Have you ever wondered why writers scribble on blank sheets but then burn those innocent pieces of paper just because they can’t seem to capture the story in their mind perfectly?
Perhaps it's because they don't know how to outline a novel. Some writers cringe at the mention of such extensive planning, but outlining a novel is an important step.
A Novel Idea is an organizational app designed to help creative writers brainstorm and arrange ideas and relevant information for projects of any length. The app provides an empty “skeleton” for a novel, which includes spaces for writers to fill in relevant details such as settings, tone, theme, and plot points. A Novel Idea is the premier tool for plotting your story and recording bursts of inspiration. Use its simple interface to create your characters, locations, scenes, and novels and then link them. Flying Lines - A hub of fabulous Chinese novels, where you can read, translate and create. We dedicate to providing high-quality original translation of Chinese novels and a better reading. Milanote is a super-versatile app that allows you to organize your research, ideas, characters and outline in one single place. Its visual workspace lets you clearly connect your thoughts, create mind maps, and develop moodboards.
If you are struggling with the idea, it can be helpful to start with a novel outline template. These are pre-made outlines that only need your story's specific information plugged in. They can be far less intimidating than starting from scratch.
Outlining a novel is a part of knowing how to write a novel or how to write a book.
Jumping directly into writing without taking the necessary steps will do nothing but slow down your progress and leave you frustrated. It may even stop you from putting that story together.
It is true that many writers won’t put emphasis on how to outline a novel. But, the importance of detailing the outlinefor your novel is enormous. In fact, it should be the firststep after idea generation.
According to Zadie Smith, there are two types of novelists: Macro planners and micromanagers. You need to ask yourself what type of novelist you want to be:
One who plans at a micro level or one who doesn’t care about planning or outlining a novel at all.
Missing the benefits outlining a novel comes with is not something you want for your story. This is why you may want to consider using a story outline template and learning how to outline a novel before you jump into any large writing projects.
By merely looking at bestsellers, onebegins to think – “What went into the preparation?” “How did the author pullthis off?”
The answers to those questions vary, but they tend to have one thing in common, and that is the efficient use of novel outlines.
Follow these steps to create a complete and useful outline:
- Know why it's important
- Choose which type of outline to use
- Know the benefits
- Set the stage
- Develop your characters
- Create a structure
- Organize the scenes
1. Outlining a Novel (Why It's Important)
A novel outline is a structure that helps you articulate ideas around the central theme of your story.
Here is an example of what the start of a novel outline looks like:
Think of something like this as a novel outline template, chapter by chapter. It summarizes your story, by significant events that will eventually make up chapters. Your story outline template is essentially the first draft you will prepare.
I can't stress the importance of outlining a novel enough.
There may come times when you hit rockbottom and run out of ideas for yourbook. It could even be the almighty writer’s block.
If you know how to outline a novel, it will serve as an inspiring force to keep these situations in check. If you need a little extra help, consider using a novel writing template:
This template, offered by Squibler, will help you get a novel started from scratch.
A Novel Outline Template Saves You Time
When you have a structure on the ground, it will be easy to look back. You can reference a particular chapter, develop better ideas, and increase the pace of your writing.
It is always frustrating to begin writing even when you do know how to write a novel. Sometimes, you feel lost - as though the story wasn’t right to begin with.
The outline should be your companion, your go-to map to direct the storyline. Without knowing how to outline a novel, you won't have anything to fall back on. In the end, if inspiration is lost, you might give up entirely.
This is another reason a novel outline template is a helpful place to start. With a good template, outlining a novel becomes much easier.
Squibler offers a novel outline template for many different purposes - from a basic novel outline to specific genres.
Even once you know the structure of a novel, each genre has different tropes, guidelines, and 'rules' that make it work.
For example - the 'happily ever after' is a staple of a true romance. Dramatic plot twists are what make a thriller thrilling. A crime drama or mystery usually isn't complete without at least one murder.
Following these genre rules doesn't make your novel unoriginal. It makes it interesting, effective, and ultimately, successful.
Squibler's novel outline templates will take you through the required elements of each genre and help you craft the perfect story.
This will save you copious amounts of time as you won't be drowning in plot holes and rewriting everything just to make it work.
Outlining a Novel Gives You Direction
When you write a novel with an outline in place, you know where you are headed. Without it, much of your writing will be random and unplanned. At some point, uncertainties will throw you off the path.
Your outline should be yourmap and your compass to navigate through the sophisticated process.
A Novel Outline Template Feeds Creativity
Some writers argue that having a fixed story outline template that guides your writing will stifle your creativity.
This is not true.
When there is an outline for your book, you know where to go if you are lost in character development or the milieu. A glance at your outline will remind you where you're going. Staying on track will help the novel ideas flow.
The outline helps you gather your thoughts and creativity and make productive use of them. So, don’t settle for the school of thought that suggests knowing how to outline a novel is unnecessary.
2. Which Novel Outline Should You Use?
In writing novels, there isno right or wrong method. The same thing applies to the novel outline.
There are different ways of planning your story. In the end, though, you want to be able to take your novel outline template chapter by chapter.
Scenes need to flow easily into each other and create logical, deliberate chapters. Regardless of exactly how you do it, each chapter should be covered.
If you have become frustrated with outlining a novel in the past, it could be because you didn’t take time to find which type of outline best fits your writing style.
Below are the types of novel outlines you can use. It doesn't matter if you're writing fiction or nonfiction. Learning how to write an outline for a book is valuable and necessary.
Synopsis
A seasoned writershould know what this means, but how about first-time novelists?
A synopsis is a briefoverview of a story.
It contains holistic and detailed information about the story’s plot, major themes, characters, settings, and other elements of fictional writing.
Not sure how to create a synopsis for your novel? This guide on how to write a one-page synopsis by Amanda Patterson is sure to help you.
A typical synopsis summarizesthe story in not more than three pages of a document.
Character Development
Any story centered on therole of one or two main characters requires a character-led novel outline.
Emphasis will be placed on the development of such characters and other character-centric elements like a character arc.
Here is an example of a character development template that you can use to get started.
Visual Outline
Every story is firstconceived in the mind before it is brought on paper.
You can explore your mind, tap into your creative flair and start to plan. You will be able to see the rises and falls, highs and lows, and every other thing you will need to tell the story.
Create a linking relationship between the characters, plot, setting, structure, themes, and conflicts. This will make the story cohesive and understandable.
Here is an example of what a visual outline for your novel could look like:
Here we see the inciting incident, some rising action, and major conflict. This is, of course, a very basic example. The point is, you need to convert your mind into a map and explore its rich terrains.
You own the fictional world your characters are set in. Take what you see in your mind and replicate it on paper, even if you're not an artist. This will help you see the story play out.
The Beat Sheet
Beat sheets are interestingstructure templates to personalize novel outlines.
With a beat sheet, most likely in Excel format, you represent major plot items by point and detail them.
For example, after determining the structure your book is going to take, the next step will be to highlight the major plots and themes.
This is what a beat sheet looks like:
This is a useful, straightforward novel outline template that will help you create the perfect outline. Fill in the sections and answer the questions with your novel in mind, and everything will start coming together.
Next, you can begin to elaborate on each of the plot points one by one. Once you get some information down, scenes and chapters will start forming naturally.
Beat sheets are like thought holders. They hold ideas in concise lines and unleash creative thinking when you go back to them.
The Skeleton
As the name implies, this is a rigid but naked framework. All it comprises are major plot points.
Think of an outline as a human with mere bones. The shape is there, but there aren't any notable or significant features. Here is an example:
When the book is eventually completed, it assumes that fuller, more attractive fleshy form.
The skeleton constitutesthe pillar of your novel. It is like a road map with the major cities marked inlarge letters for easy navigation.
What does this mean?
With this outline, you navigate your thoughts, explore your fictional world, and bring that story together perfectly.
3. Benefits of Using a Book Outline Template
Despite your writing style and whether or not you’re an author who typically relies on a book outline template, it’s probably safe to say there are times you might wish you had one. Maybe.
I should note there are a few definitive cases for having at least a loose outline of your book. Even those who hate to outline will agree to this.
Keeps Your Plot Fresh in Mind
There are times you start a book and for some reason, you put it aside. Maybe you have another story burning to be told. Maybe you had to deal with sickness - your own or a loved ones.
Assuming you don’t have total recall, after months—or perhaps years—do you remember your story? It’s plot and all its details? Or have you completely lost its thread? If you have an outline, it doesn’t matter what you’ve forgotten.
It Can Aid in Writing a Synopsis
Perhaps you’re intent on having your books traditionally published. If so, agents and publishers will often request a synopsis of your book.
Imagine this. The publisher you’re interested in requires a query letter, three chapters, and a synopsis. I know several authors, myself included at times, who would only have those first three chapters written.
Back when I started writing—this hasn’t changed, by the way—you could wait for months to hear back from a given publisher and depending on how quickly you wrote that was plenty of time to finish the book. Or at least motivate you to write faster. But you had to write your synopsis first.
That’s much easier to do if you have a detailed outline in place already.
It Can Help You Ease Into Writing in a New Genre
Templates and outlines might be especially useful to writers new to a genre. Some genres have very specific structures and arcs that need to be developed and followed. For example, if you’re thinking about writing a romance novel you need to meet reader expectations. An outline could help you meet them.
Let’s recap some reasons why templates or outlines may be good for some:
- Some writers, new or seasoned, are lost without one.
- If you have to leave off writing your book, you can come back to it any time.
- It’s much easier to write a synopsis when you already have an outline.
- If you’re new to a genre, an outline could be very helpful.
Outlining a Novel is a Process
A good novel outline template will be flexible enough for you to hop in at any stage and flow with ease. It should be a ladder with rungs that help you climb higher as you write more - not something that confines you to one rigid path.
A poor outline or no outline at all, just like a ladder with faulty rungs, will only make you collapse. Even if you have mastered how to write a novel, you will struggle without an outline.
We have analyzed the benefits of a novel outline. And we have discussed the various types of outlines.
Now, the question remains – “How does one begin outlining?” “Where do I start?”
These questions do have answers, though they will vary for every writer. Learning how to write an outline for a book is a different process for everyone.
4. Get the Stage Set
Just like in any field,poor planning will result in shaky structures that will later on collapse.
If you don’t set the stage well for your characters to exist and your setting to be logical, the story won't make sense.
A lot of time should bedevoted to brainstorming.
Do you have a central idea?
Are there related andunderlying themes that you need to capture in thestory?
Consider these and craft aperfect environment for them to thrive.
Another name for the central idea of your novel is ‘premise.’ It is the most basic component of your work. Without it, things will become messy.
Imagine you have learned everything on how to write a book, have finished writing that dream novel, and it is time to publish. When you take it to an editor, and they ask what your story is about, what summary will you give them?
What you respond with is the premise –the central idea of your novel.
If you can’t answer this question, you need to sit back and review the themes of your story. The answer to that question should also contain the reason for telling that story and writing that book in the way you did.
5. Develop Your Characters
The characters always makeor mar a book.
How they are presented to the readers, and how their actions progress, are of concern to the literary world.
Why?
People tend to have anemotional attachment to the characters in a book.
What does this mean?
For you to come out with a great novel, perhaps a bestseller, you need to build your characters well. Know who they are, their attributes and features. How they function as individuals and how they view the world.
Since they are imaginary, although not totally (more on this soon), their wills are just in your fingertips, one snap and they obey. Create unique personas that are relatable, mysterious, and awesome.
Characters From Real Life
Now about characters not being entirely imaginary – most characters are built from the people we come in contact with.
That old pa in a train station, sinking into an armchair. The redhead in a movie theater with an obsession for pasta.
Characters can be sourcedfrom many places.
No doubt, they could also be solely the product of your imagination. This does happen, especially in the fantasy genre.
If you don’t know how to go about creating your characters, do some research. Just like when you don’t know how to write a book, you do research and learn all about it.
Take on a couple of character development tests and build a unique cast for your book. After creating them, test to see if they can survive in the stage you have set.
Will their attributes allowthem to function?
Will there be difficultiesor flaws in their dealings?
You call the shots!
6. Create a Structure
Now you have some of your elements ready – specifically the characters and plots.
Next, you need to give your book a structure.
There are differentstructures that you can choose from.
It could be the three-act structure where your book is partitioned into three acts. This will have each ending and flowing into the next to later end in a resolution of the major conflicts.
If you need a headstart,check out thispost on how to structure a novel.
The structure will give you a clear picture of your story's beginning, middle, and end.
This helps in summarizing the story and gives you coherence in writing; a structure helps you stay on track. There won’t be a need for unnecessary deviations that you'll just end up removing later.
Even when new ideas come, your outline will help to articulate them and broaden the storyline. It will make them productive parts of the plot, rather than random additives.
A Novel Idea Application
7. Organize the Scenes
After mapping out the path that your story will trend, visually and in other formats, you should begin to break down the story into acts, sequences, and eventually chapters.
When you do this, youunderstand the progressive pace, and you are guided against jumping scenes andcreating messy loopholes.
Scenes build on yourcentral idea.
Therefore, before creating and organizing scenes, think of how they will fit into your narration.
No reader should sense a forced organization in your book like the chapters are barely clinging to each other with no fluid transition between each one.
You can create suspense.
How do you do this?
Jot different scenes in the normal, logical order of their occurrence. Then, try to reshuffle them without the story losing its distinctive beat and meaning.
Go Over the Final Version
Once you finish with the previous steps, you will need to check the outline for leaky scenes –places that need better illustrations.
Highlight and review the outline. Be critical. Don't be afraid to make changes and move things around.
A Novel Idea Apple
You don’t have to get it right all at once; it’s acceptable to make mistakes. There is no right or wrong approach. Do what works for you and your story. Just remember - don't neglect the importance of learning how to outline a novel properly.
Throw away protractors, goniometers, well sharped pencils, rulers or even transparent papers and huge text books in everyday practice. The solution is this new app.This app is a great idea and a novel integration of technology that uses the camera, touch screen, and computational power to help surgeons measureby few clicking in your screen you have results with suggestive diagnosis.......because the build in databases based in international reference databases compares the measured data with the databases.
Radiographic evaluation of the acetabular morphology is paramount importance for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up management in dysplasia of the hip in children. One useful index for objective evaluation, how deep the acetabulum is, is the Acetabular Depth Ratio (ADR) or Acetabular Index of Depth. The app helps to measure the acetabular depth and acetabular width and calculates the Acetabular Depth Ratio (ADR). The behaviour of ADR as the child ages normally changes and increases as the acetabulum deepens with grow and reaches in adulthood its normal value usually over 48%. Monitoring the ADR index during treatment of hip dysplasia is crucial. The ADR offers an objective value in order to evaluate the acetabular remodelling.
The Acetabular Depth Ratio App is medical software aimed for orthopaedic surgeons, providing tools that allow doctors to:
-Securely import medical images directly from the camera or stored photos
-Offers a very convenient way to determine the most accurate possibly way the acetabular depth in percentage. By clicking three points and inserting the age, the gender and the side of the patient in the App, the measured value is compared with values from normal reference database. In case the measured value is beyond the normal range according to reference database, the hips are categorised as borderline, mild or severe dysplastic.
-Save the planned images, for later review or consultation.
A Novel Idea App Gone
The software is a class II medical device in the FDA. All information received from the software output must be clinically reviewed regarding its plausibility before patient treatment! Acetabular Depth Ratio App indicated for assisting healthcare professionals. Clinical judgment and experience are required to properly use the software. The software is not for primary image interpretation.
In a busy everyday practice measuring in X-rays in clinical settings it is time consuming and cumbersome. Accessory instruments like protractors, goniometers, well sharped pencils, rulers or even transparent papers must be available. The app offers a very convenient and accurate way to measure the value of Acetabular Depth Ratio by clicking three points. Also offers the ability all the data to be compared with medical reference database and help decide what could be considered normal or pathologic.
A Novel Idea App Download
The app is not a simple goniometer, is an enhanced product which help to monitor objectively during the course of the treatment how much is deepening the acetabulum and evaluate the remodelling. This App is particular useful especially in clinical settings where you need a quick results without losing time in looking for reference data in textbooks.
Please see tutorial videos at the developer’s web site www.orthopractis.com or itunes
Reference
1. Novais EN1, Pan Z, Autruong PT, Meyers ML, Chang FM.Normal Percentile Reference Curves and Correlation of Acetabular Index and Acetabular Depth Ratio in Children. J Pediatr Orthop. 2016 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Murphy SB, Ganz R, Muller ME: The prognosis inuntreated dysplasia of the hip: A study of radiographic factors that predict the outcome. J BoneJoint Surg 77A:985–989, 1995
3. Li P, Ganz R Morphologic features of congenital acetabular dysplasia: one in six is retroverted. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, issue 416 (2003) pp. 245-53