How My Current Outlining Method Works

[image error]

Today I’m going to be using my outline for Ivy Introspective to show y’all how I plan for NaNoWriMo, outlining-wise. My current outlining method is my current favorite, obviously, and I hope it’s helpful to you!

Next week I’m hoping to fill you in on some non-outlining ways to prep for NaNo, but an outline is going to be one of your most important tools during November, so you definitely need to think about it.

So let’s get right into it so you can get right into NaNo prep!

How My Current Outlining Method Works

(broken down step-by-step for your convenience)

Step 1: Get a Basic Road Map

A basic road map, for me, is basically the bare-bones details of the plot. Oftentimes I’ll use basic story structure principles to get my main points in place (e.g. first plot point, midpoint, third plot point, climax, resolution, and all points in between!).

I didn’t save mine word-for-word, but it would have looked something like this:

Note: I did remember most of my big plot holes, so this is pretty much exactly what I had, except I added in a few more thoughts in the middle which were scattered here and there.

First Act: Ivy is struggling to fit in at her new home,
1st Half of Second Act: Ivy goes to McCale House, learns music, hangs with Violet, stuff happens.
Midpoint: ???
2nd Half of Second Half: More of that all.
Third Plot Point: I don’t know, but a low point for Ivy’s self-esteem.
Climax: Violet and the cliff and all that.
Resolution: [censored]

As you can see, I don’t have all the details, but I did have a solid climax and resolution, and I did have at least the foundational elements – the beginning, most of the middle, and the end.

And then I fleshed it out to this more detailed point-by-point outlining method:

[image error]

Step 2: Detailed, Fleshed Out Version

Hook (0%): Ivy is being mildly verbally abused by a maid because her parents hired out her care for the time being, basically.
First Half of First Act (0-12%): Set up the scene for everything. Guests arriving, parents easily distracted, Mrs. Chattoway interested in helping but unsure how to.
Inciting Incident (12%): Ivy [does something that makes her parents seriously concerned for her safety].
2nd Half of First Act (12-25%): The decision to send Ivy to McCale House, all the prep, stuff that happens before that.
First Plot Point (25%): Ivy leaves for McCale House.
1st Half of Second Act (25-50%): Arrives at McCale House, meets everyone, starts with therapy, learns about Violet, becomes intrigued by her and wants to help.
Pinch Point #1 (37%): Ivy realizes how sad Violet is but also that really she isn’t wanted when it comes to comforted her—it’s not her concern, basically.
Midpoint (50%): Music is introduced.
2nd Half of Second Half (50-75%): Deepens relationship with Violet and starts to actively reach out to her. Of course music continues being a thing.
Pinch Point #2 (60%): Ivy comforts Violet during a tough time.
Third Plot Point (75%): [Censored for spoilers, but I did finally figure it out. It’s a huge low point for Ivy and disrupts her goal – which is to find a purpose – in a major way, causing her to feel lost and hopeless to an even deeper degree than she started at.]
3rd Act (75%-95%): [Also censored, but Ivy overcomes her fears and doubts and makes herself move forward while we continue foreshadowing our final battle.]
Climax (95%): [details censored, but Ivy confronts the main conflict and perhaps she triumphs and perhaps she doesn’t. What do I look like, a genie who grants my character’s every wish?