Effective Outlining Techniques for Writers: Examples and Expert Resources
Whether you're a plotter or panster, you can use any of these techniques!
Outlining is a crucial step in writing, helping us organize our thoughts and structure our work effectively. If you’re new to writing, the outlining process can feel overwhelming. Why bother?
The benefits of creating an outline:
It helps visualize the big picture
Keeps the story on track
Logs which scenes go where
Presents character arcs
Acts as a guide to ease writer’s block when you’re stuck
Clarifies the middle to avoid the “muddle.”
The drawbacks of creating an outline:
Can create a stilted narrative
If followed too closely, it can feel formulaic
This may lead to more showing rather than telling in the actual writing
Characters may seem to make inauthentic choices solely based on plot points instead of natural results from narrative action.
I’ll review a few popular outline options and then tell you how I’ve written eight books (so far)…
Here are some common types of outlines used by writers, along with examples and sources where you can learn more:
1. Alphanumeric Outline
Description: This is the most common outline form, using Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, and letters to organize topics hierarchically.
Example:
- I. Introduction
- A. Thesis Statement
- II. Body
- A. Point 1
- 1. Subpoint
- III. Conclusion
Source: Purdue offers a comprehensive guide on structuring an alphanumeric outline.
2. Full Sentence Outline
Description: This is similar to the alphanumeric outline, but each point is written as a complete sentence, which can help clarify your main ideas more explicitly.
Example:
- Introduction: "Here I will introduce my thesis about the impact of social media on mental health."
- Body Point 1: "Social media can increase feelings of isolation."
- Source: You can see more about sentence outlines in Michigan State University's writing guide.
3. Decimal Outline
Description: This uses a decimal system for sub-levels, which can be helpful for complex topics that require detailed structuring.
Example:
- 1.0 Introduction
- 1.1 Thesis Statement
- 2.0 Body
- 2.1 Main Topic
- Source: Writers' Handbook from the University of Wisconsin gives a detailed explanation of decimal outlines.
4. Bullet Point Outline
Description: Less formal than alphanumeric outlines, bullet points are great for brainstorming and quick organization.
Example:
- Introduction
- Thesis statement
- Main points
- Subpoints
Source: For more relaxed writing tasks, the bullet point outline can be adapted from any essential organizational guide, such as Grammarly's blog.
5. Narrative Outline
Description: This type is ideal for storytelling or creative writing, focusing on plot elements and character development. This can be used for fiction and nonfiction.
Example:
- Exposition: Introduce background and characters.
- Rising Action: Describe the conflicts and challenges.
- Climax: The turning point.
- Falling Action: Consequences of the climax.
- Resolution: The story concludes.
Source: MasterClass offers insights on how to craft a narrative outline.
6. Freytag’s Pyramid Outline
Description: This outline is based on Gustav Freytag's analysis of dramatic structure, ideal for structuring plays, novels, and other narrative forms. It divides the plot into five parts to enhance storytelling.
Example:
Exposition: Introduce the setting and characters.
Rising Action: Build tension with a series of events leading to the climax.
Climax: The main event or turning point of the story.
Falling Action: Events that result from the climax and lead to the resolution.
Denouement: The conclusion where conflicts are resolved.
7. ChatGpt Outline
ChatGPT can be pretty helpful when you're creating outlines. Here’s how you might use it to streamline your process:
Brainstorming: You can start by sharing your initial ideas or themes, and ChatGPT can help generate a list of related topics, questions, or critical points that you might want to explore in your outline. This can be especially useful when you feel stuck or need a fresh perspective.
Structure Development: Once you have your main points, ChatGPT can assist in organizing them into a logical structure. You can discuss different organizational patterns, like chronological, problem-solution, or cause-effect, and see which best suits your content.
Detail Addition: ChatGPT can suggest subpoints or important details supporting your main ideas for each section of your outline. This can help ensure that your outline is thorough and covers all necessary aspects of the topic.
Editing and Refinement: After drafting your outline, you can review it with ChatGPT to refine and tighten your points. ChatGPT can help rephrase or condense ideas for clarity and impact.
Feedback: You can ask ChatGPT to review your outline and provide input on coherence, relevance, and comprehensiveness. It can act as a first pair of eyes before you draft the full content.
Using ChatGPT in this way can make the planning stage of your writing more efficient and might even spark some creative ideas you hadn't considered.
Must We Outline?
If there’s one rule all writers must follow, it’s this: there’s no one rule you must follow.
Plenty of people start writing without any idea where their story will go, and that’s okay, too. Not having an outline for years prevented me from pursuing my first book because I felt I lacked the knowledge or ‘craft’ skills.
Then I read this from Stephen King: “Outlines are the last resource of bad fiction writers who wish to God they were writing masters’ theses.”
And I just started writing—whatever came into my head related to the topic. I filled an entire moleskin journal with ideas, thoughts, characters, settings, and experiences—it was so much, carrying it all around in my head, that this process felt…freeing.
What I learned that works best for me is just to write. And keep writing. It doesn’t have to make sense or be in a particular order. Nobody will see this but me.
Once I have that first draft of crap, I then create an outline from it. For me, this works. I also work closely with my editor to ensure I stay on the chosen path (I didn’t say ‘right path’ because your book will grow and change as you write it.)
These sources are a great starting point to delve deeper into the specifics of each type of outline, helping you decide which method suits your writing project best.
How do you outline? Do you outline? Please share comments and tips below!
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