delving deep into a character's psyche, uncovering hidden motivations, quirks, and beliefs that bring them to life on the page.

Interview components:

• Background and personal history
• Outlook and worldview
• Physical appearance and mannerisms
• Personality traits and characteristics
• Interests and favorites
• Typical expressions and attitudes
• Hopes, dreams, and fears

Beyond the basics. Character interviews go beyond simple demographic information, encouraging authors to explore the nuances of their characters' personalities and experiences. This in-depth understanding allows for more authentic character voices and believable interactions throughout the story.

7. Craft a detailed outline as a flexible roadmap for writing

"Freedom is knowing you never have to stare down the blinking cursor and the blank page because you don't know what comes next."

Writing confidence. A detailed outline serves as a roadmap for the writing process, providing direction and structure while allowing for creative exploration and improvisation.

Outline components:

• Scene-by-scene breakdown
• Character arcs and development
• Plot progression and pacing
• Thematic elements and symbolism
• Setting details and world-building

Adaptability and efficiency. While the outline provides a clear path forward, it remains a flexible tool that can be adjusted as the story evolves. By investing time in creating a comprehensive outline, authors can streamline their writing process, reducing the need for extensive rewrites and revisions.

Last updated: September 7, 2024