A Quick Way to Outline Without Outlining

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Some writers find outlining a daunting task that saps the joy and spontaneity out of writing. I’m not one of them, I love outlining, but I can understand the freedom of writing to see what happens. I don’t plan my characters, even though I do a lot of work on my plot. Letting a story develop organically is fun.

But sometimes, having no direction makes it harder to write that first draft. We flounder, we wander, we write into far too many dead ends and then we get frustrated.

If this sounds like you, try this little trick:

Make lists.

I do this in the very early days of an idea to help me capture those bursts of inspiration that happen at the rough idea stage. I list the things I know (or think) will be important and whatever thoughts come to me about the story. I don't always use everything, but the act of writing the ideas down puts them in my head and they often work their way naturally into the story.

If you're not a plotter, or find outlining too restrictive, try making lists. Here are some things consider:

1. What emotional issues might the characters deal with?

These are issues that could be strong motivators for your characters, or provide the fuel for their character growth. It’ll also give you an idea of the tone of the novel.

2. What are the potential cool moments?

Some scenes pop into our heads fully formed, or close to it. So do snippets of dialogue that we know our characters will say. If something really strikes you, keep it handy in case it's exactly what you need when you get stuck.

(Here's more on a very basic three-point plot structure)

3. What are the key moments in the story?

Are there moments you know have to happen? Maybe they’re aren’t relevant to the plot, but you see them clearly anyway. Or you know you want to show an aspect of a character that perfectly reflects who she is.

4. What are the key turning points?

This can be a helpful way to create a very rough outline and block out the key turning points of your novel without knowing too much about it beforehand (or knowing a lot if you prefer to work that way).

(Here's more on busting the outline myth)

5. What are the surprises or twists and turns?

Some novels are based on a twists, and knowing the red herrings and secrets ahead of time helps a lot when it comes time to write it. Characters also have secrets, and if you know what they are, you can make great use of them as you write.

6. When do you want to reveal those twists and secrets?

You might know when you want certain information to come out, such as at the midpoint or during the dark moment of the soul. You might even plot using reveals, using the discovery of information as your guide instead of an external plot event.

7. What are the themes or symbolism?

Themes can be a great unifying force in a novel. Jot down some ways in which you can show yours in your story. Or ideas for symbols you want to use.

8. What is some of the backstory?

If you know certain facts about your characters and their history, make a list. This is also a good tip for any history that pops up as you write. It’s not uncommon to spend a lot of time on backstory to better understand the characters and world before you write—that way, the information works itself in naturally as you write.

9. What about any foreshadowing?

Are there any moments or characters you know mean more than the let on? Jot down events that you want to foreshadow, or drop a few hints about the bad guys.

Making lists is a great way to outline without actually outlining. Even if you enjoy outlining, you might list ideas you want to have happen and then look for good places to put them in as you write. Even better, lists are handy to have on hand when you write yourself into a corner or just don't know where to go next. They can act like writing prompts and get the creative juices flowing again. Not only do lists give you a bit of direction, they’re also a handy reminder of what you were thinking about before you started the book.

Do you make lists before you write? 

For more help on plotting or writing a novel check out my Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure.

Go step-by-step through plotting and writing a novel. Learn how to find and develop ideas, brainstorm stories from that first spark of inspiration, develop the right characters, setting, plots and subplots, as well as teach you how to identify where your novel fits in the market, and if your idea has what it takes to be a series.

With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Learn how to:

• Create compelling characters readers will love
• Choose the right point of view for your story
• Determine the conflicts that will drive your plot (and hook readers!)
• Find the best writing process for your writing style
• Create a solid plot from the spark of your idea

Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure also helps you develop the critical elements for submitting and selling your novel once it’s finished. You’ll find exercises on how to:

• Craft your one-sentence pitch
• Create your summary hook blurb
• Develop a solid working synopsis And so much more!

Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure is an easy-to-follow guide to writing your novel or fixing a novel that isn’t quite working. 

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book.

She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.

When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.

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