Define the novel’s core concept in one sentence
Identify the target audience and genre expectations
Set the theme and the central question the story explores
Choose the main character’s goal (what they want)
Determine the main character’s need (what they must learn/change)
Establish the primary antagonist force (person, system, nature, self, etc.)
List major supporting characters and their roles in the conflict
Define the story’s setting (time, place, rules, constraints)
Decide the narrative structure (three-act, five-act, hero’s journey, episodic, etc.)
Write the premise hook (why this story is compelling immediately)
Create the opening scene objective (what must change or reveal early)
Outline the inciting incident that launches the plot
Draft the first turning point (end of Act 1)
Plan the rising-action sequence of key events (each should escalate stakes)
Identify midpoint event that shifts the character’s situation or understanding
Plan the second turning point (end of the main Act)
Outline the climax event (final confrontation and maximum cost)
Draft the resolution (aftermath, consequences, new normal)
Define the climax outcome and how it reflects the theme
Map character arcs: beginning state, transformation points, ending state
Map the antagonist’s arc or pressure strategy across the outline
Assign stakes for each major beat (personal, relational, external)
List subplots and ensure they connect to the main theme or character need
Decide where reveals occur (mysteries, backstory, secrets)
Identify reversals and setbacks that force new choices
Plan “promise of the premise” moments to fulfill genre expectations
Create a beat sheet with 8–20 major beats (or your chosen granularity)
For each beat, include: scene purpose, protagonist choice, outcome, and consequence
Ensure cause-and-effect continuity between beats
Note key turning points for secondary characters as well
Establish chapter goals (each chapter should advance plot, reveal, or deepen stakes)
Break beats into chapters with one-sentence chapter summaries
Track continuity: timeline, locations, character knowledge, and rules
Add recurring motifs (objects, phrases, locations, themes) tied to the arc
Mark the emotional trajectory (tension curve) across the outline
Identify gaps or weak transitions and revise beat connections
Confirm the ending resolves the main conflict and the character need
Create a quick “outline checklist” to verify: goal, need, antagonist, stakes, theme, turning points, climax, resolution
Revise the outline based on pacing, clarity, and escalation strength
Prepare a chapter-by-chapter document you can draft from directly