How To Outline Your Novel

A Quick and Easy Guide for People Who Hate Outlining

I hate outlining.
Sure, it can be fun, and it’s a great way to organize your ideas if you have billions of them. But if you only have a few great ideas and know you can fill in the rest as you go, starting with an outline can get overwhelming fast.

This is how it will play out:

1. Be really excited you’re about to write the best novel ever.
2. Write awesome detail-filled scene notes for maybe four or so chapters.
3. Run out of ideas—and details.
4. Have no idea how your story is going to end (or begin).
5. Get frustrated with yourself and your silly story that you shouldn’t even write anyway because it’s stupid garbage doo-doo.
6. Decide you’re never writing again.

-Or-

1. Quickly outline so you understand the overall plot of your story.
2. Write a book, without losing focus along the way.

Hmm…which to choose?

I’m not saying writers who love to outline are terrible people. They’re probably not.

Some people only thrive when every detail is pre-planned while others need the creative space. Plus, some books need more outlining than others.

When I wrote my first story ever, I used a very rough outline that put my characters somewhere new in every chapter.

All I had to do was figure out creative ways to get them there. That can be applied to every story, even if the “place” is actually a major point in their journey, relationship, disease progression, or whatever your story is about.

With my second book, my original outline only consisted of five words: the five major plot points I would need to address perfectly spaced out throughout the story. I had so much inspiration from the first novel, I didn’t worry about writer’s block or plot holes at all.

When I started drafting the third book, however, I had so many great ideas from the first two books I knew I had to outline so that I wouldn’t leave anything out.

Today I’ll be showing you the 15-section outline I’ve used for all my novels that yields great results every time. I use 15 “sections,” which can easily be broken down into smaller chapters.

For outlining purposes, I usually keep the sections around the same length, but my books always end up with some sections a little fuller than others.

Before You Start

Before you start your outline, decide how your story will begin and end, and what the most exciting event will be. Then decide what length of time the story will cover (one year, one day, a school year, etc.).

If you don’t at least have a beginning, middle, and end, you may want to do a little more Brainstorming before you outline so that you don’t end up stuck early on.

But if not knowing how your story will end is all that’s keeping you from writing? Don’t let me stop you. Write now and work out the rest of your outline later. A good writing stretch will do wonders for getting your inspiration going.

My 15-Section Outline

The outline described below is probably best for YA/Adult Fiction but can be applied to any genre. Remember, it’s okay if your story doesn’t fit perfectly into this formula, this is just a guide to get you started. This outline is similar to the Hero’s Journey, but I think, a little easier to understand.

Today’s example outline will be featuring Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. The Lightning Thief only has 22 chapters so each section in this example is about 1-2 chapters, but your outline may have more.

(Spoilers ahead)

Part One: The Introduction

Introduce all the major players, introduce an event that changes their lives.

We meet Percy Jackson and learn his life is not as it seems.

Section One: Introduction

Usually a day-in-the-life snapshot of your character. What is life normally like at the start of the story?

This is where you introduce your main characters and setting. Introduce the antagonist also, or at least hint at them.

Percy lives with his mom, has ADHD, and is nearly killed by a monster straight out of Greek mythology on his sixth-grade field trip.

Section Two: Call to Action

“…and that’s when it started raining meatballs!” Or whatever.

This is the major change in your main character’s life that will prompt them to set off on their adventure.

Percy sees three old ladies knitting. After he hears an eerie “Snip!” he finds out his best friend is not only his protector, but also a Satyr. In order to keep Percy safe, he is taken to camp Half-Blood, a camp for demi-gods, the children of the Olympians.

Section Three: Point of No Return

This is when your character will be thrust into their new world or reality, and you give your readers the first real taste of the darkness that hides in your story (if there is any).

What happens that keeps your characters from going back to “life as usual?”

You should also have a decent introduction for the antagonist by now if you don’t already.

On the way to Camp Half-Blood Percy is attacked by a minotaur and loses his mother. Percy arrives at camp.

Part Two: The Mystery

What is this strange, new world? Who are these people?

Percy meets the other campers at Camp Half-Blood.

Section Four: New Reality

Now that your character can’t go back to life as before, what will they have to do? Where are they trying to get to or what are they trying to achieve?

What is life like for your character in this new reality? What will they have to do to get back to life as before? (If that’s their goal.)

Percy meets Annabeth, another camper from Camp Half-Blood who helps nurse him back to health.

Section Five: New Friends

Who does your character meet in their new world? These are the people who will help them out later. This is also a great place to foreshadow people, places, or items that might come in handy later.

Introduce new characters, skills, and resources that will support your character through the rest of your story.

Percy settles in at Camp Half-Blood, starts learning Greek and training to fight.

Section Six: Major Event

“Oh no! What’s going on?” The character your readers are falling in love with has some crazy stuff going on in their life right now…

Put a major plot reveal, twist, or hint in this chapter. Be sure it’s not the most exciting one though.

There is an attack at Camp Half-Blood. Percy learns the Olympian Poseidon is his father.

Part Three: The Action

This is where your best action scenes should be. It should also be the mid-point of your timeline.

Percy and his friends set off on a journey to find the stolen lightning bolt.

Section Seven: Build-Up

Things are happening. Tension is building. You’re preparing your readers for the most exciting part of your book.

This should include a reaction to the first event or reveal (chapter six), build-up of tension, and a hint at upcoming explosive events.

Percy and his friends are sent on a quest to find Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt, finding several enemies along the way.

Section Eight: High-Action Event

This is where we put our wars, people.

This should be where you put your most explosive event. Something your character will be reacting and adjusting to in the next few chapters.

Ares sends Percy and Annabeth to a water park where they are nearly killed, and learn their quest is being televised for the Olympians’ entertainment.

Section Nine: Simmer-Down

“Wow. That was incredible. I don’t think life will ever be the same after ___.”

Try to be nice to your readers in this chapter, especially if they are in mourning from chapter eight still. Show them their favorite characters still have hope and will (maybe) be all right.

Percy learns his mom is still alive, and being kept in the Underworld.

Part Four: The Conflict

This is when your character will decide they are dedicated to complete their quest despite the crazy thing(s) that have happened to them.

Percy and his friends try to find the Underworld.

Section Ten: Encouragement to Complete the Quest

Despite all odds, they’re committed to seeing things through.

Introduce or hint at a person or resource that would really help your character out right now.

Percy and his friends are trapped for several days, leaving them only one day to find and return the lightning bolt to Zeus.

Section Eleven: Major Event/Lose Everything

“Oh no, now something even worse has happened, and your character no longer has the one thing that’s been keeping them going this whole time.”

You can be mean to your readers again in Section Eleven. Try to make them cry.

Percy reaches Santa Monica and is given three pearls by a sea spirit.

Section Twelve: Major Twist

Maybe that traumatic event was too horrible for your character to recover from, maybe it turned them evil! Evil I say! *Insane laughter here*

Put your best twist here (unless you need it for the end, then use your second-best twist).

Percy and his friends sneak into the Underworld and confront Hades about the stolen lightning bolt. Percy is reunited with his mother.

Part Five: The Conclusion

You’re almost done! You are going to be an author! Yay, you!

Percy must escape the Underworld and return the lightning bolt to Zeus.

Section Thirteen: Tie All Storylines Together

“What? I did not see that coming. A and B are connected??”

Find a way to smoothly bring all your characters and subplots together, proving to your readers you did, in fact, know what you were doing the whole time!

While confronting Hades, Zeus’ hidden lightning bolt is revealed to be in Percy’s backpack. Percy and his friends escape the Underworld using the three pearls given to him by the sea spirit, but he must leave his mother behind.

Section Fourteen: Resolution Between Protagonist and Antagonist

The final battle.

This is when your good guy beats your bad guy. Make sure all your plot lines have been addressed and your questions answered.

Percy must battle an Olympian in order to prevent war on Earth. Percy returns the stolen lightning bolt to Zeus.

Section Fifteen: Conclusion/What’s Next?

Do they live happily ever after? Do they make it back home? What will their everyday life be like now? Make your readers happy here so that they’ll buy more of your awesome books.

Deliver your character to their new life, conclude all story lines, show readers a glimpse of what your characters are like after their journey. If you are writing a series, hint at what the next book will be about.

Percy returns home with his mother and must decide whether to go back to school next year or stay at Camp Half-Blood.

Do you see what we did there? We just outlined a novel, and it wasn’t even that bad!

Remember, this outline is only a suggestion. There are many different ways to plot a book, but this is the formula that works for me. You and your novel are unique, and shouldn’t be forced into a mold. Some sections may be longer or shorter, moved around, or missing altogether. Play around with this outline until you’re satisfied your story is hitting all the important beats.

This post has been updated and edited by Catt Editing.

Check her out at www.CattEditing.com or over on Facebook.