How to Create a Novel Outline

Now that you know what needs to go into an outline, grab your notebook (or index cards) and
follow these simple steps:

1. Craft your premise

This is the underlying idea for your story. A good way to find the premise is to ask yourself, “What
would happen if…?” For example: What would happen if a young man who survives a shipwreck
spends months in a lifeboat with a large Bengal tiger? (Life of Pi, 2001) Or: What would happen if
four strangers met in an Italian villa during World War II? (The English Patient, 1992).

Next, it might help to try and answer a few key questions to help expand on the premise and
generate new ideas. Things like:

 Who is the main protagonist?

 What is the situation?
 How will the protagonist change from the beginning of the novel to the end?
 What is her/her objective?
 What does he/she want?
 How does he/she get or not get what they want?
 Is there an opposing force that is stopping the protagonist from achieving this objective?
 What is the central conflict of the novel?
 What about the central theme—what are you trying to say?
Once you’ve worked out the answers to these questions, write a one-paragraph summary of the
novel. Think of it as an elevator pitch.

2. Determine your setting

In a novel, the setting (time, place) can be just as important as the characters. Readers need to
feel a sense of where things are happening, just as much as why they’re happening.

Planning setting can depend on a number of things, depending on what kind of novel you’re
writing. Get to know your setting intimately. Do as much research as you can. If your novel is set in
the real world, find photos, descriptions, and other materials to inform your ideas.

Is your novel set in a boarding school? During a particular period in time? Find as much
information, both written and visual, about boarding schools in that time. Picture your settings in
your mind, and write down as much detail as you can: everything from how something looks and
sounds to how it might smell, taste, or feel.

3. Get to know your characters

Write character profiles. Visualize them. Pretend you’re introducing these characters to your
friends. What would you say about them? What details would you include, and what details would
you omit—and why? What kind of journey will each character undertake in the novel? Where will
they start, and where will they end up? Who will be central to the novel’s plot, and who will just
serve as color and background?

Develop character backstories. Think of the moments in each character’s life that have led them to
the point where they are introduced in the novel. What elements have shaped their personality and
progression as characters? Do they have unresolved issues crucial to the plot?

One method is to conduct a Q&A with the most important characters, as a way of finding out more
about them. Ask your characters a series of questions (get as personal as you want) and have
him/her answer in his/her own words.

4. Construct your plot

Construct a timeline of events. Write down everything that happens in the novel, from the
beginning to the end. Include details where you can, such as where the events take place, and
who is involved. If you know the outcome of the events, and how they will impact the novel’s
overall plot, include this as well (these can help form the foundation of additional subplots).

 Beginning: The beginning of your novel has to accomplish a lot. It must introduce the hero,
the villain, and the world of the story, as well as the story’s sole dramatic question, and it
 must do this with enough energy to grab your reader’s interest right away. A prologue can
be useful for seizing the reader’s attention.
 Middle: Often, tension evaporates in the middle of a novel, so it’s a good idea to figure out
your ending first. It may not be perfect, and you can always change it later, but it’s useful to
know the climax to which your characters are headed. Having that destination will help you
stay focused during the “middle muddle.” Write as many short sentences as you need to
describe the pathway your characters will take to reach the climax.
 End: While it may seem daunting to figure out the ending so early, just return to your sole
dramatic question, which already has your ending hidden within it. For example, if your
question is: Will Ahab catch the whale? Then your story’s finale will be the moment when
he does.
5. Write your scenes
Once your plot outline is in place, you’ll have a better idea of what scenes will need to be placed
where. Add them to the outline. Flesh them out as much as you want—everything from where the
action takes place to who is involved, even dialogue if you already know what you want your
characters to say. Don’t worry about things making sense at this point, you’ll have time later to go
back and highlight anything that feels out of place. Just focus on getting everything down so you
can see it in front of you.

Once your outline is complete, you’ll be free to start writing your first draft with the knowledge that
if you falter, you can always turn back to the outline to see the big picture. As you begin the writing
process, watch out for gaps in logic. Refer back to the outline, and update storylines, plot points,
and the timeline as you go along.

While it’s necessary to have a basic grasp of your characters and your world when you start
writing, it’s not essential to know everything up front. In fact, even with the most meticulous
outlines, you may still find that your characters do things to upset your plans. When this happens,
follow your instincts. Don’t be afraid to toss your outline or significantly revise it mid-way through
your novel. A good rule to remember is that outlines involve plotting what will happen to your
characters, but in the end, your characters should determine your plot.