Position:Home>Books & Authors> How do you write a good outline for a story?

For large stories I normally forget stuff and so it's a good idea to make an outline!. First, list all the main events that you want to happen, then the more minor one!. Make character profiles, bios, backgrounds and such so you don't leave anyone out!. List out the protagonist, antagonist, good, evil, and whatever!. Try making a summary of the book before you start writing!. And if you don't already have a title, don't sweat it!. Write it all and you will get a title, after all the events and the story is on paper it will come to you!. That's how I do it, if i do an outline!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I think that you do not need to write an outline that is so elaborate as to delay the writing of your actual story!. The outline should just be informal, a key to which you can refer as you write your story!. What it might contain is the essential plot of your book -- conflicts, resolutions, climax, denouement, conclusion!. A list of your characters and their descriptions and biographies might be included!. After you've made your outline (and try not to spend an inordinate amount of time doing that), simply write what will be the initial or rough draft of your proposed story!. You can make alterations and corrections in that when it's completed!. I think that if you spend too much time perfecting your outline, you may never arrive at the actual writing of your book, which is, after all, the point of creating the outline! Good luck!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Outlines and synopsis are different!. The synopsis reveals the plot, a few main protagonists, and its ending on generally one to one-and-a-half pages!.

An outline presents, in present tense, each chapter's highlights and is usually on one page only!. If your book has 40 chapters then your outline must have 40 pages!.

Never submit an outline unless an agent or editor specifically asks for it!. Keep in mind that fewer and fewer agents and editors want outlines these days!. Most just request a cover letter, a few sample chapters and a short synopsis (or sometimes the entire manuscript)!. If your book has numerous plot shifts then an outline may be best to submit--provided the agent or the editor requests it!.

Of course, there are rigid formatting rules to outlines and synopsis!. Get a copy of Cynthia Laufenberg's, "Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript!." From your question and narrative it suggests you need additional information on creating an outline for your manuscript!.

I wish you well with your creation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I normally don't write outlines for my stories, but maybe this can help you a little bit:

What I'd do is make a very basic sketch outline of what you want your story to look like!. Start with headings and then a main point!. Do this for all the chapters you'd like to have and make sure you get ALL the main points down!.

Now you have the skeleton of an outline to work with!. After you've got this, write down more subcategories!. One for the characters introduced, another for what happens in this chapter, etc!. You can always leave space, in case you need to make amendments or new ideas pop into your head, but make sure you write them down so that they're not lost in your head!


Here's how I'd do it:
I!. Chapter One
A!. Main Point of Chapter
B!. Characters introduced
1!. Character 1
2!. Character 2, etc!.
C!. What happens in this chapter!.
1!.
2!.
Etc!. etc!. for all chapters!.

Then, take a separate sheet of paper and do in-depth character analysis for each character!. Now, I'm not sure what the process in your head is as you write, but for me, it takes me a little while to *really* get to know my characters!. They don't "tell" me what happens until I ask them, so making a character analysis sheet might be a little hard at first, and you might not have so much down!. For the main characters, though, you should have more down than for lesser characters, like, say, a woman the MC passes by once on the street!. Do physical descriptions, do personality descriptions; know your characters favorites (even if they have nothing to do with the story!. The more you know about your characters, the better you'll be able to tell their story) and all that jazz!.

I really hope this helps and good luck!
Www@QuestionHome@Com

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The main goal of an outline isn't to block yourself into using specific characters or specific places!.!.!.!. the goal is to establish what the story will be by determining the beginning middle and end - Act I, Act II, and Act III

Act 1 is ALL about establishing your character!. There is usually something that gets the story moving!. For example in Star Wars, the first act is all about Leah being taken prisoner and Luke's life as a farm boy!. There's excitement in the space battle and intrigue in Luke's interactions with the robots!. The first act establishes the characters while keeping the action interesting!.

The transition between act 1 and act 2 is crucial - something MUST happen that puts your main character on a path that makes it impossible to return to the way things were in Act I!. Either your character must escape from something they can't avoid or they must pursue something they can't in good conscience ignore!. In Star Wars, it's when Luke's aunt and uncle have been killed and he knows that the plans of the death star must be delivered to princess Leah!.

The transition usually happens somewhere in the first 1/5 of the story, so you've got PLENTY of time for action and adventure in the middle!.

The middle is, in fact, mostly about action and adventure - small trials, small excitements: Going to the cantena and getting into a fight, getting pulled onto the death star, springing princess Leah out of the prison cells, escaping the death star!. It's during Act II that the main character starts to understand what must happen in Act III!.

The transition between Act II and Act III is a less obvious transition than the first, but it's basically when the road to the final climax really begins!. It usually happens about 3/4 of the way in the story!. This is when the plans to attack the Death Star begin!. We know this is the final battle, and nothing will get in the way until the Death Star is destroyed!.

Act III contains the rise to the final climax, the climax, and the easing of tension to the end of the story!. You character fights the fight, makes the change, ultimately does what he never imagined he could do!. It's up to you whether your character returns to the life from Act I, or if they are unable to make the change back, and must establish a new life!. That's when you wrap up your story with a bang, and leave your readers with something memorable!.

Remember, there's a LOT of room for adding in characters, subplots and dialogue within this outline!. This is mainly to organize your ideas so that you never lose sight of your goals!. If you're in the middle of Act II and realize that your character could return to his life of Act I without consequence, then you'll know you need to make a better motivation for him as a transition between the acts!. He can't just decide to save the world because he wants to, he has to do it because he has no other choice but to do so!.

So, your outline may be as simple as!.!.!.

Act I - Introduce Betty as a character (shy high school student)!. Intro action is Betty must present her science fair project, which Billy has sabotaged!. Betty gets a mixture of her and Billy's chemicals all over her hands that gives her a superhuman ability for sensitivity of touch!.

Act I/II Transition - The government arrives at Betty's house to take her!.

Act II - Betty escapes and finds a refuge with an old woman who once told her about superhuman abilities!. Betty learns about the secret society with people who have superhuman abilities, and must pass a battery of tests to join!. At first she is happy, but eventually finds out that something is wrong and the society is corrupt and using her!. She and a new friend, Paolo, resolve to take the society down!.

Act II/III Transition - Someone discovers Betty's and Paolo's plan and kidnaps Paolo, forcing Betty to simultaneously save him and take down the secret society!.

Act III - Betty goes on a huge mission to save Paolo, then they both bring down the society together!. She returns home, Paolo at her side, with the government no longer after her!.

See how much is NOT in there!? What does the secret society look like!? What do the tests look like!? How are they using her!? All this is stuff I can figure out later, but right now, I just want to get the basic main action parts down!. If I come up with a better idea, I can change things slightly!. Paolo might end up being 2 girls, but I know what their role is in the story, as friends to my main character!.

I hope that helped - it's based on ideas from a book called Plot & Structure, which I wholeheartedly recommend!. If you have any more questions, just edit your question =)Www@QuestionHome@Com

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