Key takeaways
- A novel outline is a structured breakdown of a novel’s plot, characters, and key turning points.
- To outline a novel, start by writing down your central idea, then build your main character, map major events, and expand these events into a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Outlining before writing helps you plan the novel’s pacing, track its characters’ growth, and avoid plot holes.
- A strong novel outline saves writing time, supports creativity, and makes it easier to revise the novel because it provides a roadmap to follow.
- The most effective outlines stay flexible and evolve as the story develops.
Every great novel begins with a plan. Before you write chapters, scenes, or dialogue, outlining a novel helps you find a clear path for your ideas to follow. Almost every author finds themselves stalling midway through a draft or struggling to keep track of characters and subplots. That’s just part of creative writing. With a novel outline, you can get through these challenges more easily because the outline acts as a guide.
Here are a few ways a novel outline provides much-needed structure for your work: It helps you organize ideas across many chapters, balance action and quieter moments, and follow character development from beginning to end. Outlining also fits naturally into the larger writing process, connecting early brainstorming to the drafting phase.
In this guide, you’ll learn what a novel outline is, how outlining supports strong writing, and how to create one step by step. We’ll share plenty of examples, formats, and practical tips to make outlining approachable and effective.
Table of contents
- What is a novel outline?
- Why is it important to outline a novel before writing?
- Common novel outline formats
- How to write an outline for a novel in 9 steps
- Example novel outlines
- Best practices for outlining a novel
- How Grammarly can help you outline a novel
- How to outline a novel FAQs
What is a novel outline?
A novel outline is a detailed plan that maps your story’s main events, characters, and structure before you begin writing. It helps you see how your novel’s plot will progress from beginning to end and how its plot and character arcs fit together.
A novel outline is a strategy for planning, not a form of restriction. An outline lets you test story logic, organize plotlines, and visualize where characters grow or change. Consider it a guide you can adjust as new ideas emerge.
Some authors enjoy writing detailed outlines, while others tend to write more bare-bones outlines, simply plotting their stories as bulleted lists. This is entirely personal preference; there are lots of valid ways to write a novel.
Outlining fits between brainstorming and drafting in the writing process. You may continue brainstorming while outlining, and many writers update their outlines as their stories evolve.
It’s important to keep in mind that a novel outline is not the same as a novel summary. A summary explains what happens. An outline shows how and why it happens, revealing the novel’s structure, flow, and character development.
Why is it important to outline a novel before writing?
Writing a novel is usually a long-term commitment. An outline helps you plan this journey before you start writing so you can stay on track and make sure your novel hits all the notes you want it to hit.
Here’s how outlining strengthens novel writing:
- Clarifies story structure by showing your novel’s shape early in the writing process. This ensures a solid beginning, middle, and end.
- Saves you time by identifying weak plot points before you start writing full chapters.
- Keeps characters consistent by tracking their motivations, flaws, and growth across many scenes.
- Balances pacing by showing you where tension builds and where the story slows.
- Makes revising your novel easier by giving you a roadmap to return to during editing.
Outlining frees you to focus on voice, imagery, and emotion in your first draft by providing a clear structure to follow as you write.
Common novel outline formats
There are many ways to outline a novel, such as simple lists and detailed maps of the narrative. The right outline format depends on your genre, planning style, and story length. Below are some of the most commonly used outlining approaches:
Three-act structure This classic structure divides your story into setup, confrontation, and resolution. It works well for novels and screenplays.
- Act I establishes characters and the premise.
- Act II builds conflict and complexity.
- Act III resolves the main tension.
Beat sheet
A beat sheet lists major plot beats or turning points that shape your story’s momentum. Beats mark moments of discovery, reversal, tension, or emotional shift.
Scene list
A scene list breaks the story into individual scenes with notes on each scene’s goals, conflicts, and outcomes. It’s ideal for writers who like granular planning or who write episodic fiction.
Snowflake method
This method gradually expands your story from a single sentence to multiple paragraphs, allowing structure and complexity to develop layer by layer.
Freytag’s Pyramid
This model visualizes narrative tension using exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It’s useful for understanding emotional pacing and dramatic shape.
These formats offer different levels of detail and flexibility when planning your novel. The right format for your novel is whichever helps you understand the story clearly and write forward with confidence.
How to write an outline for a novel in 9 steps
Outlining a novel means making a plan you can follow while you write. These nine steps will help you organize your story idea and shape it into a guide you’ll actually use.
Step 1. Identify your main idea or premise
Goal: Capture the story’s central idea.
Start your outline with a short “Premise” section. Write one or two sentences describing who the story is about, what they want, and what stands in their way.
Example: Premise: A young scientist must complete her late father’s invention before a rival company destroys his legacy.
This premise anchors the entire outline and keeps your focus clear, even as details evolve.
Step 2. Develop your main character
Goal: Ground the story in character motivation.
Create a short section describing your protagonist. Include their role, main goal, and one internal flaw or conflict.
Example: Main character: Elena is a determined scientist trying to prove her father’s theory. Her fear of failure makes her hesitant to trust others.
Keep this concise. It’s not a full character profile, just enough to guide plot decisions.
Step 3. Define what’s at stake
Goal: Clarify why the story matters. What does the main character have to lose or gain from the conflict?
Add a “Stakes” section explaining what the character could lose or gain and why it matters emotionally.
Example: Stakes: If Elena fails, her father’s research will be discredited forever, and she’ll lose her chance to prove her worth in her field.
Keeping stakes visible helps maintain tension throughout the outline.
Step 4. List your novel’s major moments
Goal: Establish the backbone of the plot.
Create a “Major moments” section with five to seven key turning points. Each should be a single sentence describing what changes.
Example:
- Elena takes over her father’s unfinished project.
- She discovers her mentor sabotaged the work.
- She loses funding and considers quitting.
- She uncovers hidden notes.
- She exposes the rival company.
- The invention succeeds.
For more information on writing a story’s events, see our guide to story plot.
Step 5. Add smaller scenes between big moments
Goal: Show how the story connects from one moment to the next.
Between major events, add brief notes about smaller scenes, setbacks, or discoveries that link them.
Example: Between moments two and three: Elena tries to present her findings but realizes key data is missing.
These notes help you visualize pacing and work the subplot into the larger narrative.
Step 6. Plan your turning point and ending
Goal: Capture the emotional peak and resolution.
Add a section describing the story’s biggest challenge and how it ends.
Example: Turning point and ending: Elena confronts her mentor during the final test, risking her career. The invention works, restoring her father’s legacy.
This helps you see where tension peaks and how it resolves.
Step 7. Track your character’s growth
Goal: Align plot with emotional change.
Include a short “character growth” note summarizing who the character is at the start and who they become.
Example: Character growth: At the beginning, Elena avoids leadership. By the end, she leads confidently.
This keeps character development central to the outline.
Step 8. Organize your outline
Goal: Turn notes into a readable structure.
Group events into three sections: beginning, middle, and end. Move major moments and connecting scenes into each section in order.
Example: Beginning: Elena takes over the project. Middle: She faces sabotage and doubt. End: She exposes the truth and succeeds.
Clear organization makes the outline easy to scan and revise.
Step 9. Use your outline as a guide while writing
Goal: Be flexible as you write your outline.
Treat your outline as a living document. Update it when new characters appear, pacing changes, or subplots develop.
Example novel outlines
Every writer outlines differently. Some prefer bullets; others prefer chapter summaries or scene lists. These examples show beginner-friendly approaches:
Example 1. Bulleted outline (adventure novel)
Premise: A climber must overcome self-doubt to lead her team through a deadly storm.
- Main character: Maya, a hesitant but skilled climber
- Stakes: The team’s survival
- Major moments: Ascent begins, accident occurs, storm hits, Maya leads, team survives
- Character growth: From fearful to confident leader
Why it works: You can see the entire story at a glance.
Example 2. Chapter summary outline (romance novel)
Premise: Two rival florists must work together on a wedding.
Each chapter gets one or two sentences describing plot and emotion, from the first clash to the final reconciliation.
Chapter 1: Both florists get booked for the wedding. Neither knows the other has been booked, and after receiving their deposits, both begin designing floral arrangements. They both arrive to a meeting with the couple to present their designs … and encounter each other.
Chapter 2: The couple explains that they booked two florists because the wedding’s theme is a flower garden, so their wedding’s floral scope is far beyond what a wedding typically needs. These two florists were recommended as the best in their city, so the couple is excited to work with them.
Chapter 3: Jazmin and Isaiah, the florists, clash over the project. Different visions, different executions, and their egos drive them to argue and insult each other’s work. Both feel strongly, and this passion is for more than the job.
Chapter 4: The wedding day arrives, and the flowers look fantastic. Jazmin and Isaiah worked all night to pull it off, and the end result is magical. They respect each other’s work and, from that, realize that it’s more than respect … it’s love.
Why it works: Chapter outlines balance pacing and emotional progression.
Example 3. Scene list outline (mystery novel)
Each scene lists goal, conflict, and outcome, ensuring every scene advances plot or character.
Premise: There’s been a robbery at the bakery. No money was stolen, but all the donuts were eaten.
Scene 1: The bakery has been ransacked, and the baker is furious and terrified.
Scene 2: Private eye Gavin Chen is on the case. He interviews many people, investigates the scene, and collects evidence.
Scene 3: The evidence all seems to point to raccoons, as the bakery’s back window is broken and it’s easy for wildlife to get in. Case closed?
Scene 4: Back at police HQ, Gavin notices donut crumbs all over the police chief’s shirt. The crumbs match the description of the donuts that had been eaten. The chief is the one who broke in and ate the donuts.
Why it works: Scene lists prevent filler and keep tension high.
No outline format is “right.” The best one helps you see your story clearly and start writing.
Best practices for outlining a novel
- Start broad, then add detail as needed.
- Keep summaries concise so they’re easy to revise.
- Track emotional change alongside plot events.
- Stay flexible and revise your outline as the story grows.
- Check cause and effect regularly.
- Use visual tools like mind mapping if you find them to be helpful.
- Seek outside feedback when possible.
How Grammarly can help you outline a novel
Grammarly helps writers plan, structure, and refine their novel outlines with clarity and organization. Here are some ways that Grammarly can help you outline your novel:
- Use Grammarly’s AI writing tools to brainstorm plotlines and character ideas.
- Turn notes into a structured plan with Grammarly’s free AI outline generator.
- Summarize long notes with Grammarly’s free AI summarizing tool.
- Preview reader impact with Reader Reactions.
- Get feedback on pacing and consistency with Expert Review.
- Use tone and clarity suggestions to keep scene summaries focused.
How to outline a novel FAQs
What is the purpose of outlining a novel?
Outlining gives you a roadmap that helps you plan events, track character growth, and stay organized while writing.
How does outlining make novel writing easier?
It breaks a large project into manageable steps, helping you maintain focus and pacing.
What should every novel outline include?
A premise, main character, stakes, major events, and an ending, plus notes on tone or theme if helpful.
How detailed should a novel outline be?
A novel outline can be as detailed as you need it to be. Start simple and add detail over time.
Can Grammarly help with novel outlining?
Yes. Grammarly can help brainstorm ideas, organize outlines, summarize notes, and provide feedback on structure and pacing.
