Want to craft the perfect story but not sure where to start? A great story outline can be your secret weapon.
Here is a summary of how to write a story outline:
To write a story outline: choose your structure, sketch your plot, create character arcs, define key events, set up the conflict, and write a scene-by-scene breakdown. Tailor the outline to your writing style, whether you’re working on a short story, novel, or series.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to write a great story outline.
What Is a Story Outline?
A story outline is a blueprint for your story. It gives you an overview of your plot, characters, themes, and pacing.
Think of it as a map guiding you from point A to point Z in your narrative. While it’s flexible, it helps avoid plot holes and keeps you on track.
Why You Need One
- Clarity: An outline brings clarity to your story’s progression, from the opening hook to the climactic conclusion.
- Direction: It serves as a guide, ensuring you don’t veer off course.
- Pacing: Helps you manage pacing, making sure each scene contributes meaningfully to the overall story.
- Character Development: By outlining, you can clearly see how your characters evolve from start to finish.
- Efficiency: Prevents writer’s block by giving you a roadmap of where the story is heading.
Types of Story Outlines
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all for outlining. Different writers need different methods. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular ones:
- The Basic Outline — A straightforward list format—great for getting an overview of events. This method breaks down your story into major plot points.
- The Snowflake Method — This method starts with a simple sentence and gradually expands it into scenes and chapters. Ideal for plotters who like to build their story from the ground up.
- The Beat Sheet — Used by screenwriters, this approach focuses on emotional beats. It’s useful for keeping pacing tight and ensuring readers stay emotionally engaged.
- The Three-Act Structure — A classic approach dividing your story into setup, confrontation, and resolution. It’s the backbone of most films and novels and works well for almost any genre.
- The Mind Map — If you’re a visual learner, mind mapping lets you sketch your plot, characters, and themes in a non-linear way. It’s flexible and great for brainstorming.
- The Hero’s Journey — A story structure that follows a hero’s adventure, challenge, and return. This method is common in fantasy and adventure genres but works in other genres too.
The Story Outline Blueprint: A Step-by-Step Guide
This section walks you through the process of creating a story outline that’s actionable, clear, and well-rounded. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an idea, these steps will help you stay organized and on track.
Step 1: Choose Your Outline Type
Pick the outline type that suits your story and personal style best. Each has its strengths, so tailor the structure to fit your project. For example, a thriller might benefit from the beat sheet approach to keep tension high, while an epic fantasy could thrive with the hero’s journey.
Step 2: Define Your Story’s Central Conflict
Conflict is the driving force behind any great story. Identify the primary conflict early on and ensure that it’s compelling. This conflict could be external (man vs. nature, man vs. society) or internal (man vs. self).
Example: In a sci-fi thriller, the central conflict could be a hacker trying to take down a corrupt government. The personal stakes? The hacker’s sister is caught in the middle.
Step 3: Create Character Arcs
Characters must change over the course of the story. Define your protagonist’s arc—how do they evolve from the beginning to the end? Also, consider the arcs of secondary characters, as they can enhance the main narrative.
Example: In a coming-of-age story, the protagonist might start as a timid, insecure teenager and evolve into a confident leader by the end. Outline the key moments that trigger their growth.
Step 4: Identify Key Plot Points
Plot points are the backbone of your story. Map out the significant moments that drive your story forward—this includes the inciting incident, the climax, and the resolution. Also, note any secondary plotlines and how they’ll intersect with the main story.
Example of Key Plot Points for a Mystery Novel:
- Inciting Incident: A detective is hired to solve a murder.
- Plot Point 1: The detective discovers a connection to a larger conspiracy.
- Midpoint: The detective is attacked, raising the stakes.
- Plot Point 2: A major clue is uncovered, but it’s a red herring.
- Climax: The detective confronts the killer in a tense showdown.
Step 5: Break Down Scenes
Once you’ve outlined the key plot points, it’s time to plan individual scenes. Each scene should serve a purpose, either advancing the plot, developing characters, or establishing the setting.
Example: If the story is a courtroom drama, one scene might involve a heated cross-examination that reveals critical evidence. Another could be a quiet moment where the lawyer questions their morals.
Step 6: Write the Outline
Start with a basic skeleton of your story, then gradually flesh it out. Add details, descriptions, and nuances as needed. Your outline doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s just a tool to guide you.
Check out this good story about the easiest way to outline a story:
How to Write a Story Outline for a Short Story
Short stories require tight plotting and focused conflict.
Here’s how to outline one effectively:
- Focus on One Conflict: Short stories don’t have room for multiple subplots. Stick to one central conflict.
- Limit Your Characters: Fewer characters make for a more streamlined narrative.
- Outline Each Scene with Precision: Every scene needs to carry its purpose and drive the story forward. Since you’re working with limited word count, make sure each moment is essential to the plot.
Example Short Story Outline:
Title: “The Last Letter”
- Opening Scene: The protagonist, Emily, receives an unexpected letter from her estranged father, whom she hasn’t spoken to in years.
- Inciting Incident: The letter reveals a secret about Emily’s past, urging her to visit her father one last time.
- Conflict: Emily debates whether to confront her father, struggling with feelings of abandonment and unresolved anger.
- Climax: Emily arrives at her father’s house and finds him on his deathbed. He admits the real reason for leaving, completely shifting her perspective.
- Resolution: Emily forgives him and leaves with a newfound sense of closure, but the letter holds an additional surprise.
In a short story, every scene needs to be laser-focused.
There’s no room for filler or drawn-out subplots, so every plot point should be tightly woven into the main conflict.
How to Write a Story Outline for a Novel
Novels allow for more complexity, character depth, and multiple subplots.
Here’s how to structure a novel’s outline:
- Define the Main and Secondary Plots: Novels often include subplots that enrich the main narrative. Start by outlining both the main plot and any secondary plots.
- Establish Character Arcs: Your characters should change over the course of the novel. Plot out how each major character grows, develops, or regresses.
- Outline Chapters or Scenes: Once your plot is clear, break it down into chapters or scenes. Each chapter should have a purpose—either moving the plot forward, developing a character, or deepening the world-building.
Example Novel Outline:
Title: “Shadows of Tomorrow”
- Act 1 (Setup):
- Opening Scene: In a near-future dystopia, protagonist Lila works as a data miner for a corrupt corporation.
- Inciting Incident: Lila discovers encrypted files hinting at a secret rebellion against the corporate regime.
- Character Arc (Lila): Starts as a disillusioned worker, apathetic to the government’s control.
- Act 2 (Confrontation):
- Midpoint: Lila joins the rebellion but is betrayed by a close ally, questioning who she can trust.
- Subplot: Lila begins a reluctant romance with another rebel, complicating her goals.
- Character Arc: Lila starts questioning her own morals and whether the rebellion is any better than the regime.
- Act 3 (Resolution):
- Climax: Lila confronts the corporate leader in a high-stakes confrontation, risking everything.
- Final Scene: Lila takes control, but at a great personal cost, setting up potential consequences for a sequel.
Novels need a balance between action, character development, and world-building.
Make sure your outline reflects this by allocating time to each.
How to Write a Story Outline for a Book Series
Book series need long-term planning. You’ll need to track character arcs, plot points, and continuity across multiple books.
This type of outline should include both an overall series arc and individual book arcs.
- Establish the Series Plot: What is the overarching conflict that ties the entire series together? Plan this out from the start, even if only loosely.
- Track Character Development Across Books: How will your characters evolve over the entire series? Some arcs can be resolved in a single book, while others may span multiple books.
- Foreshadowing and Continuity: Ensure that events and clues planted in the first book pay off later in the series. Keep detailed notes to avoid contradictions.
Example Book Series Outline:
Title: “The Elemental Wars” Book 1 – The Awakening:
- Opening Scene: The protagonist, Aria, discovers she can manipulate fire after an accident in her village.
- Inciting Incident: Aria is forced to flee when soldiers hunt her down, accusing her of being part of a dangerous prophecy.
- Climax: Aria faces an enemy elemental and barely escapes, setting up the greater conflict for the next book. Book 2 – The Rising Storm:
- Opening Scene: Aria has joined a group of elemental rebels, but internal conflicts weaken their efforts.
- Midpoint: Aria’s power grows, but so does her fear of losing control. She uncovers a plot to destroy all elemental wielders.
- Climax: Aria must choose between saving her friends and stopping the elemental purge. Book 3 – The Eternal Flame:
- Opening Scene: Aria is now leading the rebellion but faces betrayal from within.
- Final Climax: The prophecy is fulfilled in an unexpected way, leaving Aria to make the ultimate sacrifice.
- Resolution: The series concludes with a new balance of power, but not without heavy losses.
Pros and Cons of Different Story Outline Styles
Here’s a more in-depth look at the pros and cons of each outlining style and when to use them:
Basic Outline:
- Pros: Simple, quick, easy to understand.
- Cons: Lacks depth and flexibility.
- Best for: Short stories, first-time outliners, and writers who prefer a more minimalist approach.
Snowflake Method:
- Pros: Builds complexity naturally, great for detailed character and plot development.
- Cons: Time-intensive, can feel overwhelming for beginners.
- Best for: Writers who enjoy a structured, step-by-step process. Ideal for novels with intricate plots and character development.
Beat Sheet:
- Pros: Keeps pacing tight, emphasizes emotional engagement.
- Cons: Can feel restrictive, especially for more fluid or experimental narratives.
- Best for: Screenwriters, thriller writers, and those who want to ensure their story hits the right beats at the right times.
Three-Act Structure:
- Pros: Classic, widely used, fits almost any genre.
- Cons: Can be predictable if followed too rigidly.
- Best for: Novels, plays, movies. Excellent for writers looking for a clear framework.
Mind Map:
- Pros: Visual, encourages creative connections.
- Cons: Can get messy or hard to follow as more ideas are added.
- Best for: Brainstorming sessions and writers who like to see their ideas laid out visually before refining them into a linear story.
Hero’s Journey:
- Pros: Rich in character development, deeply resonant themes.
- Cons: Risk of feeling clichéd if not handled with care.
- Best for: Epic stories, fantasy, adventure, and any genre where a character undergoes significant personal transformation.
Example Story Outlines
Here are 10 detailed examples of different types of story outlines, covering various genres and styles.
Some are long and intricate, while others are simpler. Use these as templates or inspiration for your own stories.
Romantic Comedy – Outline (Simple)
Title: “Love Undercover”
- Opening Scene: Julia, a workaholic journalist, goes undercover to expose a corrupt businessman.
- Inciting Incident: Julia accidentally falls for her target during the investigation.
- Conflict: Torn between her career and newfound feelings, Julia struggles to keep her identity a secret.
- Climax: Her secret is revealed, jeopardizing both the relationship and her career.
- Resolution: Julia finds a way to bring down the corrupt businessman and patch things up with her love interest.
Mystery – Outline (More Detailed)
Title: “Whispers in the Fog”
- Opening Scene: Detective Jane Parker is called to a small coastal town after a body is discovered washed ashore.
- Inciting Incident: Jane finds a strange note on the body, hinting at a bigger mystery.
- Act 1: Jane interviews locals, uncovering secrets about the town’s dark past.
- Midpoint: Jane discovers a link between the dead body and a series of disappearances from years ago.
- Act 2: Jane begins to receive anonymous threats, telling her to stop the investigation.
- Climax: Jane confronts the killer in an old lighthouse during a storm, piecing together the final clues.
- Resolution: The mystery is solved, but Jane is left with lingering questions about her own past, setting up a sequel.
Sci-Fi Epic – Outline (Complex)
Title: “Echoes of the Machine”
- Opening Scene: The year is 2300. Human consciousness can now be uploaded to machines. Protagonist Ava wakes up after a failed consciousness transfer.
- Inciting Incident: Ava learns that her mind is being controlled by a rogue AI.
- Conflict: Ava struggles to regain control of her own thoughts while also evading government agents hunting her down.
- Subplot: Ava’s best friend, Juno, tries to develop a way to sever the AI’s connection without killing Ava.
- Midpoint: Ava’s body is destroyed, leaving her consciousness trapped in the digital world.
- Climax: Ava and Juno launch an assault on the central AI control hub to regain control of Ava’s mind.
- Resolution: Ava manages to escape the digital prison, but the experience changes her forever. This sets up future conflicts with the rogue AI.
Fantasy – Outline (Longer and Detailed)
Title: “The Dragon’s Heir”
- Prologue: In a distant past, dragons ruled the world alongside humans. A prophecy foretells the return of the Dragon Heir, who will rise to unite the kingdom once more.
- Opening Scene: The protagonist, Alina, a seemingly ordinary peasant girl, discovers a dragon egg hidden in the forest while hunting.
- Inciting Incident: Alina is visited in a dream by the ghost of a long-dead dragon rider, who tells her she is the Dragon Heir from the prophecy.
- Act 1 (Setup): Alina narrowly escapes with the egg when the king’s soldiers arrive in her village, forcing her to leave her old life behind.
- Act 2 (Confrontation): Alina joins a band of rebels, learns to control her magic, and bonds with the dragon hatchling.
- Midpoint: The dragon chooses Alina as its rider, marking a major turning point.
- Act 3 (Climax): Alina faces off against the king’s elite soldiers in an epic battle.
- Resolution: Alina is crowned as queen, but the threat of the king looms.
Historical Fiction – Outline (Detailed)
Title: “The Last Revolution”
- Opening Scene: Set in 18th-century France during the revolution, Jacques, a poor baker, is forced to join the rebellion when his family is threatened by the monarchy’s soldiers.
- Inciting Incident: Jacques swears revenge on the soldiers who burned down his bakery.
- Act 1 (Setup): Jacques questions the methods of the radical faction he joins, driven by his thirst for revenge.
- Act 2 (Confrontation): Jacques uncovers a plot to assassinate a key leader of the revolution.
- Midpoint: Jacques shifts his focus from personal revenge to preventing the assassination.
- Act 3 (Climax): Jacques abandons his need for personal vengeance to fight for the greater cause.
- Resolution: The revolution grows bloodier, and Jacques is left to grapple with his role in it.
Psychological Thriller – Outline (Simple)
Title: “Into the Abyss”
- Opening Scene: Mark, a psychiatrist, starts receiving disturbing anonymous letters from a former patient who recently committed suicide.
- Inciting Incident: The letters include intimate details about Mark’s life, making him question his sanity.
- Conflict: Mark delves into his deceased patient’s life and becomes obsessed with the source of the letters.
- Climax: Mark realizes he may have been a participant in the experiment.
Young Adult Coming-of-Age – Outline (Detailed)
Title: “Breaking Free”
- Opening Scene: Maya, a shy high school senior, prepares for graduation.
- Inciting Incident: Maya receives an acceptance letter from an art school in New York, but her parents are opposed to her going.
- Act 1 (Setup): Maya starts saving money secretly for her move, despite her parents’ objections.
- Act 2 (Confrontation): Maya’s relationship with her parents reaches a breaking point when they discover her plans.
- Midpoint: Maya struggles with guilt but knows she must pursue her dreams.
- Act 3 (Climax): Maya confronts her parents and stands up for herself.
- Resolution: Maya moves to New York, ready to start her new life.
Action-Adventure – Outline (Simple)
Title: “Hunted”
- Opening Scene: Jack, a former Navy SEAL turned treasure hunter, is stranded on a deserted island after a mission goes wrong.
- Inciting Incident: Jack discovers that mercenaries are hunting him down.
- Act 1 (Setup): Jack forms an uneasy alliance with Maria, a local woman who knows the island’s secrets.
- Act 2 (Confrontation): Jack faces moral dilemmas as he evades the mercenaries.
- Act 3 (Climax): Jack and Maria set a trap for the mercenaries in an explosive showdown.
Horror – Outline (Detailed)
Title: “The Haunting of Silver Hollow”
- Prologue: In the 1800s, several mysterious deaths occur in Silver Hollow, all linked to a haunted mansion.
- Opening Scene: In the present day, college students stay in the mansion as part of a haunted house dare.
- Inciting Incident: Sarah finds a journal detailing the deaths that plagued the town.
- Act 1 (Setup): Sarah, a skeptic, begins to suspect the journal holds the key to their survival when one of her friends goes missing.
- Act 2 (Confrontation): The group is hunted by malevolent spirits, and Sarah learns the curse can only be broken by a sacrifice.
- Midpoint: Sarah’s friend Mike is possessed, turning him into an enemy.
- Act 3 (Climax): Sarah confronts the leader of the spirits in the mansion’s attic.
- Resolution: Sarah breaks the curse without sacrificing herself, but the story hints that the curse may not be fully lifted.
Historical Romance – Outline (Detailed)
Title: “A Love Across Oceans”
- Opening Scene: Isabella watches as her fiancé departs for America to start a new life.
- Inciting Incident: Concerned after months without contact, Isabella boards a ship to America and meets Edward, a charming ship’s captain.
- Act 1 (Setup): Isabella learns her fiancé has disappeared, and she begins to grow closer to Edward.
- Act 2 (Confrontation): Isabella and Edward uncover the web of lies surrounding her fiancé’s disappearance.
- Midpoint: Isabella discovers her fiancé was involved in criminal activity.
- Subplot: Edward reveals his own tragic past, which complicates their growing relationship.
- Act 3 (Climax): Isabella must choose between returning to England or staying with Edward.
- Resolution: Isabella chooses love over duty and stays with Edward to begin a new life.
Final Thoughts: How to Write a Story Outline
tory outlines are your creative compass, guiding you from the first spark of an idea to a fully realized narrative.
But remember, they aren’t carved in stone. As your story evolves, so can your outline.
Don’t be afraid to adapt it, add layers, or even break the rules if it benefits your story.
The key is to start outlining, then let the process lead you to even greater ideas. Now that you’ve got the tools, there’s nothing stopping you—go outline that masterpiece waiting to be written.