The Complete Guide to Outlining a Novel (Even If You Hate Outlining)

Master novel outlining with multiple proven methods. Whether you’re a planner, pantser, or hybrid writer, discover outlining techniques that work for your creative process and prevent plot disasters.

The Outlining Paradox That Divides Writers

Camp Planner: “I need detailed roadmaps before writing. Outlining prevents plot holes, ensures character arcs work, and saves revision time.”

Camp Pantser: “Outlining kills creativity. I discover my story through writing. My best ideas emerge during drafting, not planning.”

Both camps are right.

Both approaches produce published novels. Both have legitimate strengths. Neither is “the correct way to write.”

But here’s what both camps eventually learn: Even pantsers benefit from some structural planning (even if it’s retrospective), and even outliners must remain flexible when drafts reveal better paths.

The real question isn’t “Should I outline?”

It’s “What type of outlining serves MY creative process?”

The Planner-Pantser Spectrum (And Where You Actually Fall)

Beyond the Binary

The planner/pantser dichotomy is useful shorthand, but most writers occupy the middle ground.

The Spectrum:

Pure Planner ←—— Planster —— Hybrid —— Discovery Writer ——→ Pure Pantser

Pure Planner (5% of writers):

Detailed scene-by-scene outline before drafting
Knows ending before starting
Rarely deviates from plan
Minimal structural revision needed

Planster (25% of writers):

Outlines major plot points only
Knows general direction, not every turn
Outlines acts, improvises scenes
Moderate structural revision

Hybrid (40% of writers):

Outlines first act in detail
Has rough ideas for rest
Adjusts outline as draft evolves
Significant but manageable revision

Discovery Writer (25% of writers):

Minimal upfront planning
Discovers plot through drafting
May outline midway to find direction
Heavy structural revision expected

Pure Pantser (5% of writers):

Zero advance planning
Complete discovery process
Multiple drafts to find story
Extensive revision/restructuring

Where are you? Most writers shift along this spectrum across projects and career stages.

The Evolution Pattern

Common trajectory:

New writers often pants (don’t know structure yet)
Experience teaches structure (plotting becomes more intuitive)
Many shift toward planning (value efficiency)
Some master hybrid approaches (plan structure, discover details)

Your position isn’t permanent. Different projects may require different approaches.

Why Outline At All? The Legitimate Benefits

For Planners (Who Already Outline)

Primary benefits:

1. Plot coherence Catch logic holes before writing 80,000 words

2. Character arc tracking Ensure protagonists evolve consistently across story

3. Pacing control Visualize story rhythm and adjust before drafting

4. Efficiency Less revision time (when outline is solid)

5. Confidence Know where you’re going reduces mid-draft panic

For Pantsers (Who Resist Outlining)

Why you might reconsider:

1. Prevent abandonment Many pantsed manuscripts stall at midpoint when writer realizes plot doesn’t work

2. Reduce revision burden Yes, you lose some discovery magic. But you might save 6-12 months of revision.

3. Meet deadlines Professional authors often can’t afford multi-year discovery processes

4. Manage complexity More intricate plots (multiple POVs, timelines, mysteries) become exponentially harder to pants

The compromise: Pants your first draft, THEN outline what you wrote. Use outline to fix structural issues before full revision.

Method 1: The Spreadsheet Outline (Rowling Method)

Why Spreadsheets Work

The visualization advantage: Human brains struggle tracking 20+ variables simultaneously. Spreadsheets externalize this complexity, showing how plots, subplots, and character arcs intersect.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s handwritten spreadsheets for Harry Potter, refined by modern authors like Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give).

The Basic Setup

Column structure:

Column A: Plot framework elements (see below) Column B: Chapter numbers Column C: Main plot Columns D-H: Major characters (decreasing importance) Columns I-J: Minor character groups

Character Fundamentals (Rows 1-7)

Before chapter breakdowns, establish character essentials:

Row 1: External Goal What they’re actively pursuing in story world Example: “Solve mother’s murder,” “Win championship,” “Destroy ring”

Row 2: Internal Need What they need emotionally/psychologically (often don’t realize they need it) Example: “Learn to trust again,” “Accept imperfection,” “Find self-worth”

Row 3: Hopes and Dreams Ideal life if they had magic wand (be very specific) Example: “Tenured professor, married with two kids, reconciled with estranged father, living in childhood hometown”

Row 4: Central Mystery Big unanswered question keeping readers engaged Example: “Will she choose love or career?” “Did he really commit the crime?” “Can she forgive herself?”

Row 5: Strengths Positive traits they leverage Example: “Determined, intelligent, loyal”

Row 6: Weaknesses/Flaws Negative traits that create problems (often flip side of strengths) Example: “Stubborn, overthinks, struggles with vulnerability”

Row 7: First Impression Memorable introduction moment Example: “Covered in mud, chasing escaped goat through wedding ceremony”

Plot Framework Color-Coding

Organize chapters into structural sections (color-code for visual clarity):

Act One (Yellow):

Setup and normal world
Inciting incident
Protagonist commits to goal

Act Two Part A (Blue):

Learning phase
Rising obstacles
Midpoint twist

Act Two Part B (Orange):

Complications escalate
Relationships tested
Dark night of soul

Act Three (Red):

Climactic sequence
Resolution
New normal

Within each section, note plot beats:

Call to adventure
Refusal of call
Meeting mentor
Crossing threshold
Tests, allies, enemies
Midpoint
All is lost
Climax
Resolution

Filling the Cells

For each chapter, note:

Main plot column: What happens in main storyline this chapter

Character columns: What each major character is doing/experiencing this chapter

Example cell content:

Ch 12, Main Plot: “Sarah confronts boss about missing funds, gets fired”

Ch 12, Sarah: “Loses job but gains evidence. Realizes she can’t do this alone. Calls Jake (whom she vowed never to contact again)”

Ch 12, Jake: “Receives Sarah’s call. Torn between desire to help and memory of her betrayal”

Ch 12, Boss (Antagonist): “Thinks he’s eliminated threat. Doesn’t realize Sarah copied files”

The Living Document Principle

Your outline will change. That’s not failure—that’s the process working.

As you draft:

Update outline when plot shifts
Track where actual draft diverges
Note new ideas that emerge
Adjust future chapters based on what previous chapters revealed

Method 2: The Scene Card Method

How It Works

Physical or digital cards, one per scene, arranged and rearranged freely.

Each card contains:

Scene heading: POV character, location, time Example: “Sarah – Office – Morning, Day 12”

Goal: What POV character wants this scene Example: “Convince boss to give her case back”

Conflict: What prevents easy achievement Example: “Boss already reassigned case to rival detective”

Outcome: Success, failure, or complication Example: “Failure + complication: Discovers rival is boss’s nephew”

Character arc note: How this scene develops protagonist’s journey Example: “Realizes merit doesn’t matter without political savvy”

Sequel/emotional processing: How character reacts to outcome Example: “Decides she must work around system, not within it”

The Advantages

Flexibility: Easily rearrange scene order

Visual: Spread across table/wall/software to see whole story

Tactile: Physical manipulation aids creative thinking

Granular: More detailed than chapter-level outlining

Modular: Easy to add/delete scenes without reformatting

Software Options

Scrivener: Built-in corkboard view for virtual cards

Plottr: Dedicated plotting software with timeline and character tracking

Trello: Free project management tool adaptable for scenes

Physical index cards: Low-tech, highly effective

Method 3: The Beat Sheet Outline

What Beat Sheets Are

Beat sheets identify major plot moments (beats) without filling in all details between them.

Based on screenplay structure (adapted by Save the Cat, Story Grid, etc.)

The 15-Beat Structure

Act One:

Beat 1: Opening Image (0-1%) Snapshot of protagonist’s world before change

Beat 2: Theme Stated (5%) Someone articulates story’s central theme (protagonist doesn’t understand yet)

Beat 3: Setup (1-10%) Establish protagonist’s normal world, relationships, desires

Beat 4: Catalyst/Inciting Incident (10%) Event that disrupts normal, presents opportunity or problem

Beat 5: Debate (10-20%) Protagonist resists change or questions whether to act

Beat 6: Break into Two (20%) Protagonist commits to journey/goal

Act Two:

Beat 7: B Story (22%) Secondary relationship/subplot introduced (often love interest or mentor)

Beat 8: Fun and Games (20-50%) Exploring new world, learning phase, reader sees premise promise delivered

Beat 9: Midpoint (50%) Major event that raises stakes or shifts direction (false victory or false defeat)

Beat 10: Bad Guys Close In (50-75%) Consequences of midpoint, obstacles intensify, team fractures

Beat 11: All Is Lost (75%) Lowest point, appears goal is impossible

Beat 12: Dark Night of the Soul (75-80%) Emotional processing of loss, questioning self

Act Three:

Beat 13: Break into Three (80%) Protagonist finds solution/renewed determination

Beat 14: Finale (80-99%) Climactic sequence, protagonist applies what they’ve learned

Beat 15: Final Image (99-100%) Mirror of opening image showing how world/protagonist changed

How to Use Beat Sheets

Step 1: Write one paragraph describing each beat for your story

Step 2: Identify approximate page/chapter each beat occurs

Step 3: Flesh out scenes between beats as you draft

Advantage: Provides structure without over-planning details

Method 4: The Reverse Outline (For Pantsers)

When to Use It

Scenario: You’ve pantsed 60,000 words and realize your plot is a tangled mess. Characters have disappeared. Subplots lead nowhere. The middle sags.

Solution: Reverse outline what you’ve already written.

The Process

Step 1: Extract existing structure

Read through draft and note:

What happens each chapter
Which characters appear
Subplots introduced/advanced
Character development moments

Step 2: Create visual representation

Use spreadsheet, scene cards, or beat sheet to map ACTUAL draft structure (not ideal structure—what’s actually there)

Step 3: Identify problems

Where does pacing drag?
Where do characters vanish?
Which subplots go nowhere?
Where does protagonist stop pursuing goals?
What plot holes exist?

Step 4: Create revision outline

Based on problems identified, create outline for revised version:

Cut unnecessary scenes
Add missing connective tissue
Rearrange for better pacing
Ensure character arcs complete
Resolve abandoned subplots

Step 5: Revise following new outline

The Advantage

Honors discovery process while adding structure. You get spontaneity of pantsing with coherence of planning.

Method 5: The Synopsis Outline

How It Works

Write comprehensive synopsis of your entire novel (5,000-10,000 words) before drafting.

Include:

Every major plot point
Character introductions and arcs
Key dialogue moments
Emotional beats
Thematic development

It’s essentially: A very detailed summary of novel you haven’t written yet

The Advantages

Prose-based: Feels more like writing, less like technical planning

Comprehensive: Forces you to think through entire story

Flexible: Easier to see what works than spreadsheet cells

Useful later: Can be edited into actual synopsis for agent submissions

The Disadvantages

Time-intensive: Can feel like writing novel twice

May feel constraining: Hard to deviate once you’ve written it all out

Can stall momentum: Some writers never move from synopsis to draft

Method 6: The Chapter Summary Method

The Simple Approach

One paragraph per chapter, outlining:

POV character
Setting/time
Main events
Goal/conflict/outcome
Character development
How chapter advances plot

Example:

Chapter 5: “Sarah’s POV. Police station, late afternoon. Sarah presents evidence to captain, hoping for resources to pursue investigation. Captain reveals he’s being pressured to close case—budget cuts, political pressure. Refuses to help. Sarah must decide: abandon case or go rogue. She chooses to investigate secretly, risking her career. This shows her commitment to truth over security, advancing her character arc from rule-follower to risk-taker.”

Advantages

Quick to create: Less detailed than full synopsis

Clear focus: Forces clarity about each chapter’s purpose

Easy to adjust: Simple to add/remove/reorder chapters

Prevents filler: If you can’t justify chapter’s purpose, cut it

Choosing Your Outlining Method

Decision Framework

Choose spreadsheet if:

You have multiple POV characters
Complex plot with many subplots
You think visually/spatially
You need to track many variables

Choose scene cards if:

You like physical manipulation
You need flexibility to rearrange frequently
You work well with modular thinking
You want granular scene-level detail

Choose beat sheet if:

You want structure without over-planning
You write in genres with established patterns
You need tentpoles to aim for
You value efficiency

Choose reverse outline if:

You prefer discovery writing
You’ve already drafted
You need to fix structural problems
You want to honor your pantser nature

Choose synopsis if:

You think in narrative prose
You want comprehensive planning
You need to submit synopsis anyway
You prefer writing-like planning

Choose chapter summary if:

You want middle ground
You need quick outline
You value simplicity
You want clear chapter purposes

The Hybrid Approach

Mix methods:

Beat sheet for overall structure
Spreadsheet for character tracking
Scene cards for complex sequences
Chapter summaries for bridge scenes

There’s no law requiring one method only.

Common Outlining Mistakes

Mistake 1: Over-Planning Paralysis

Symptom: Outline grows to 40,000 words, drafting never begins

Fix: Set outline deadline. Move to drafting when outline is “good enough,” not perfect

Mistake 2: Outline Rigidity

Symptom: Refusing to deviate when draft reveals better path

Fix: Treat outline as flexible guide, not contract

Mistake 3: Shallow Planning

Symptom: “Chapter 5: They go to the mall”—no detail about goals, conflicts, outcomes

Fix: Each chapter/scene needs goal, conflict, outcome, and arc progression

Mistake 4: Forgetting Emotional Journey

Symptom: Outline tracks plot but ignores character emotional arcs

Fix: For each scene, note protagonist’s emotional state and evolution

Mistake 5: Planning Wrong Story

Symptom: Outlining story you think you should write vs. story you’re excited about

Fix: Your outline should make you eager to write, not dutiful

Outlining for Different Novel Types

Mystery/Thriller

Critical elements:

Clue placement timeline
Red herrings schedule
Revelation sequence
Suspect tracking

Recommended method: Spreadsheet (track clues across chapters)

Romance

Critical elements:

Relationship beats
Emotional intimacy progression
Conflict escalation
Happily Ever After/Happy For Now setup

Recommended method: Beat sheet (romance follows clear structure)

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Critical elements:

World-building integration
Magic/tech system rules
Multiple plot threads
Character ensemble management

Recommended method: Spreadsheet + scene cards

Literary Fiction

Critical elements:

Thematic development
Character psychology
Symbolic layering
Structural innovation

Recommended method: Synopsis or reverse outline (preserves discovery)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How detailed should my outline be?

A: Detailed enough to prevent major problems, loose enough to allow discovery. For most writers, that’s knowing major plot points and character arcs, not every line of dialogue.

Q: What if my outline keeps changing as I write?

A: Normal and healthy. Update it and keep going. Outline is living document.

Q: Can I start writing before finishing my outline?

A: Absolutely. Some writers outline Act One, draft it, then outline Act Two based on what Act One revealed.

Q: What if I hate my outline?

A: Either: (1) You’ve outlined wrong story, or (2) You’re a pantser forcing planner methods. Try different approach.

Q: How long does outlining take?

A: Varies wildly. Beat sheet: 1-3 days. Synopsis: 1-2 weeks. Detailed spreadsheet: 2-4 weeks.

Q: Should I outline my subplots separately?

A: Yes, especially if complex. Track how they intersect with main plot.

Your Outlining Action Plan

Week 1: Self-Assessment

Identify where you fall on planner-pantser spectrum
Choose method matching your style
Gather tools (spreadsheet software, index cards, etc.)

Week 2: Character Development

Complete character fundamentals for all major characters
Define goals, needs, arcs, mysteries

Week 3: Plot Structure

Identify major beats or chapters
Determine beginning, middle, end
Note tentpole scenes

Week 4: Detail Fill

Flesh out scene/chapter details
Ensure character arcs progress logically
Check pacing and escalation

Week 5: Review and Adjust

Read through complete outline
Identify holes or weak points
Make necessary revisions
Then start drafting

The Permission You Need

You have permission to:

Outline minimally (just major beats)
Outline extensively (every scene planned)
Change methods mid-project
Abandon outline that isn’t working
Draft without outlining at all
Outline after drafting (reverse outline)

You don’t need permission to:

Write the way that works for you
Ignore other writers’ methods
Trust your creative process

The Liberating Truth About Outlining

Outlining isn’t about constraint—it’s about freedom.

Freedom to:

Experiment knowing you have structure to return to
Fix problems before they become 80,000-word disasters
Focus on prose because plot is handled
Write out of order if inspiration strikes
Take breaks knowing where to resume

The outline serves you. You don’t serve the outline.

When it helps, use it. When it doesn’t, modify it. When you’ve outgrown it, abandon it.

The goal isn’t the perfect outline.

The goal is a completed novel you’re proud of.

However you get there is the right method for you.