There are different ways to reach a destination. Some people get in the car, start in a random direction, and go wherever the path takes them. For these people, the journey is the goal. Others carefully plan out the route and the stops along the way. This group will use a map or GPS to guide them to the destination. In novel writing, an outline is much like a map or GPS. It can help navigate around and through some difficult tasks. Some writers dislike the idea of having an outline because they think they have to outline the way Mrs. Jones in English class taught with Roman numerals, with A. B. Cs, and 1.2.3s. However, that is only one way. Here are some ways to outline your novel.
Bullet Points
This involves simply writing key plot events and significant moments that are like destinations on the road trip. These can be in a random order, similar to a grocery list. The characters will move through these points as the story progresses.
Mind Mapping
Think of a mind map as a doodle with a purpose. It is a way to brainstorm ideas without the stress of putting them in the correct order. With a mind map, all the random ideas and scenes can be put onto paper and then connected. It can be thought of as a story skeleton.
Index Cards or Sticky Notes
Key ideas or scenes can be written on individual index cards or sticky notes. The beauty of this method is that they can be arranged and rearranged into a timeline on a board or table.
Pixar Story Structure
The highly successful animated movie studio Pixar creates stories using the six-tier story structure. The story structure is:
- Once upon a time…
- Every Day…
- Until one day…
- Because of that…
- Because of that…
- Until finally…
This is how all of the Pixar stories begin. Once upon a time, there was a room full of toys. Every day, Andy’s favorite toy, Woody the cowboy, would watch over the other toys and play with Andy. Until one day, a new toy arrived. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger took over Woody’s favorite toy spot. Because of that, Woody gets jealous and accidentally knocks Buzz out of the window. Because of that, Woody and Buzz become lost and end up almost getting destroyed at Sid’s house. Until finally Buzz and Woody become friends and make it back to Andy just in time. Starting with these six-sentence beginnings allows the writer to create key plot elements that might otherwise be missed.
Spreadsheet Outlining
J.K. Rowling’s handwritten outline of the Order of the Phoenix
Using a spreadsheet is similar to using sticky notes or index cards. Characters can be listed across the top, while the chapter names and other key details can be listed down the side. Then each block can contain the plot elements. J.K. Rowling used this method to map out all seven of the Harry Potter books. Using this method, she was able to add questions into the first few books that wouldn’t be answered until the fifth or sixth books.
Outlining for a novel is not one-size-fits-all. Experiment with different methods, and don’t be afraid to tailor the approach to your storytelling style.
About the Author
Jeff Robb – Spring 2024
Jeff is a third-generation Panama City local working toward his bachelor’s degree in Digital Production.
