Writing a book is an easy but hard process. It comes with planning, dedication and determination. Often times, writers complain about writer’s block, lack of inspiration and getting stuck.
Writer’s block is normal. Losing inspiration is part of the process. Getting stuck is a new beginning and outlining your novel keeps you focused.
Outlining before writing your book helps you focus on the important things. It helps you be more organized and intentional with your writing. It makes your plots, characters, conflict and themes sync. It gives you all-seeing-eyes.
In this post, I will be teaching you how to outline your story idea for a fictional book. It is a step by step practical process. If you are ready to begin writing your story or the next big novel, please get a pen. If you are not, pay close attention.
Start With A Simple Sentence
Simple sentences help a lot when drafting a book outline. Ensure the simple sentence covers the main point of what your story will be about, what your character wants to do, or what needs to be done. I’ll be using the outline of my novelette in an upcoming anthology to explain these process.
Maveey needs to clear her head.
Simple sentence sample from Velvet Tamarind by Margaret Adetimehin
Follow-up with 3 – 5 Sentences
The next thing to do is to come up with 3 – 5 sentences that summarize what happened, what is happening and what will happen at the end of the story. It doesn’t always make sense but go with the flow, we would achieve something shortly. Take note that these sentences will aid your writing act-structure:
She is going home this Christmas to do so.
FROM VELVET TAMARIND BY MARGARET ADETIMEHIN
She had a crush on Morris and seeing him ten years later makes her question her feelings for him.
She pushes him away.
Break Into More Sentences
Begin breaking each sentence into another sentence/topic. The story will begin to take shape. keeping breaking into new sentences until you are exhausted. It will begin to make more sense as you go forward.
Segment Sentences Into Groups
You have exhausted your thought and ideas for the story. Now you can begin rearranging the sentences or merging one part with another. This helps in chapter creation, scene outline and character development. Ensure you arrange the conflicts, mini-resolutions, climax and main resolutions in favourable structure.
Congratulations! You have your story outlined.
Next thing you want to do is developing your characters, fishing out plot holes in the outline and expanding the scenes/chapters.
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