How to write the first outline of your novel
The outline is basically a map of the major events in your story. You want to detail the rising action, climax, and falling action, as well as the end in it. It should include the major events (battle, love scene, character's death, a major idea or revelation, etc.) in your outline. You don't have to do an outline detailing every chapter, and in fact I wouldn't recommend it personally, but some people have said it helps a lot. Anything that works for you is good! Included below are some basic outlines that you could use for your story.
Feel free to copy this and work on it. It's a chapter-by-chapter outline that I created. Depending on your plot and storyline, you might not have to answer each question every time. After chapter 2 on the sheet you can add chapters as needed.
Prologue:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?
Chapter 1:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?
Chapter 2:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?
…………………………………………………..
Epilogue:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?
Prologue:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?
Chapter 1:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?
Chapter 2:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?
…………………………………………………..
Epilogue:
What is happening?
What setting?
Who are the characters?
When?
Why is this happening?
How is this happening?