How to Outline a Novel: a Personal Journey

Things I’ve done as a former pantser

It’s been more than an entire month since I wrote my last post here. Despite feeling slightly stressed about it — I didn’t push myself and stayed true to my promise:

This is a slow publication with no intention to adhere to a schedule. In the age of social media, I try to slow down. Slow down with me ☻

On this topic, I also decided to take a break from Instagram (my doom) just yesterday and here we are — with enough time and headspace to sit down and check-in. Funny how this works, but I’m not surprised. I decided to take time away from Instagram mainly because April is nearing and I find myself spacey, foggy and generally not hearing my own thoughts.

This is a long-awaited writing post!

A little snippet from my outlining notebook and my partner’s mum’s sweet tablecloth, coaster and mug (all of which give me so much joy)

I intended this Substack as a space to document my writing journey and start my “author platform” in a way that felt natural to me and that didn’t deter me from actual writing. I heard over and over again that I should have the space online and the earlier I start the better. I know this. I also know that Instagram and TikTok are where it’s at. I tried that for my graphic design and photography pursuits and if I’m honest — social media makes me feel sad, I am also very much addicted to scrolling and I’m not enjoying it as a “task” I have to do 3-5 days a week. So here we are! I will most likely need to have a social media account at some point, but not today, Satan. So instead, let me finally tell you about my writing plans!

I wrote only one novel in my adult life and did not finish it. I had grand plans for it, loved the story and felt like it was timely and would stir some things. But alas, I did not enjoy writing it. Every time I sat down to write — it felt like I was in a dense fog trying to find my way home and failing. I workshopped it at the Australian Writers' Centre novel writing course, got amazing feedback, fell in love with writing even more but ultimately realised that it was not my novel. Or at the very least it was not the novel I’d write yet. This time around I decided to take a different approach. Maybe, just maybe, I did not enjoy writing the last novel and it felt like such a struggle every second of the way because it was a struggle. Maybe, I was a plotter trying to pants and hating it? Exactly.

Today, I am outlining! 

I started outlining this novel in November 2023. I decided to do my very best until April 2024 and then jump on the fun that is CampNaNoWriMo. I never participated in it properly, but I thought that this was as good a deadline as any. Then, my best friend Sam agreed to join me with her novel, so we made a plan.

So far, I am having fun and writing this book seems less and less daunting every day. Here are some things I’ve done since November 2023:

1. I started a notebook where I do my brainstorming. I write down my ideas and things to research, figure out and answer. Some of my pages look like this:

   

   And some look like this:

   

2. I’m using “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody for understanding the story structure and “Outlining Your Novel” by K.M. Weiland for ideas on how to structure the outline, what to do and what things to consider. I honestly need and want someone to hold my hand and walk me through it, so these books and these authors do just that (thank you thank you thank you). 

   

   I have 2 or 3 other writing books in my TBR list and of course the power of YouTube to help me learn the craft. I do find though that learning from too many people at once overwhelms me, so I take it slow. 
   

3. I started a new Scrivener project and created all the folders for March when I’m ready to transcribe everything I came up with in my notebook and actually make sense of it all. And then, of course, write. I liked this video on YouTube and took a lot of the project structure from here.
   

4. I went on Pinterest and saved around 90 images to my laptop that look like the story I’m writing. They inspire me and help me get into the mood. Silly me, I didn’t pin those images to a Pinterest board and now I regret it. I simply downloaded them to my laptop and then uploaded them to a Notion board with character tags. Honestly, I should’ve saved myself the trouble and pinned them. Now I find myself not wanting to use Notion for this project and also lacking a Pinterest board to share. But oh well, you live and you learn. 

   

5. I created a Spotify playlist and listened to it so much that I’m now afraid it won’t work when I sit down to actually write this book. So I’m taking a break from it too. But it’s here, it’s inspiring and it’s waiting for me to utilise it. 
   

6. Finally, I found a great literary comp with a suitable deadline (August 2024) and suitable submission requirements (first 5k words and a synopsis) to work towards.

   
   Here’s my thought process:
   If I have my book outlined and have a big chunk of the first draft written, I can write a synopsis and perfect the first few chapters to submit. Best-case scenario, I will meet people who are interested in this story. Worst-case scenario, I’ll have a synopsis and the first 5k words that are somewhat presentable.

As you can see, I’m a creature of structure. I love everything organised, I love working towards a goal, and self-imposed deadlines help me. It feels good working towards something. I’m not sure why I ever thought I should pants. 

So far, I am less stressed about writing this book, and I’m genuinely enjoying the outlining process. Pondering and discovering and “solving a problem” gives me a rush. I’m also hoping that by having a plan, I won’t struggle as much when I write. I know I’ll still struggle, I’ve accepted that. I also accepted that it probably wouldn’t feel like such a massive achievement if writing came easy to me.

It’s a little over a month before I start writing words that will be included in the final word count.

Here’s my to-do list before the 1st of April:

• Figure out all the story beats (relying on “Save The Cat! Writes a Novel”)

• Read some books on the history of witchcraft and some practical application (research)

• Finish about 50% of “Outlining Your Novel” I have left. While, of course doing the story brainstorming

• Transcribe everything good from my notebook into Scrivener

• Set up Scrivener on my iPad and phone

• Enjoy the next 2 books I read (“A Study in Drowning” and “The Wolf and the Woodsman”) because come April I’ll have to stop reading new stories to let my brain be bored enough to come up with my own. 

As an amateur, professional only in my enthusiasm, I’d love to talk writing, reading and anything in between with anyone willing. If you have any thoughts on this post, I love love love receiving comments so tell me what you think! Be it questions, advice, book recommendations or publication recommendations, do tell.