Writing a Book: Step 3 - Build your Outline

Here is where the work to creating your book really begins. Before you can start writing that book, you need to know what's going to happen in it - your story's beginning, middle and end.

So what is your story outline?

Well, it's generally the facts of your story and what happens throughout laid out in a plan. Your story outline allows you to plan - ahead of time - the story that you want to write. Try to make it as detailed as possible; know how it begins, what happens in the middle, what the climax is, and how you want it to end. I will provide a template form for you to use in this article.

And remember, these things take time, so don't rush through this because you're eager to start writing. If you don't know the story you want to tell and how you want to tell it, you'll get stuck before you finish.

I'll also say this: even if you plan your story, it is likely that you will still get stuck somewhere in the middle of your novel. Writer's block happens to everybody - even professionals. You just have to figure out what works best for you to overcome it. It could be freewriting, taking a break for a day or two and come back to it, watch or read something you find inspiring. There are many ways to overcome it, so don't let it get you down. Don't let it be the reason you quit.

So, here is a general detailed story outline template to help you get your novel started:

1. Working title:

2. Protagonist's name:

3. Character Flaw:

4. How does the story start?

5. What is your opening scene?

6. How does the story end?

7. What is your closing scene?

8. What is your protagonist's external goal? (The motivation and goal for the character to reach by the end of the book - it can be physical or mental):

9. What is the theme of your novel?

10. Who is/are your Anatogonist(s)?

11. Who is/are your Allie(s)?

12. What's the inciting event that kickstarts the story?

13. When/how does your character realise their external goal?

14. How is their flaw portrayed for the first time?

15. How will your character try to reach their goal initially?

16. When and how is the antagonist revealed?

17. What happens to annoy your antagonist? Do they fail at their first attempt to get what they want?

18. Is your character's flaw portrayed again? And how?

19. How does your character change their way of reaching their external goal during the novel?

20. Does the antagonist attack your character? If so, how?

21. Does your character change their goal at any point?

22. How does your ally help your main character?

23. When and how does your character realise what they must do in order to reach their goal?

24. Is there a final battle between your protagonist and antagonist? What happens?

25. What's the outcome?

26. Story ends.