Outlining a novel can feel like the most exciting part of the process—or the most overwhelming. You’ve got ideas, characters, maybe even a few scenes in your head—but how do you shape all of that into a story that actually works?
That’s where a smart, flexible approach to outlining comes in. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining a half-formed plot, these tips are here to help you plan with more purpose, stay creative, and build a foundation that will carry your story all the way to “The End.”
1. Ask Questions
If you’re looking to level up your story, start with this: ask questions. Seriously—lots of them. Stories are powered by curiosity, and the more you dig, the deeper and more interesting your plot becomes.
This isn’t just a brainstorming trick (though it’s great for that). You can ask questions at any point—when you’re outlining, writing, or even knee-deep in revisions and wondering why everything suddenly feels flat.
Here are a few kinds of questions that can spark new ideas or unearth hidden gems in your story:
- Why? Why does your protagonist really want what they want? Why is your antagonist getting in the way? Why now?
- What if? What if your main character makes a huge mistake? What if the villain isn’t who they seem to be? What if the rules of your world suddenly changed?
- How? How does this event shake your character’s beliefs? How do they respond when things go wrong? How do they claw their way forward when the odds are stacked?
Next time you’re stuck—or just want to stress-test your plot—pause and get curious. Write down five questions about your story. Or take one moment and ask “why?” until you hit something raw and real. Sometimes, one great question is all it takes to unlock a whole new layer of your novel.
2. Stay Flexible
Outlining is a smart move—but it doesn’t mean you’re locking yourself into a rigid plan. In fact, one of the best things you can do while outlining is stay open to change. As you map out your story, new ideas will show up, characters will surprise you, and some scenes just won’t land the way you imagined. That’s not a problem—it’s progress.
Think of your outline as a living document. It’s there to guide you, not to box you in. The more flexible you are during this stage, the easier it is to build a story that actually works.
Here’s why a flexible mindset matters while outlining:
- Characters Don’t Always Stick to the Plan: You might think you know how a character will act—but once you start outlining their scenes, something feels off. That’s a sign they’ve grown beyond your original idea. Let them. Adjust the outline to match who they’re becoming.
- Stronger Ideas Will Show Up Mid-Outline: You’ll be halfway through plotting your second act when—bam—a better twist hits you. Or you realize a subplot could echo your theme in a more powerful way. Don’t ignore those ideas just because they weren’t part of Draft 1 of your outline.
- It Helps You Avoid Roadblocks Later: The more flexible you are now, the less likely you are to get stuck when you hit a tricky scene down the road. If something doesn’t work on the page, you’ll already be used to tweaking the plan.
- Outlining Is Your First Round of Revision: Outlines aren’t just planning tools—they’re where your story starts to take shape. The more you rework and refine during this stage, the stronger your foundation will be when it’s time to write.
So go ahead: move scenes around. Try alternate endings. Cut that subplot you wanted to love but doesn’t quite fit. Outlining is where you test-drive your story—and staying flexible gives you permission to build something better than your first idea.
3. Start With the Ending
A lot of stories start with a spark—a character you can’t stop thinking about, a vivid world, or a killer opening scene. But if you really want to build a story that holds together, here’s a tip that can save you a ton of headaches later: figure out the ending early.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t need every detail nailed down. But having a rough idea of where you’re going? Game changer.
Why? Because your ending is the anchor. It’s the payoff for everything—your plot twists, your character arcs, your themes. If you don’t know how things wrap up, it’s way easier to drift off course or get halfway through your outline and realize nothing connects.
Starting with the ending helps you:
- Plant the Right Seeds Early: Want that shocking twist to land? You’ll know where to foreshadow it. Going for a satisfying emotional arc? You’ll have a clear path for your character’s growth.
- Build a Stronger Outline: With the ending in sight, you can reverse-engineer your plot. Every choice, scene, and turning point becomes part of a larger chain leading to that final moment. That’s how you make an ending feel both surprising and inevitable.
- Avoid the Mid-Draft Panic: When you know what you’re writing toward, it’s easier to stay focused. You’re not scrambling to pull threads together at the last second—you’re guiding the story there from the beginning.
So yeah, chase that exciting opening. Get to know your characters. Dream big about your world. But once the wheels are turning, take a beat and ask: how does this all end? Even a rough idea can shape everything that comes before—and make your whole story hit harder.
4. Don’t Settle for Your First Idea – Even if It’s Good
When you’re outlining, it’s easy to latch onto the first idea that clicks. A plot twist that feels clever. A character arc that makes sense. A world detail that seems cool. And hey, maybe it is good! But before you lock it into your outline—pause.
The first idea is usually the most obvious one. It’s the one your brain tosses out because it’s familiar, or because it’s the path of least resistance. But outlining is the perfect stage to ask: Is this the best version of this idea? Or just the first one I found?
Here’s why it pays to dig deeper:
- First Ideas Are Often Surface-Level: They’re the ideas that come from instinct, not exploration. Good outlines come from pushing past that first instinct to see what else might be hiding underneath.
- Outlining Is a Safe Space to Experiment: This is the time to try weird options, bold reversals, or alternate paths—before you start writing pages of prose. Don’t be afraid to brainstorm five different versions of a plot point or twist. You’re not locked into anything yet.
- Predictability Is the Enemy of a Great Story: If your outline is built on familiar or expected beats, readers will feel it. Surprising your audience starts by surprising yourself—and that means pushing past what comes easy.
- You Might Circle Back—And That’s Okay: Exploring other options doesn’t mean you have to abandon your first idea. Sometimes, it is the right one. But when you return to it after weighing other possibilities, you’ll be more confident it truly belongs.
So while you’re outlining, don’t just ask “Does this work?” Ask “What else could I try?” Give yourself the freedom to dig deeper. Your story—and your future self—will thank you.
5. Use Cause and Effect Plotting
When you’re outlining, it’s easy to focus on what happens. Scene A, then scene B, then a big twist in scene C. But a strong outline isn’t just a list of cool events—it’s a chain of connected moments, where each one causes the next.
That’s the power of cause and effect.
A well-structured story feels inevitable—not because it’s predictable, but because every beat follows naturally from what came before. When your plot runs on cause and effect, it feels tight, intentional, and satisfying. When it doesn’t? Things can start to feel random, forced, or just… flat.
Here’s how to build cause and effect into your outline from the start:
- Swap “And Then” for “Because”: As you move through your outline, check the connections. Are you saying “This happens, and then this happens”? Or “This happens because of that”? If it’s just a series of events strung together, your story might lack momentum. Try to build a chain, not a timeline.
- Let Character Choices Drive the Plot: The strongest plots grow out of decisions. Ask yourself: What choice does the protagonist make that leads to this next moment? If your outline skips from event to event without character input, your story might feel passive.
- Check for Weak Spots: If a plot point feels sudden or out of nowhere, take a closer look. Is there a clear cause leading up to it? If not, can you tweak the setup so it flows more naturally? Outlining is the perfect time to spot and fix those gaps.
- Track the Fallout: Big moments should create ripples. If something major happens, it should have consequences—emotionally, practically, or both. Use your outline to trace those effects forward and make sure they show up in what happens next.
When you build your outline on cause and effect, you’re not just figuring out what happens—you’re figuring out why it happens.
6. Consider Pacing Early
Pacing isn’t just a revision fix—it starts with your outline. A well-paced story doesn’t just have exciting moments; it has the right timing between them. If your beginning drags, readers might bail. If the climax flies by, it might not land the way you want.
When outlining, look at the big picture. Where are your turning points? Where do things escalate? Once those are mapped out, check the space between. Too much downtime? Add tension. Rushing through major moments? Slow things down and let them breathe.
Outlining is the perfect place to spot pacing issues before they show up in your draft. It helps you shape the story’s rhythm early—so the momentum feels natural, the quiet moments hit, and every scene moves the story forward.
7. The ‘So What?’ Test
One of the simplest ways to tighten your story from the start? Ask yourself: So what?
As you build your outline, pause at each scene, moment, or plot point and challenge it. Why does this matter? What is it doing for the story? If the answer’s unclear, that might be a sign it doesn’t belong—or that it needs a stronger purpose.
The “So What?” Test helps you spot scenes that don’t move the plot, deepen character, or support your theme. It’s a way to catch filler before it ends up in your draft, whether it’s a meandering conversation, an info-dump, or a subplot that leads nowhere.
It doesn’t mean every scene has to be high drama—but it should do something meaningful. Maybe it raises the stakes, reveals a character’s flaw, or sets something in motion for later. If a moment feels flat, ask: Would the story lose anything if this disappeared?
Use this test early and often—especially while outlining—and you’ll build a story where every beat matters, and nothing gets in the way of what really counts.
8. Use Strategic Chapter Breaks
Chapter breaks aren’t just about formatting—they’re one of your best tools for pacing and tension. And the time to start thinking about them? While you’re outlining.
Instead of placing breaks at natural stopping points, consider ending chapters where the tension is rising, not falling.
Here are a few go-to techniques:
- Mini-Cliffhangers: Drop a twist, a reveal, or a major “uh-oh” moment right before the chapter ends.
- Unfinished Thoughts or Conversations: Cut off mid-dialogue or at the edge of a character’s realization to build anticipation.
- Promise of What’s Next: End with the clear suggestion that something big is about to happen—and make the reader want to stick around for it.
As you outline, experiment with where these breaks might land. If every chapter ends with total resolution, you risk losing momentum. But if every chapter ends with a dramatic cliffhanger, readers may start to see the pattern and lose interest.
The goal is simple: keep them curious. If your chapter breaks are making you want to keep outlining, you’re probably doing it right.
