Michael Brig

I’ve tried writing without outlining and produced 300 pages of trash I’ll never publish anywhere. I’ve also tried outlining every single detail of a novel—only to make the writing process feel dull and lifeless.

My approach now sits somewhere in between outlining and free writing.

But I wouldn’t have figured out what works for me without trying both extremes. If you want to become an author, do the same. Test different methods. You’ll develop a system that fits your working style.

You can start with the basics that Grok recommended to me here:

Should You Outline or Write Freely?

Outlining helps you:

Avoid plot holes
Maintain pacing
Reduce heavy revisions

Freewriting (pantsing) helps you:

Discover ideas organically
Create more natural character moments
Stay excited about the story

The best starting point for most beginners is a hybrid approach.

Plotting, Pantsing, and Plantsing

There are three common approaches to writing:

Plotting → Full planning with detailed outlines
Pantsing → No outline, just writing “by the seat of your pants”
Plantsing → A mix of both

Plantsing is often the most practical method: You define key moments (beginning, midpoint, ending), then write freely between them while adjusting your outline as you go.

Why Outlining Actually Matters

A good outline is not about control—it’s about clarity.

It answers:

What is this story about?
Where is it going?
Why does it matter?

Without that clarity, you risk writing hundreds of pages that don’t lead anywhere.

The Most Important Story Beats

At minimum, your outline should include these core beats:

Hook – A compelling opening that grabs attention
Inciting Incident – Something disrupts the protagonist’s normal life
First Plot Point – The protagonist commits to the journey
Midpoint – A major reversal or revelation
Dark Night of the Soul – The lowest point; everything seems lost
Climax – Final confrontation and transformation
Resolution – A new normal with emotional payoff

A simple Example:

Hook: A detective finds a body with no identity
Inciting Incident: The case connects to his past
First Plot Point: He takes the case despite personal risk
Midpoint: He realizes he’s being framed
Dark Night: He loses his badge and credibility
Climax: Confronts the real killer
Resolution: Clears his name but gives up his career

Don’t Forget These 3 Essentials

Structure shouldn’t be all. You may also outline these 3 key factors of your story:

1. Stakes

What happens if the protagonist fails?

Personal loss?
Death?
Losing someone they love?
A broken identity?

If nothing meaningful is at risk, the story won’t feel urgent.

2. Conflict

Every part of your story should contain conflict.

External: antagonist, environment, other characters
Internal: fear, doubt, false beliefs

Even quiet scenes should have tension—two characters wanting different things, for example.

3. Character Arc

Your protagonist should change in some way. Track this in your outline:

Where they start (flaw or false belief)
What challenges that belief
How they transform by the end

Example: A character who believes “I must do everything alone” learns to trust others.

Scene-Level Purpose

A common beginner mistake is writing scenes that don’t do anything. You can prevent that from happening by creating short chapter outlines. Every scene should:

Move the plot forward
Reveal character
Ideally do both

If a scene doesn’t serve a purpose, it probably doesn’t belong in your novel.

Which Outlining Method Should You Use?

A great beginner-friendly option is the Snowflake Method:

Start with a one-sentence idea
Expand it into a paragraph
Expand that into a page
Add characters, conflicts, and structure
Build toward a full scene-by-scene outline

It’s simple and scales naturally.

5 Most Popular Outlining Methods

Snowflake Method
Three-Act Structure
Hero’s Journey
Save the Cat!
Seven-Point Plot Structure

5 Less Common Methods to Try

MICE Quotient
Kishotenketsu
Fichtean Curve
Dan Harmon’s Story Circle
Question Arc

How Detailed Should Your Outline Be?

This depends on your style:

Detailed (plotting): 1–2 pages per chapter
Loose (plantsing): 2–3 pages for the entire novel

Both approaches work. If your outline feels restrictive, it’s too detailed. If you feel lost while writing, it’s too vague.

Should You Outline Everything?

For large projects (like fantasy or sci-fi series), a story bible can be useful:

Worldbuilding
Character histories
Rules of magic/technology

But for a single novel (like a thriller), over-planning can waste time and drain the fun out of it. Focus on what you need for the specific story.

When Is Your Outline “Done”?

You’re ready to start writing when:

You understand the basic 3-act structure
The main character has a clear goal and motivation
Key turning points are defined
Major plot holes are avoided
Each chapter has a clear purpose

It doesn’t need to be perfect.

Stay Flexible

Your outline is not a contract. If a better idea appears while writing:

Follow it
Adjust the outline
Keep going

Some of the best moments in a story aren’t planned—they’re discovered while you explore the story.

Resources to Learn More

Free resources:

Books:

Outlining Your Novel – K.M. Weiland
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel – Jessica Brody
Snowflake Method – Randy Ingermanson
Take Off Your Pants! – Libbie Hawker
Plot & Structure – James Scott Bell

These books were recommended by Grok. I have only read Save the Cat! so far. But I’ll check out the other books once I’m done with my Save the Cat! specific novel writing project.

The plan is to write a story with every outlining method myself so that I can give you a review of the method (and book) based on true real-life experience.

Final Thoughts

Outlining isn’t about limiting creativity—it’s about giving your story direction. Try different methods. Adjust as you go. Keep what works. The goal isn’t to write perfect outlines. The goal is to create an outline that allows you to write perfect stories.