The biggest challenge I hear among writers is getting stuck on the outline. This seems to trip a lot of us up and it doesn’t have to. A story outline is a detailed plan for a piece of fiction, like a novel or screenplay. It’s a roadmap for you as the writer to outline the key plot points, characters, and themes in your story. Creating an outline can also help you stay organized and focused as you work on your manuscript, and it can make revisions and editing much easier. In this post, I’ll discuss the elements of a story outline and provide tips for creating your own.
The first step in creating a story outline is developing your premise, or the main idea that your story will explore. This could be a character-driven concept, like a person trying to overcome a personal struggle, or a plot-driven idea, like a group of people trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. The premise needs to be clear and concise, and it should be the driving force behind the story.
Next, you’ll want to develop your characters. The main characters in your story are the people your readers will become most invested in, and they need to be well-rounded and relatable. They should have personalities, goals, challenges, and motivations, and they should be consistent throughout the story. Along with the main characters, you’ll also want to develop secondary characters that are important to the story, such as friends, enemies, and lovers.
Once you have your premise and characters, now you can begin to develop the plot. A plot is a series of events that are connected in a logical and meaningful way. The plot should be driven by the characters and their goals and should build towards a climax and resolution. The plot can be divided into three acts: the setup, where the characters and story are introduced; the rising action, where the story builds towards the climax; and the resolution, where the story concludes.
When creating an outline, it can be helpful to break your story down into scenes with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Each scene should advance the plot, reveal something about the characters, or both. Consider what the scene’s purpose is, what the conflict or objective is, what the characters want, and what will be the outcome of this scene.
Another really important element to include in your story outline is the theme. The theme is the underlying message or meaning of your story. It’s the idea you want your audience to take away from your story, such as the importance of family, the dangers of greed, or the nature of humanity. The theme should be present throughout the story, and it should be woven into the characters, plot, and setting.
Finally, when creating an outline, it’s crucial to remember that this is a tool to help you as the writer, but you should be open to changing the elements as you go along. As you write, your characters may evolve in a way you didn’t expect, and new plot twists may come to mind. You should be open to changes that will make your story more interesting or more compelling.
Ultimately, an outline is your detailed plan for a piece of work that includes the premise, characters, plot, scenes, and themes. Creating an outline can help writers stay organized and focused on their manuscripts, and it can be helpful for revisions and editing. An outline should be flexible, and it should be open to change as the story develops. Remember, a good story is an art and an outline is a tool to help you shape your art and bring it to life.