8 Effective Strategies For Outlining a Book

Writers often visualize their stories as they write them. So it makes sense that having a visual representation of your novel can help you see the big picture of the plot—fast.

Visualizing what your characters might look like or the details of the world they live in is not only fun, but it also makes it easier to see the challenges that might arise for your character as they experience the events of the story.

So, before you start writing your novel, why not try using a visual framework to organize your thoughts in the outlining process? In this article, writing coach Melanie Conklin explains why visual frameworks can be so helpful during the writing process of your novel and details eight different strategies to outline a novel in a step-by-step guide.

Pens, pencils, Post-it notes, and tape at the ready? Let’s get going...

On my fourth draft of a novel, and so mired in the material, I needed a very simple oversight of the drama in play. It came to me that when I am working on a novel, I envision several key scenes and work from one to the other hopping on one foot of my purple prose.
—Louise Dean

What is a book outline?

First, let’s define what a novel outline is and how it can help you write your novel.

A novel outline is simply a plan for your story. This plan can take many different forms and have many different components, but at its root, a novel outline provides structure to guide your draft.

Thinking about the different parts of your story and organizing them in advance can save time on drafting. It is also a great way to spur new ideas so writing stays fun and energized. Some writers plan every detail of their story in advance before they start writing, while other writers prefer to get going on a rough draft and keep the planning minimal. Whatever your preference, visual frameworks can help you outline a novel.

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How a visual novel outline can help you

Planning a novel is challenging because books are typically quite long, ranging from 30,000 all the way up to 150,000 words in some specific cases. Trying to hold that much information in your mind at once can be overwhelming, especially if you’re working on a first draft. Using visual frameworks to organize your ideas into a book outline can make it easier to write your story with confidence.

Instead of trying to remember every detail about your story, visual frameworks can hold your ideas for you. These tools make your story outline more malleable, allowing you to play with the order of events. Planning your story’s progression becomes easier, as does your ability to make changes as your ideas evolve—which they will!

At any stage of your novel, try seeing it like a moving picture. Think of it as a movie, and press fast forward x 30. You won’t be paying attention to the talking heads but the space around them. The locations. The sets. The camera angles and the key shot for each major scene. Whose face? Whose feet? What object?
—Louise Dean

Does my story outline have to stay the same?

Easy answer: no!

Visual frameworks are not set in stone. These frameworks are living documents, meaning they can change as your ideas change. This flexibility helps you identify gaps in your plot and fill them early. It also allows you to shift your plot with ease when inspiration strikes. If you ever feel a bit lost during your own writing process, these techniques can help you find your way again.

Do I have to be arty to create a visual novel outline?

Another easy answer: no!

If you’ve never thought of yourself as a visual person, don’t worry. While some of the outlining methods we’re going to explore in this blog might favor the writer who loves to get creative with their art supplies, there are also methods that just involve jotting down notes, and even using computer programs you likely already have.

Having said that, the more you engage with your imagination, the more fun you’ll have. With that in mind, we’ve curated a list of eight visual frameworks you can use for your book outline that will inspire and support your writing journey.

8 visual frameworks to outline a novel

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced with writing, these techniques offer a wide range of approaches to outlining your novel. You don’t need to use all of them at once, and some are more arty than others. Most writers find one or two methods that work well for them, but sometimes those methods evolve with each project.

The bottom line? Have fun playing with these techniques and choose the ones that resonate with you!

Essentially, you’re creating a storyboard. Making one of these and pinning it up will help keep you focused. Sure, it may seem like the Idiot’s Guide to Your Novel, but it will keep you safe.
—Louise Dean

1. Storyboards

Common to television and film, storyboards are a classic visual framework for planning a story outline in a series of illustrated frames or panels that represent a sequence of events.

Creating a storyboard can help you visualize the flow of events in your story. It can also help you consider the details of where each chapter is set or which characters are present. Never fear: drawing skills are not required to take advantage of this tool. Just writing words in each frame will suffice!

The point of storyboarding is not to create beautiful sketches, but to represent the sequence of events in the story as frames that allow you to see any gaps you may have in your plan, areas where the story lags, or opportunities to improve the flow of the story.

To create a storyboard book outline:

• Start with a sheet of paper, a notebook, or a whiteboard.
• Break your story into chapters, scenes, or important moments.
• Draw a box for each of those moments.
• Sketch the main points of each scene: setting, characters, and event—stick figures are fine!
• Write a single sentence description beneath each box.
• Review your storyboard to ensure there is variety in the settings and characters, that each event flows into the next, and that the key points of the story are in the correct place.
• Fill any gaps and make changes to make the story flow better.

2. Mind maps

A mind map is a tool for organizing your thoughts. You can create a mind map for a story idea, a revision plan, your overall goals for a story, or any other thoughts that build from a central starting point. The idea is to start from one central question and build out with every thought that enters your mind.

The most common structure for a mind map is a tree, where your thoughts branch off from the central concept, creating a web-like array of connections. Doing this may seem unfamiliar at first, but you’ve been looking at pie charts and bar charts most of your life, so you can make a mind map, too. The key is to let go by making use of organic writing and thoughts, and allowing the diagram to be a bit chaotic.

To create a mind map for a book outline:

• Start by writing down the title of your story, even if it’s just a placeholder.
• Draw lines branching off from that title to the different parts of your story: character, setting, theme, and plot.
• Create sub-branches for any other details you want to include.
• Draw connections between different elements.

The goal is not to judge what you’re creating, but to allow your ideas to pour out and fill the page. Mind maps can also work well when you need to delve more deeply into your main character or look at the character arcs that take place across your story.

If you make a mistake, just scribble it out and keep going! Use color if you want. Cut the page up and tape the pieces together if you need to. Whatever gets your ideas flowing!

3. Collages

Sometimes called a mood board or vision board, a collage is a collection of images that evoke the feeling or mood of your story. Rather than being a sequential story outline, a collage can explore the themes and atmosphere of the story, define the characters or setting, and inspire you as you write your novel.

To create a collage that outlines your novel:

• First, collect images that represent the different parts of your story.
• Find images online, but also in magazines, TV shows, and films that you admire.
• Capture these images and arrange them on the page in a way that pleases your eye.
• Add captions or notes that supplement the pictures.

There are no rules! Your collage can look however you would like. Every element you add to your collage paints the picture of your story, helping you envision it as you write the words.

For example, if you’re writing a space opera with an ensemble cast of characters, you might include pictures of the planets they visit, their spacecraft, the main character and supporting cast, any symbols they encounter, the languages they speak, and the objects they use in their day-to-day lives.

Gathering all these elements together helps you see the connections between the different parts of your story and gives you a strong foundation for writing it.

4. Flow charts

A flow chart is often thought of as being for business purposes, but it’s also a very useful tool for outlining your novel.

This kind of diagram uses arrows to represent the flow of events in a story. Unlike mind maps and collages, which capture ideas without causation, a flow chart shows the connection between events and a detailed outline of how one event leads to the next.

Each event on a flow chart is called a node. The goal is to represent the elements of your story as nodes that are all connected. This visual framework can help you identify gaps in your story logic and places where the elements do not connect as they should.

To create a flow chart of your novel:

• Start with your plot points. Create a node for each plot point by drawing a box and writing the plot point inside the box.
• Use arrows to connect each node, indicating the order in which they occur.
• Add subplots as additional branches in the flow chart. Make sure the subplots connect back to the main plot by the end of the story.
• For complex plots, such as dual timelines or multiple points of view, you can create additional strands that progress in parallel, overlapping and crossing as needed.
• Key decisions for characters can be marked with a diamond-shaped nodes.
• Review your flow chart for any gaps in logic and opportunities to streamline your story.

While a flow chart may not look particularly sexy, it will keep you honest. If there is a bottleneck of events, you will see it. If there’s a gap in the logic of your story’s premise, it will be undeniable.

Remember: this tool may seem a bit intimidating on the surface, but you can use it as a practical story outline in whatever way supports you.

5. Index cards

Index cards (or notecards) are a humble office supply that can do a lot of heavy lifting as you figure out your story. Because index cards are small, portable, and easily rearranged, they offer a dynamic way to visually outline your novel that’s playful and fun.

Some authors use index cards to collect scene ideas for their novels, which they organize later into a logical plot. You can also vary your cards, pens, and writing style by color (and even use stickers) to help you keep track of your characters, points of view, or scene locations—which is why this is often a favorite outlining method among stationery lovers!

It can be helpful to use a tri-fold board to pin your notecards to, or a magnetic whiteboard that allows you to easily rearrange your notecards. Your dining table can also fill the role in a pinch, as notecards are easily spread out and stacked in order for storage.

To create an outline for your novel using index cards:

• Write one scene idea or plot point on each notecard, noting the setting and characters present if you wish, in one to three sentences, say.
• Arrange the notecards in the order of your story.
• Evaluate if there is a strong connection between each card, or if a scene is missing between plot points.
• Check for a variety of settings and characters and adjust as needed.
• As you write, rearrange and edit the cards to reflect new story developments and keep yourself on track.

6. Sticky notes

Sticky notes may seem simple—something we all have stuffed in our desk drawers—but they can bring ease and versatility to outlining your story. They are easy to rearrange and replace, making the work of organizing your story less precious and more fun.

Using this visual framework will help you see your entire story structure at a glance while keeping the cost low.

To create a book outline using sticky notes:

• Write individual scenes, plot points, or character development notes on separate notes.
• Spread them out over a wall to see the progression of your story.
• Use different colors to track different elements of your story, and add more depending on how much detail you want to see.
• Identify any gaps or lack of continuity.
• Rearrange the notes to ensure key scenes and events occur in a logical order.

If you’re short on space, it can be helpful to use a tri-fold board in combination with your sticky notes. Tri-fold boards are most commonly used for science fair projects, but they are convenient for organizing, both with this method and for the notecard method. This is especially useful for writers who share a workspace with small children or pets.

7. Charts

Charts are a simple and effective visual framework for organizing any idea, especially the sequential events of a novel. Charts can be made by hand using whiteboards or paper, or as a spreadsheet on the computer if you’d like a digital option.

A chart provides a birds-eye view of your story with all the elements accounted for, which can be reassuring when you’re trying to keep track of your ideas.

To create a book outline using a chart:

• Create columns for your plotlines, characters, and any other elements you want to track.
• Create rows for each chapter (the columns and rows can be inverted if you prefer).
• Fill in each cell with the key story information for each chapter.
• You can include plot events, individual arcs and character development, themes, and subplots for a full view of your story structure.
• Assess the novel’s development for gaps in pacing and logic.
• Update the outline as you go to keep yourself on track.

In addition to outlining novels, charts are an excellent way to plan a revision, especially if there are many elements to keep track of. Many authors start a revision by creating an outline with a chart and adding the revision notes to each chapter. This can help you break the work down into chunks and make the revision process much more manageable.

8. Software

If you prefer to work on screen, there are several writing programs that offer tools for visually organizing your novel.

For example, Scrivener offers notecards that can be created and arranged just like physical notecards. Dabble offers a plot grid to visualize your plot, with tools to intertwine your main plot events with any subplots and character arcs. (You can find out more about these software programs and more in writing coach Bea Fitzgerald’s excellent guide to the best writing software.)

These programs allow you to move plot ideas into order and change them as your story evolves. There’s also the advantage of having nothing to clean up when you’re done working, but if you do prefer to work on paper, these elements can always be printed out and manually manipulated, just like the other visual frameworks described here.

Pinterest and Canva

Pinterest is popular with writers who like to collect images for collages and create mood boards for a novel project. This is especially useful if you come across inspirational images during your day that you’d like to keep track of. Pinterest allows you to create individual pin boards for each element of your story, so you can save images for your settings, main character, mood, themes, and more—all in one place.

You can also create a free account at Canva and set up your own storyboard using the premade designs and their free stock photos. You can even download it onto your computer to use as an inspirational screensaver or wallpaper.

Whatever software you use, keep in mind that visual cues can help you organize as you work. Even a few emojis sprinkled into your chapter headings can help you easily see the structure of your novel as it unfolds.

Use the creative process that works for you and your story

Using visual frameworks can help you reach your story goals by removing roadblocks to drafting. Instead of stressing about the details, you can engage deeply with the writing and trust that you won’t lose track of any of your ideas—because you can see your whole story at a glance.

As you grow and evolve in your writing practice, your book outlines will evolve with you. Not only does this encourage creativity, but it also makes the entire writing process more fun.

Remember how it felt to make art projects in grade school? That’s how we should feel when we write books, and that’s how using visual frameworks can help you feel about your story right now (and why it can take the stress out of a first draft).

Have fun exploring these options for outlining your novel as you develop your own unique creative process. There is no one way to write a book—and as you’ve seen, no single way of outlining a book, either—but these techniques will help you maximize the fun and joy of planning your story.

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