A basic plot outline can be created without complicated graphs and time-consuming instructions. All that is really needed is a pen and notebook, imagination and organization.
Basic Plot Outline Step One: Get Organized
Decide what kind of book you are writing. The length and chapter length of a book depends upon the genre. Before making a plot outline, decide on the length and number of chapters you want to end up with and plan accordingly. It helps to find books of similar size and genre and see what the average length and chapter length is for several published works. This is an important step as it sets a goal by estimating the overall length of the completed novel. The chapters and page lengths will vary depending on what type of book you are writing.
Here is as sample of what might be put at the top of a plot outline for an average length mystery novel: Outline for Mystery Novel: 20 chapters of 15 pages, approx 300 pages, word length approx. 75,000.
Now make a section for each chapter up to 20 or how many you prefer and label them Chapter One, Chapter Two. Allow some space to write between them. Use more than one page if necessary, but don’t use the back of the page as you’ll want to see every part of the outline. Some authors use file cards. Or you can also work on the computer where it is easy to copy and paste.
Creating a Plot Outline Step Two: Create a Character Biography
Next, get your character biography ready. Plots are made of characters and before any plot can be constructed, the author must have a good idea of who the main characters are and what role they will play in the book. For help creating a character bio see Building a Character Biography.
Basic Plot Outline Step Three: Plan Your Action
What’s going to happen in the book? And where is it going to happen? Next, make a list of all the scenes you know are going to go into the book. Some of them will be action scenes, some may be love scenes, some may be scenes of reflection. Each one of these must be assigned a chapter, and they should be varied.
A plot outline can then be broken down by chapters. First jot down what main event will happen in the chapter. At first, these descriptions will be brief. Then, as you develop the plot, more and more specifics will be added. This is the time to arrange events in their best possible order. Don’t be afraid to change them around. As you develop chapter by chapter,the first part of the book should introduce the problem and characters, the middle should be a continuation, and the last few chapters should be the wind-up or conclusion.
Here is how the beginning of the outline might look before your own specific story events are added:
ONE
introduce problem
TWO
introduce suspects, investigation
THREE
introduce romance subplot
Outlining a Plot Step Three: Start Filling in the Blanks
As you work up the story line some chapters won’t have anything written under them yet. Don’t get discouraged. The plot outline is the place to find out where the story is strong and where it is weak, where you need a dash of action or a touch of romance before you even get started. Other events will soon build on the ones you already have. If you persevere, you will soon have a solid plot outline from which to write your book.
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