How to Write an Outline for a Novel
- 1). Begin by writing down the setting. Where does the story take place? Next, add a protagonist, your viewpoint character, and note what his problem or goal is. Formulate ideas about how he will get what he wants or needs. Take notes while you brainstorm ideas. There must be a conflict -- something that your character wants and something keeping him from it -- to move the story forward.
- 2). Create a secondary character and decide what her role is. Note which conflicts will surround the supporting character and how she will interact with the main character.
- 3). Compile a list of goals and issues for your antagonist. How will he oppose the progress of your protagonist? What conflicts can he add to the story? In other words, what exactly does he want? Again, take plenty of notes as you consider these questions.
- 4). Construct a subplot for your story and decide what role your characters will play. How will the protagonist, the secondary character(s) and the antagonist work together or oppose each other? Write down all of your thoughts. Your notes will be a great help for further brainstorming later.
- 5). Write down three to five events that might occur as your character strives to find an answer to his conflict. Come up with the same number of opposing events that might hinder that progress. Repeat these steps for the main character, the secondary and the antagonist.
- 6). Determine the major turning points within your story as the characters make progress toward resolution. How will you move the story forward?
- 7). Summarize your outline. What is the story about? Try to condense the entire story outline into a single paragraph.
- 8). Go back to the beginning of your outline and work at fleshing out more of the details you will include. Write biographies for each character. How will your characters be transformed as the tale progresses? Relate these transformations to the defining events of the story and how they will be played out. Come up with a few ideas for a title. Sometimes knowing the title can help you stay on the right track as you write.
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