Blank Novel Outline. Working title: “Type” of novel best suited to this idea: ___Mainstream (Describe): ___Category (Genre): check one (or more, if the idea might cross genre lines). ___Romance ___Western ___Fantasy ___Action/Adventure ___Mystery ___Horror ___Science Fiction ___Other Feel free to type in a different genre if you feel yours is missing. Know what readers want to see in a genre before holding yourself down to it. (Describe): Main Characters (list only up to three major characters) Character #1—the protagonist (the hero or heroine of this story) Name: Primary Goal: Most notable personality trait(s): Character #2—the antagonist (the main “opposition” character) Relationship to protagonist: Character #3—a major supporting character Setting(s) (If your novel has multiple settings, list only the two main ones) Setting #1: Time frame: Reason for using this setting: Setting #2: What is the main complication of the story (the central problem that must be solved by the main character)?
You have no excuse now. Plot Outlines and Templates: Why Your Novel Needs Them. There are three levels of plot: outline level, scenes and pacing. The outline level is the most abstract level, or the skeleton level, where each section of a story is categorized in some general way. We do this by dividing stories into acts, for example.
Some prefer 3 acts, some 4, doesn’t matter, as long as the division is helpful to the writer (as opposed to helpful to the critic). The level of scenes adds more details and becomes specific to your story as you choose which scenes will best tell your story. Pacing is an even finer level, more concerned with the minor changes that take place within a scene. Each of these levels is important, though, you can choose which to emphasize. How Many Basic Plots? Two Stories. Either adventure and conflict come to you, or you go to it. 33 Plots. Plot Outlines are Cliches and That’s OK One result of the limited number of stories is that most outline level plots are cliches: Boy meets Girl; Boy offends Girl; Boy gets girl.
Duh, you say. 150 Resources to Help You Write Better, Faster, and More Persuasively. It doesn't matter if you're a student or a professional writer: there's always something new to learn and ways to make your writing more refined, better researched, and more effective. Writing is essential for students who want to succeed, whether they're enrolled in one of the top online colleges or an Ivy League university. As essential as it is, learning to write well isn't easy. The best practices for writing and research can sometimes be subjective, and the finer points of syntax and style often take a backseat to looming deadlines and strict citation guidelines. Luckily, there are many helpful resources that make it easier to build on your existing skills while learning new ones. We've compiled links to sites dedicated to helping students, bloggers, and professional writers improve their techniques while also becoming better editors and researchers.
Browse through the following list or focus on categories you need most. Blogs Business and Legal Matters Citation and Style Guides Tools. Kindle Direct Publishing: My Reports. The Color of Love eBook: David Burgett. Free eBooks for Android & iPhone/iPad.