![]() Writing a nonfiction book outline before you begin can help you organize your ideas and present them in an engaging, linear way. Writing a nonfiction book? You’ll find a book outline super helpful, too. Are book outlines only for fiction writers? After a while, your readers will be able to predict what happens simply by following a familiar structure. The problem is that by using the same novel outline template every time, the books can start to all sound the same. Many successful authors use the outlining method, particularly ones who write longstanding series of genre fiction-for example, romances or mysteries. Your readers will notice that these characters are making choices in service to the plot, rather than the truth of the story. The direction a story takes can surprise us, and sometimes writers have to corral their characters into place based on the plot choices they’ve already made.įor example, if you decided in your plot outline that the antagonist needs to sacrifice themself at the end for the greater good, you may arrive at that moment and realize it feels really out of character. If you’re working from an outline, you may have to decide whether to deviate from your outline or sacrifice the discovery that you’ve made. Part of writing a fiction book is learning surprising new things a bit your settings, conflicts, and characters along the way. The downside is that a book outline can sometimes impede the process of discovering as you go. Now, here are a few of the drawbacks you might experience in the outline process. The first draft is just about putting those pieces together. When you work with a book outline, you won’t get stuck because you’ll already have a predetermined chain of events in place. Sometimes the only way to get back on track is to work backwards. Prevents writers’ blockĭealing with writers’ block is the absolute worst, and often it happens because we don’t know where our story is going next. ![]() This way you can decide where you want your main character to begin, what you want them to learn on their journey, and where you want them to end up and have those pieces in place before you begin writing. It gives you a bird’s eye view of the events of your plot and the way they shape your characters. Highlights the big pictureĪ novel outline is a great tool for laying out the underlying themes and character development of your story. This is because you don’t have to spend as much time figuring out what’s going to happen next or backtracking over plot holes that don’t make sense. Is it counterintuitive to think an extra step will save you time in the long run? If you create a book outline before you begin, you’ll find the process of writing your first draft goes a lot faster. Here are some of the great reasons to write a book outline. Let’s look at some pros and cons to creating a novel outline and see if it’s the right tool for you. Like all tools of writing, using a book outline template comes with its advantages and drawbacks. By making this the first step in your book writing process, you can save yourself a lot of trouble down the road. Writing an outline means laying out a timeline of events that will occur in your book, including ideas for specific scenes and key character arcs. It might be a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown of your entire book, or it might be an overall summary of the main characters, key plot points, and story structure. What is a book outline?Ī book outline is a way to organize your story idea into manageable sequences before you begin writing. Let’s explore several different book outlining strategies you can use when writing a book. Writing an outline before you begin your actual book provides the opportunity to flesh out the major plot points and the overall story structure, and to determine how to develop your characters. ![]() ![]() Do you find writing fiction intimidating? You’re not alone-and beginning with a detailed outline can make a world of difference to your novel. ![]()
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