How To Outline A Book: Step-by-Step Instructions to Write a Better Book Faster in 2023

The method I follow is something I like to call, “The Method of Madness”. It’s like a mix of a lot of the methods in this video (specifically the mindmap, reversal, skeletal, and chapter by chapter methods), but I develop my ideas in a really whack order. I do this because I find it maximizes my creativity. I do have some sanity with this method, though, I always start my story by writing out the different parts of a story arc structure I like to use to structure my outline (in chronological order): - exposition (the everyday life of the main protagonist(s)) - setting (the location of the story) - trigger (the event the puts the story into motion) - rising action (the events leading up to the crisis and climax) - crisis (the dark moment of the story, the “what do we do?” moment) - climax (turning point, the part with the highest tension) - falling action (where all loose ends are tied off, all unanswered questions are answered) - Resolution (the new everyday life of the main protagonist(s)) If you have a different way you prefer to organize your story in groups, go for it. Other important things: - main conflict (summary of the rising action, the first goal) - explanation - majority of it occurs in the crisis and potentially the climax, any other loose ends are tied up in the falling action I do this because, while I do want to maximize my creativity, I don’t want to spend so much organizing my information later; the only downside is I end up jumping around my outline a lot. My chaotic order in which I develop my ideas is why I named it, “The Method of Madness”. I’ve followed this order subconsciously for so long that it only took me until just recently (years after I started writing) to be able to break it down. So here it is for you - if you wish to know (feel free to tweak it to your liking): - main conflict - explanation - summary of climax - summary of crisis - basic exposition information (I might start with some information, though, (like the setting) at the beginning of the order of events in which I develop my story) - main characters - summary of the falling action and resolution - expanding the rising action - expanding the trigger - expanding the crisis - expanding the climax - expanding the falling action - character development - (I don't expand on the exposition, resolution, or determine my minor characters until I am sitting down actually writing my story) If you haven’t noticed, like a mindmap, I like to first come up with the summary of a lot of my topics, then expand on those ideas later. The reason I wouldn’t consider this kind of like a snowflake method, though, is because it develops ideas in chronological order; I only organize my story ideas that way, not develop them. So rather than the snowflake method, I like to think of it as more of a mindmap. How I specifically expand my summaries is: I divide them up into a couple vague ideas, then those ideas into more ideas, and so on. Because of this, I do end up having a lot of skeletal structure in my outline; later on once I’ve finished my outline I then chunk my ideas up into different chapters (chapter by chapter method). Finally, when developing my characters near the very end; I like to start at what I want their characteristics to be like at the end of the novel, then plan backwards from there (like the reversal method) ——————————————————— Tips: - If you have writer's block, think: “What if…?” - if you are all finished and done and find yourself needing more ideas and / or conflict to reach a goal you might have set for yourself (or for any other reason); I like to focus on the rising action, then (rather than adding onto it, right before the crisis and climax) insert ideas (or conflicts, same thing) between two already existing ones. ——————————————————— TL;DR: My method called, “The Method of Madness” is basically just me coming up with ideas in a weird way (listed above) to maximize my creativity, but they are written down in an organized way (causing me to bounce around my pre-written outline (listed above) a lot). I then chunk up my skeletal structured text into chapters.

When I started writing the book, I did a basic outlining, but I wasn't aware how important it was! Thanks for the heads up!

Outlining makes writing so much easier. Thanks for the tips!

1:15--Thank you for defining "outline," something almost no other video does. I must admit, I've never understood why people start novels without the basic elements of the story in their head, but to each his own.

I enjoyed your webinar on this topic very much. Really inspiring.

Amazing video! I send my son a two minute video every morning before i go in to work. Im trying to surprise him with a book using the story ideas we came up with! This will make a big difference! Thank you!

I'm such a pantser that outlining seems like a foreign concept because my characters take over as I write my YA/NA Contemporary Romances. However I can follow someone else's outline.

Such a great strategy! This really helped me organize and clarify what I want to write about :)

Glad to see that during your rehabilitation, you have found a positive outlet. I hope that when you are released, you will continue to make these videos.

Chandler-- As the owner of a publishing company, I am a writer, editor and publisher, and these tips are incredibly AWESOME!!! I will be referring my writers and editors to watch this as part of our company training. Thank you!!!

I'm a mix of a plotter and a pantser. Have been using SPS's tips since 2015 and love it!

I use mind-mapping, then create an outline of the points I want to include in the book/article, then write from outline points. This is a helpful YouTube as it explains the processes that could be helpful for you!

One of the best videos I’ve watched . I have watched it several times.

Makes sense! Thanks for pointing it out so clearly.

Love your videos Bella!!! Great tips. Outlining has made a huge difference for me.

I am hybrid - I create the initial outline for both fiction and non-fiction. For NF - I use the mindmap process. For Fiction is literally a string of events in the book and what pushed them forward.

Our new favorite method is the mindmap system. We learned this you. Thank you 🙂

Thanks for addressing how to outline fiction. When we learned to outline in school, it was inevitably for nonfiction only.

I never realized how important outlining a book is! Now my books will be better and sell better as well

Love this video! I never realized there were multiple ways to outline. I've always outlined in a sequential detailed format, but I like the idea of the mind map drawing.