Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
You’ve got an incredible vision in mind for your book, but when it comes time to put it out there on paper (or screen), you feel stuck. Outlining chapters is a great first step in the writing process. Not only does it serve as a roadmap to guide your story, but it also makes sure that each chapter flows logically to the next. Here are a few of our proven techniques to help you start out strong.
Understand your story’s structure
Before you jump right into creating chapter outlines, it’s a good idea to take a step back and get familiar with common story structures. There are several tried-and-true formulas, like the three-act structure, that lend themselves to all different types of narratives. Here are a few of the most popular types of story structures:
The three-act structure
Commonly seen in novels, plays, and films, such as The Great Gatsby or most Hollywood blockbusters, it follows a classic structure that divides the story into three main parts: setup, confrontation, and resolution.
- Act 1 (Setup): Introduces characters, setting, and the central conflict.
- Act 2 (Confrontation): The protagonist faces obstacles and challenges, with stakes escalating.
- Act 3 (Resolution): The climax occurs, and the conflict is resolved.
The hero’s journey
This method of storytelling is used in both The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. The protagonist goes through a journey of transformation and adventure.
- Ordinary World: The hero’s normal life.
- Call to Adventure: An event disrupts their world.
- Crossing the Threshold: The hero enters a new, unfamiliar realm.
- Trials and Tribulations: Challenges that test the hero’s growth.
- The Return: The hero comes back transformed.
The 7-point story structure
This setup is often used in both sci-fi and fantasy novels. It focuses on key plot points to drive the narrative forward:
- Hook: Grabs the audience’s attention.
- Plot Turn 1: The main conflict emerges.
- Pinch Point 1: Pressure on the protagonist increases.
- Midpoint: A major shift or revelation occurs.
- Pinch Point 2: The stakes are heightened.
- Plot Turn 2: The protagonist begins to resolve the conflict.
- Resolution: The story concludes.
The snowflake method
This is a great way to outline your story, especially for beginners. It starts from a single sentence and expands outward, like the design of a snowflake:
- Write a one-sentence summary of your story.
- Expand it into a paragraph.
- Develop character profiles.
- Add complexity to the plot and subplots.
The snowflake method is often used for novels, but even if you aren’t writing the next best-selling work of fiction, there are many other types of story structures out there to learn from!
Summarize each chapter
Next, write a short summary of what happens in each chapter. This helps structure the flow of events (and it helps you stay organized). Make sure that each chapter serves a purpose. For example, in a mystery novel, Chapter 1 might introduce the crime, while Chapter 2 presents the detective who will solve it.
As you’re writing your summaries, ask yourself what you want to do with each chapter. What’s the goal? Is it for character development? Plot advancement? World building? Having these goals prevents the story from going off on a tangent and keeps it focused. Incorporate bullet points for key events or points that have to occur in each chapter. This will give you an at-a-glance reference as you write to help you remember what comes next!
Be flexible with your chapters
Although your outline is designed to give you structure and different points to work from, be open to making changes. As your story progresses, you might find a better way to share certain key points, and adjusting your chapter outline helps tie those points together in a more united way.
If you’re interested in more resources to help you not just finish, but launch your book, be sure to check out BookBaby’s free guides. We offer helpful downloads for authors who are looking to self-publish their books, including:
- From Draft to Done: Your Essential Guide to Finishing Your Book
- The Six-Month Book Publishing Plan
- The Do’s and Don’ts of Planning a Book Launch
We also offer many other guides about editing, how to publish on Amazon, and much more.
Your next steps to becoming a self-published author
Even though you’re just starting out with your first draft and creating an outline for your chapters, it won’t be long until you’re penning the end of the story and ready to launch. When that happens, it’s time to decide how you want to proceed with publishing.
If you’d rather not go the traditional route, BookBaby can help you print, launch, and promote your book as a self-published author. If you’re looking for professional assistance in publishing a high-quality book with crisp, full-color illustrations, beautiful text, and a cover that’s designed to impress, BookBaby is an excellent choice.
If you’re new to self-publishing, our experts will guide you and support you through each step of the process. We can also help you sell your book on major platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. We also offer our own direct sales platform, BookBaby Bookshop, which allows you to have a professional author website and sell your book directly to interested readers.
Plus, BookBaby’s services are designed to be affordable and transparent. We state our costs up front, so you keep more of your royalties. We can also help you launch your book and spread the word on social media with specially tailored ads. From cover design to printing and publishing, think of BookBaby as your one-stop shop for all things self-publishing.
We invite you to browse our self-publishing services and learn more about our custom book printing. Whether it’s your first published book or you’re a publishing pro, we’re ready to help you make your vision a reality with stunning books that are meant to stand out and sell!
