Novel Outline

A novel outline is a tool that fiction writers use to stay on track when they are working. Not all writers decide to use one, but this strategy can be helpful when planning different elements of the work.

Outline for Novel

The novel outline is a kind of road map that a writer uses. It is flexible enough to be as simple or as complicated as the author needs it to be. The outline is something that can be changed and updated as the writer is developing the novel.

The novel outline can be used as a basic guideline to what will happen in the story, or it can be very detailed. One writer may use different styles for different projects. The person who decides to pen a novel needs to give the work enough detail so that the reader's interest is engaged from the beginning and held while they read the book.

A writer has a number of options when it comes to writing his or her novel outline. Depending on the writer's personal style and preference, it can include the following types of information:

Some writers like to map out exactly what is going to happen in the story. They have a clear idea about what events are going to take place, and they use the outline to list them. This may be an effective strategy if the novel is one that has one main plot accompanied by subplots. All the action can be listed on the outline so that the writer can keep track of all the twists and turns in the story.

In novel writing, it's not enough to make a list of characters. The novelist must also give them names, come up with a physical description for each person, and create a history for them. Then the author must figure out how and when the characters are going to interact with each other. He or she must take care to ensure that each meeting or conversation advances the plot somehow. If that doesn't happen, then the reader will lose interest in the novel.

The story in the novel takes place in various locations. Like the characters the author creates, each location must be described in some detail. The reader will use his or her words to get a mental picture of the places where the action in the story takes place.

The author must fill in the blanks by describing these locations in detail. The general atmosphere is a good starting point, and then more detail, such as the furnishings in a room, the colors of an outdoor scene, or the details of the weather in a particular scene.

Some writers only jot down a few notes for the settings they will be using, while others want to paint a detailed visual picture for themselves before they start to write. The outline can accommodate both of these approaches, as well as any level of detail in between.

The outline can also be used to plot out different scenes before the actual writing begins. If the outline is detailed enough in this respect, it can look very much like a first draft. This strategy may be helpful for a first-time novelist and someone with more experience may want to use a shorter outline and move into the writing stage earlier on.

The suggestions listed here are just that. There are no rules set in stone about what a novel outline is supposed to look like. Some novelists like develop their work in a different way and dispense with the outline stage altogether. For those who do choose to use one, however, a novel outline can be very effective.

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