Book outlines have saved the neck of many a bestselling writer — but the process behind them is mysterious at best. In this post, we pull back the curtain and show you (step-by-step) how to create a story outline. If you’re looking for some additional inspiration, skip to the appropriate section below to download a book outline template.
Don’t let the naysayers fool you: a story outline is the closest thing to a “get out of jail free” card in the long game of novel-writing.
Time invested in a story outline is foresight gained for your novel. Imagine you’re a rock climber looking up at a tall cliff, for instance. You could just leap onto the rock and see what happens. You might reach the top this way — but there’s a bigger chance that you’ll fall face-first or hit a dead-end along the way. Or: you could stay on the ground a little longer to read the route. This would enable you to climb faster, more fluidly, and with greater confidence in the near future.
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