STORY OUTLINE TEMPLATE PDF

If Scrivener isnвЂ™t your thing, Gwen does offer an outline in PDF format for anyone who joins her mailing list. If youвЂ™re new to writing romance, you may have an easier time at it when using a novel outline. Since this is a romance, you know it doesnвЂ™t end with a breakup.

The beats are broken out and provide you with sections like: To the maybe this could work, the this will never work, and finally happily ever after.ДЄnd that wasnвЂ™t all the points in the arc that need to be addressed. ThatвЂ™s why using a romance beat sheet is so popular.ДЇrom the introduction of your main characters, through the meet cute-when and where they first connect-to all the reasons why they shouldnвЂ™t and couldnвЂ™t fall in love. And the overall plot or arc of the story needs to be wound around the romantic arc. There is a very specific romantic arc that needs to be followed for a book to be a true romance novel. What makes a romance novel a romance novel? Just a bunch of lovey-dovey stuff, right? A couple makes eye contact, they fall in love, the end. Since IвЂ™ve mentioned romance, letвЂ™s start there. Depending on the genre, they might be called beat sheets or something else, but they all serve the same purpose. So no matter what you write, from academic treatises to screenplays, there should be something for you.ДЄlso, note that book outlines are known by different names. The following is by no means a comprehensive list, but IвЂ™ve culled a fair selection. Which Novel Outline Template is the Right One for You?

If youвЂ™re new to a genre, an outline could be very helpful.

ItвЂ™s much easier to write a synopsis when you already have an outline.

If you have to leave off writing your book, you can come back to it any time.

Some writers, new or seasoned, are lost without one.

LetвЂ™s recap some reasons why templates or outlines may be good for some: For example, if youвЂ™re thinking about writing a romance novel you need to meet reader expectations. Some genres have very specific structures and arcs that need to be developed and followed. Templates and outlines might be especially useful to writers new to a genre.

It Can Help you Ease into Writing in a New Genre.

ThatвЂ™s much easier to do if you have a detailed outline in place already.

But you had to write your synopsis first. Or at least motivate you to write faster. I know several authors, myself included at times, who would only have those first three chapters written.Д«ack when I started writing-this hasnвЂ™t changed, by the way-you could wait for months to hear back from a given publisher and depending on how quickly you wrote that was plenty of time to finish the book. The publisher youвЂ™re interested in requires a query letter, three chapters, and a synopsis. If so, agents and publishers will often request a synopsis of your book. Perhaps youвЂ™re intent on having your books traditionally published. Your mind map of your book disappear, and you feel the need to start fresh.ДЄssuming you donвЂ™t have total recall, after months-or perhaps years-do you remember your story? ItвЂ™s plot and all its details? Or have you completely lost its thread? If you have an outline, it doesnвЂ™t matter what youвЂ™ve forgotten. Maybe you had to deal with sickness, your own or a loved oneвЂ™s. Maybe you have another story burning to be told. There are times you start a book and for some reason, you put it aside.

Even those who hate to outline will agree to this.

I should note there are a few definitive cases for having at least a loose outline of your book. Do You Have to Use a Novel Outline Template?Д«enefits of Using a Novel Outline TemplateДespite your writing style and whether or not youвЂ™re an author who typically relies on a book outline template, itвЂ™s probably safe to say there are times you might wish you had one.Which Novel Outline Template is the Right One for You?.Benefits of Using a Novel Outline Template.

Story outline template