The Importance Of Outlining: Unlock Your Story With These Powerful Techniques

Introduction

Every writer knows how important it is to plan your writing and how outlining can make the process much easier. In this post, I will explain how making an outline can organize your plot, maintain consistency, help develop characters, and save time and energy.

New to Outlining

If you are new to outlining, I suggest looking at some of your favorite stories and outlining them. I also recommend using some common and basic outlining structures such as the three-part act. The three-part act is well-known, tried and true, and consists of a beginning, middle, and end. Another common plot structure is Freytag’s pyramid, which consists of five parts: exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. I have used this outline method many times, and I find it very useful. Another similar outlining technique is the ABDCE structure. This structure also has five parts: A-action, B-background, D-development, C-climax, and E-ending. Here are some examples of stories outlined using these structures:

The Hunger Games outlined with the three-part act:

• Beginning: We are introduced to Katniss and the world she lives in. She volunteers to take her sister's place in the hunger games.

• Middle: Katniss fights in the hunger games and does what she can to survive.

• Ending: She returns home from the games and processes what happened.

Cinderella outlined using Freytag’s Pyramid:

• Exposition: We meet Cinderella and the world she lives in. Her father remarries, and we meet her evil stepmother and stepsisters. Cinderella's life is filled with hardships, and she is forced to clean.

• Inciting incident: They get invited to the Royal Ball. Cinderella is excited and wants to go, but her stepmother and stepsisters won’t allow her.

• Rising action: Cinderella’s fairy godmother appears and transforms her rags into a beautiful gown and gives her glass slippers. She warns Cinderella to come back home before midnight because the spell will wear off.

• Climax: Cinderella arrives at the ball and catches the prince’s attention. He is intrigued by Cinderella and dances with her.

• Falling action: The clock strikes midnight, causing Cinderella to flee. As she runs away, she leaves her glass slipper behind. The prince searches for the woman who was wearing the glass slipper.

• Resolution: The prince visits Cinderella’s home, and all the ladies try on the slipper. It doesn’t fit her stepsisters, and they try to deceive the prince. Cinderella tries on the slipper, and it fits. Cinderella and the prince get married and live happily ever after.

  Outlining A Streetcar Named Desire using the ABDCE method:

  • Action: We are introduced to the setting of New Orleans. Blanche arrives at Stella's home to escape her past. The tension between the sisters is brewing.

  • Background: Blanche’s presence is disrupting Stella and Stanley’s marriage. Blanche’s hidden secrets start to unravel. Blanche puts up a façade of refinement and class.

  • Development: Blanche and Mitch’s relationship develops. Stanley uncovers Blanche's secret of her mental instability and alcoholism. Stanley becomes more aggressive and creates more conflict between Blanche and Stella.

  • Climax: Stella confronts Blanche and exposes her to Stella. Stella is conflicted about believing her sister or her husband. Blanche's mental state is deteriorating, and she becomes violent toward Stanley.

  • Ending: Mitch confronts Blanche about their relationship and ends it. Blanche becomes institutionalized, and Stella chooses to stay with Stanley.

Organizing the Plot

Now that we have seen a few different outlining techniques and examples, let's get back to discussing how outlining can help organize a plot. Outlining can help you keep track of all your plot ideas and help them flow from one event to the next. When I wrote my novel my first outline was very simple like the three-part act. I also started off with a brief synopsis and expanded it. I was able to add subplots and twists and turns into my story seamlessly.

Consistency

When writing a novel keeping the details consistent is paramount to the cohesion of the overall plot and characters. Throughout the writing process and creating many drafts, it can be easy to forget small details such as a character's eye color or quirks. This was a common mistake I made when I first started writing. I did not keep up with all of the small details and it made it difficult not only to continue writing but also to read what I wrote. Not having consistency makes it difficult to reach the ending of your story and can create plot holes.

Character Development

Creating characters with great development can really make your story great. Outlining can help you create great story arcs for your protagonist and create supporting characters. It can help define your character's wants and needs and how they change during the story. It helps define how they interact with their environment and the other characters around them.

Saves Time and energy

The last reason I think writers should outline is because it can save a lot of time and energy. Yes, it is possible to write a good story without an outline but it will most likely take longer. I do agree that the most important part of writing a novel is taking the time to sit down and do it but having a guideline can get you to the finish line faster. When I outline a story it helps me stay on track with my writing goals and helps with potential writer's block. Each time I sit down to write I had a vague idea about the scenes and what to write next.

Conclusion

In conclusion, writing an outline can be a crucial step in writing a novel or story. It can organize your thoughts and help your creativity flow better. It can allow you to keep track of all the elements in your story without worrying about inconsistencies. It is a tool that can help you develop more well-rounded characters. And most importantly help you save more time, meet deadlines, and finish projects more efficiently.