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Jun 5, 2018 · In this post, I’ll share the key steps I've found most useful for outlining novels before writing the first draft. How to outline a novel: 1. Choose your main character. 2. Give your main character a big problem. 3.
- The One-Page Outline. If you have never outlined before… TRY THIS. The one-page outline is fast and easy to update as you write. It keeps your story focused on what matters most: the emotions that lead to a big, climactic finish.
- The “Three C’s” Outline. This is your fastest outlining strategy. It’s perfect for creating intense, rapid-fire stories. I first heard it from Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code.
- How to Outline with the Snowflake Method. The Snowflake Method is the best way to expand your unconnected ideas into a complete novel. It’s the perfect blend between outlining and discovery.
- The Three-Act Outline. The three-act structure is designed to set up and answer a single dramatic question. It’s perfect for screenwriting and for new authors because it provides simple, rigid guidelines.
- Craft your premise. This is the underlying idea for your story. A good way to find the premise is to ask yourself, “What would happen if…?” For example: What would happen if a young man who survives a shipwreck spends months in a lifeboat with a large Bengal tiger?
- Determine your setting. In a novel, the setting (time, place) can be just as important as the characters. Readers need to feel a sense of where things are happening, just as much as why they’re happening.
- Get to know your characters. Write character profiles. Visualize them. Pretend you’re introducing these characters to your friends. What would you say about them?
- Construct your plot. Construct a timeline of events. Write down everything that happens in the novel, from the beginning to the end. Include details where you can, such as where the events take place, and who is involved.
- Understand Why It’s Important. A novel outline is a structure that helps you articulate ideas around the central theme of your story. Here is an example of what the start of a novel outline looks like
- Select a Novel Outline Type. In writing novels, there is no right or wrong method. The same thing applies to the novel outline. There are different ways of planning your story.
- Leverage the Benefits of Using a Novel Outline. Despite your writing style and whether or not you’re an author who typically relies on a book outline template, it’s probably safe to say there are times you might wish you had one.
- Set the Stage. Just like in any field, poor planning will result in shaky structures that will later collapse. If you don’t set the stage well for your characters to exist and your setting to be logical, the story won’t make sense.
The first step is to create a timeline or plot skeleton with your plot ideas. Be sure to include back story elements, both before the novel’s events and at the point they are revealed to the reader. Don’t worry if you little to start with — it’ll quickly build up. Make sure to leave space for more details.
Now how do you structure that plot into an outline that makes writing your first draft a breeze? 2. ORGANIZE: How to Write a Novel Outline. Let me quickly outline for you how to outline. Many writers seem to be confused about what a structured outline should look like, but it’s really very simple. Let’s go step-by-step again, because we ...
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Here are the steps you’ll need to take to bring your idea to life on the page. 1. Get to know your protagonist. The protagonist is the central character of your story. All of the major plot points happen because of either something that happens to the protagonist, or something that happens because of the protagonist.
