Learn how outlining can help you establish major plot points, keep your story focused, and make your writing easier.

If you have a story to tell, it helps to lay it out in an outline forrmat from the beginning to end before you write. Otherwise, you may find yourself veering off in a different direction than what you originally intended for your story.

Why Outline?

Imagine pouring your heart into months of writing plots, characters, and events, only to look back and think, "where is this going?" Without an outline, your Romance could suddenly turn into a Horror without the focus of how the story should develop, build into an emotional climax, and ultimately resolve. An outline helps keep your writing focused until the end.

Road Signs as Writing Guides

While driving, road signs help guide us and make aware of how close we are at reaching our destination. The same goes for an outline. If you know the general placement of where the proper beats, plot, and character introductions, you can write towards it and tidy up many crucial elements that lead up to the all important climax. If you've left something out, you may find yourself extending the pages, which could delay and slow the dramatic tension.

List Major Story Elements

The best way to create an outline is to list your major plot elements. Once those are in place, then begin to layer in the details. It's always easier to begin broad before working on the fine details, which usually become more difficult to rearrange as characters weave together. With the outline in place, you now have a beginning, middle, and end with road signs to point you in the right direction.

Below is an example of writing major plot points, characters, and events to use as an easy-to-follow guide to stay on the intended course of your story. At this stage, you can identify problems and easily make changes. After completing the outline from beginning to end, start back at the beginning and write your paragraphs according to each scene description.

Outlining Example

Chapter 1

- A compulsive gambler stakes all of his savings on a horse. The money earned will fund treatment for his life threatening illness.

- He miraculously wins and gathers the money to pay for his medical expenses to live.

- Doctors tell him that they have to amputate his legs in order to survive the rare blood disease.

- The man takes a hard long look at his life and decides to forego the treatment.

- He prepares to live out the remaining year by making his money last as long as his remaining life span.

Chapter 2

- The man make amends with his estranged wife and child, only to find that they have relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada - the gambling capitol of the world.

- Despite his reluctance, he travels to visit his family and finds they will not accept him back, believing he lies about his illness.

- The longer he stays in a motel, the more tempted he becomes to satisfy his compulsive gambling disorder.

And so on...