How to Write an Outline for Your Novel
Researching this week, I discovered we need to go back to our premise and plot twists to see if we can now add more interesting content to the ideas we wrote. What can you glean from the premise you’ve written?
5 Epic Moments That Will Define Your Story Outline
Can you think of five major events that will occur in your novel? Can you think of five ways to add your plot twists to each of those events? When adding your plot twists, think about how these will affect the story:
- How will this affect the protagonist?
- Will you need to add backstory for your protagonist to show this effect?
- Who else will be affected by this plot twist?
- Is this a good place to add conflict? If so, between which characters?
- Will this interfere with your protagonist getting what they want? How?
- Will it cause a disaster for your protagonist?
- Does your world-mapping need more of a fantasy backdrop for your plot twist to be epic?
Do this exercise for all your major events and you’ll have a good outline started. Try to write a rough scene for each one to revise later. If you hit a wall don’t give up. Read a book in the same genre, or brainstorm with your writing group, then just start writing and ‘pants‘ for a while. Letting the juices flow freely may stir a firework display of creativity.
VisualWritingPrompts
If you don’t have any scenes spinning in your head yet, watch a TV show in the same genre as your novel. This works great for me. I’m glad I have a pause button so I can write notes as I watch. You can also find some great visual writing prompts on my Pinterest board. Later, you’ll keep what fits and file the other ideas for another time or maybe another novel.
Here’s a prompt to get you started. What do you see in this picture? A peaceful sunset at the beach, an approaching storm, or perhaps a scary scene from The Walking Dead with a horde of zombies approaching?
Til next time, know you are loved by the One who made you in His image.
Lynne
Resources for Outlining a Novel
White Rose Writers on Pinterest
Outlining Your Novel, by K.M. Weiland
Lynne Collier 