#bookoutline

Why should you outline your novel?

When you have a plan, you are more likely to finish.

How much should you outline?

Enough to know the most important plot points, but not everything, because if you're like me, you'll get bored before you get halfway through the book. So here's how much you should know about your story before you start writing.

Note: this might not work for everyone, this works best for me (most of the time)

Part 1

In part one, you introduce the main character, show their goals and set the theme of the story

1. Show an ordinary day of your MC

This is important to show how big the change that comes next is for your character, but if you can emphasize that in the next point, it can be left out.

2. The change in your MC's life

This is when the MC's life changes and they need to do something in order to reach their goal (whether it's going back to their ordinary life or something else)

3. Show what's keeping your MC from going back to their life as it was before

Show the problem that's forcing your MC to go the longer way to achieving their goal/going back to their ordinary life

Part 2

In part two, the characters decides there's no other way then going straight to action and by the end of part two, they need to overcome their flaws/fears

4. Your MC accepts their new reality and makes a plan

Introduce other characters that will be helping your MC on their journey and have your character introduce a plan/ a way they think would get them closer to their goal

5. First fight/action

This is the first 'important' event on your MC's journey. This is where you hint something that will later help your character and put the first fight with the enemies

6. The Action

Something bad happens and your MC is forced to act on instinct. Maybe their instinct is to save everyone, which they don't handle, or their instinct is to give up and later they regret it. Either one is good, but make sure at least one thing doesn't work out for the MC

7. The 'I can't do it'.

Have your MC give up. Maybe they can't handle the consequences of their previous action. Or they lost someone/something they are helpless without. In this step, remember your character needs to have somewhere they can go to where it won't be life like before, but seems like a better choice then fighting. (I hope that makes sense)

8. Show there's still hope

Show that there's still way of reaching the goal. Either they found the helpful thing they lost, or they/someone else managed to fix the problems their action caused, or they realised the hint from step 5, or they met someone who could help them... There's more possibilities.

9. The MC decides to fight, comes with a plan and gets to work

They get ready to fight and do whatever it takes to defeat their enemies

Part 3

This is where it's set whether the MC won or not and when they realize they overcame their flaw/fear

10. The battle ends. The characters realize they won (or not, in that case the following shouldn't apply) and fix the rest of things that need to be fixed

11. The MC looks back at their journey and realise what was holding them back before

12. Now they can live their life the way they want. Or, if they lost the battle, show what their life is like now.

What is a Character-driven story?

Character-driven stories gravitate toward intra and interpersonal relationships with the characters.  Unlike a plot-driven story, these types of stories focus on how the character(s) arrives at a choice. 

Readers tend to enjoy these types of stories because of the realistic characters authors write in those books. It allows the reader to see themselves or others in those characters, developing an emotional connection.

What is a Plot-driven story?

A Plot-driven story gravitates toward the external rather than the internal conflict. Unlike a character-driven story, these types of stories focus on the choice a character must make rather than what they do to get there.

Readers tend to enjoy these types of stories because of the well-constructed plot. Seeing a character in a situation they cannot control may provide a sense of purpose or familiarity for the reader. 

(This is something my friend said she likes about plot-driven stories. It may be true for other readers, as well.)   

Which is best?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. There is no such thing as the “best” way to write a story. It all depends on preference.

If you want to write a story for an audience who will analyze your characters, write for that audience. If you want a story for an audience who will gravitate toward your well-constructed plot, write for that audience. 

There is somebody out there who will love your book, I guarantee. 

Does thinking about making an outline give you nightmares? An outline doesn’t have to be hard to write. An unconventional outline is fun to make, and as a bonus, you will end up with so much information that will make writing your book or story much easier.

The first impression of your writing is important.

The first sentence shows your writing style.

The first page sets the atmosphere of the whole story.