Many amateur writers who want to become novelists often start by sitting down at the computer and simply type away until they have a novel-length work of fiction. Though this method works for some established writers, many choose to create a novel outline prior to writing. Having an outline for a novel is very important in establishing a framework for your novel and it helps to guide you through the writing process. Without a book outline, you may find yourself writing tangentially - following little asides that are not integral to the development of the plot. If you are going to follow any of the many novel writing tips available, adhere to this one: create a novel outline before you begin to write your first draft.
How to Write a Novel Outline : Begin with the Basics
Only by having an in-depth understanding of the elements of your novel can you hope to actually write anything cohesive and readable. In order to develop your plot, setting, and characters within your own mind you need to start small. Decide who your main characters are, where your story will take place, and the central plot around which you will develop your story. The simplest way to record this information is in a spiral-bound notebook. On a fresh page of the notebook make a list of characters, key locations, and important plot points. These lists will serve as the most basic form of an outline for your novel.
Expand on Your Lists
After you have created your lists you can expand them into brief summaries about each subject. Write a one paragraph summary about each of your characters including all essential background information (birth date, family, important life events), physical descriptions, and their goals/motivations. If you want to, you can also create a character outline in the form of a family tree - chart the relationships between characters and keep this chart handy for reference once you begin writing.
In addition to writing character summaries (and perhaps before you even write those), you should also come up with a very brief summary of your novel. Begin by writing a one-sentence description of your novel which summarizes the main conflict which is to become the central plot of your story. Once you have written this one sentence you can expand it into a one paragraph summary describing the key events which preclude the climax and the resolution to occur afterward.
Example of a One-Sentence Summary: A mad scientist attempts to create life by piecing together the body parts of corpses but ends up creating a monster.
Get Organized
Once you have made all the important decisions about your characters and your plot you can begin to arrange all the details in whatever format makes the most sense to you. For some writers it is most helpful to write a novel outline in paragraph form. A book outline in this format might be a few pages long and would basically include a summary of the novel from beginning to end with one paragraph dedicated to each key plot point and obstacle which leads to the climax of the story. If you choose to write an outline for a novel using this method then you need to be careful to avoid adding too much detail - you have not yet begun to actually write your novel. Limit your paragraphs to only the most important information and try to end each paragraph with some kind of disaster or cliff-hanger that leads in to the paragraph about the next key event.
Another great way to create an outline for a book is to do so in bullet-point form. This is the most detailed form of a book outline and many writers find it to be a great resource when it comes time to actually begin writing. Begin by writing the title of your first chapter (or simply write "Chapter 1" if your chapters are untitled). Then, use headings and subheadings to record the main events that are to occur within that chapter. Keep this first novel outline as sparse as you can - include only the important information at first then go back and add details later.
Develop Your Basic Novel Outline
If you feel like you have a firm sense of your novel in your imagination and you have created a novel outline of some sort, you may be ready to begin writing. If, however, you would like to do a little more preparation then you can develop your basic outline with a few details. Take your bullet-point book outline and for each chapter, add some more details. Jot down ideas for great dialogue, make notes about the setting, and generally record anything that you think will help you when you begin writing. It is important to write down the details now while they are fresh in your mind because, once you begin writing, you are likely to get caught up in the process and may leave out important plot points that you came up with during the novel outline phase.
After you have gone through the process of writing character and plot summaries, drawing up a basic novel outline, and then expanded upon your book outline you are finally ready to begin writing. As you write, keep your outline handy so you can use it to keep your writing on track. An outline for a novel serves as the basic framework for the story and, as you write, you should make an effort to adhere to that framework as much as possible. Once you get through your first draft you can go back and add details but keep in mind that it is sometimes easier to add to a novel that needs more substance than to cut out material.
For more novel writing tips, click here.
Or try using some Free-Writing Exercises before you create your novel outline.
References:
Randy Ingermanson, "How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method," AdvancedFictionWriting.com
DHewitt29, "How to Outline Your Novel," eHow.com
Katherine Barrington - Katherine has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. When it comes to reading one of her favorite authors is Tamora ...
