9 Step Outline
Jan. 4th, 2025 09:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
r_a_youngThanks to #pretendpanel Day 3, I picked up a new outlining method.
As mentioned by Ange, she follows Brandon Sanderson's pitch document steps and start with a one-sentence overview of the book, e.g., "Inspired by X, Y, and Z, it is a [genre] book about..."
She also cited this Youtube video as her source
Based on the above, Youtube comments and also a 3 character question thing I picked up, I tested out this outline method today.
Step 1: Overview
One paragraph summary of plot. Set tone and concept.
"Inspired by X, Y, and Z, it is a [genre] book about…"
Step 2: Setting
Worldbuilding - The big plot secret, tech, magic, culture, geography, myth, biology, factions, aesthetics, societal trends.
Step 3: Main Characters
Heading per character. 3- 5 paragraphs.
Flaws, arcs, worth, goals, obstacles, persona.
1. Motivation. What are they trying to do, specifically?
2. Backstory. What brought them to the beginning of the plot?
3. Resolution. Where do they need to end up? Everything else falls into place around those three points.
Step 4: Secondary Characters
Heading per character. 2 - 3 paragraphs.
Consider repeating: Flaws, arcs, worth, goals, obstacles, persona. The three questions earlier.
Step 5: Minor Characters
Heading per character. 1 - 2 paragraphs.
Consider repeating: Flaws, arcs, worth, goals, obstacles, persona. The three questions earlier.
Step 6: Plot Archetypes
Identify story type for study. I prefer using the three act structure.
Act 1: Set-up
- Inciting incident
- Plot point 1: Dramatic question and call to action.
Act 2: Confrontation
- Worsen problem from Plot point 1
- Plot point 2: Confrontation
Act 3: Climax and resolution
Every story beat has a plot heading, with bullets explaining the start and end of these points.
Plot should maintain cohesion across the steps (including the next steps), plots feed back into one another.
Step 7: Plot Endings
Figure out how all these plots end to satisfaction.
Step 8: Disconnected Plots
Filling gaps between otherwise disconnected plots.
Step 9: Writing Your Story
Draw bullets from the various character and plot outlines to combine things into one
Chapter arrangement is useful.
Now write the story.
As mentioned by Ange, she follows Brandon Sanderson's pitch document steps and start with a one-sentence overview of the book, e.g., "Inspired by X, Y, and Z, it is a [genre] book about..."
She also cited this Youtube video as her source
Based on the above, Youtube comments and also a 3 character question thing I picked up, I tested out this outline method today.
Step 1: Overview
One paragraph summary of plot. Set tone and concept.
"Inspired by X, Y, and Z, it is a [genre] book about…"
Step 2: Setting
Worldbuilding - The big plot secret, tech, magic, culture, geography, myth, biology, factions, aesthetics, societal trends.
Step 3: Main Characters
Heading per character. 3- 5 paragraphs.
Flaws, arcs, worth, goals, obstacles, persona.
1. Motivation. What are they trying to do, specifically?
2. Backstory. What brought them to the beginning of the plot?
3. Resolution. Where do they need to end up? Everything else falls into place around those three points.
Step 4: Secondary Characters
Heading per character. 2 - 3 paragraphs.
Consider repeating: Flaws, arcs, worth, goals, obstacles, persona. The three questions earlier.
Step 5: Minor Characters
Heading per character. 1 - 2 paragraphs.
Consider repeating: Flaws, arcs, worth, goals, obstacles, persona. The three questions earlier.
Step 6: Plot Archetypes
Identify story type for study. I prefer using the three act structure.
Act 1: Set-up
- Inciting incident
- Plot point 1: Dramatic question and call to action.
Act 2: Confrontation
- Worsen problem from Plot point 1
- Plot point 2: Confrontation
Act 3: Climax and resolution
Every story beat has a plot heading, with bullets explaining the start and end of these points.
Plot should maintain cohesion across the steps (including the next steps), plots feed back into one another.
Step 7: Plot Endings
Figure out how all these plots end to satisfaction.
Step 8: Disconnected Plots
Filling gaps between otherwise disconnected plots.
Step 9: Writing Your Story
Draw bullets from the various character and plot outlines to combine things into one
Chapter arrangement is useful.
Now write the story.
