Novel Outline Template

What's Included

This comprehensive novel outline template helps you plan your entire story from start to finish using the proven three-act structure.

Story Overview Section

Start with the big picture - capture your working title, genre, target word count, logline, and premise all in one place.

Three-Act Structure Breakdown

A detailed guide through each act of your novel:

• Act One (Setup ~25%): Opening scene, hook, protagonist introduction, inciting incident, and first plot point
• Act Two (Confrontation ~50%): B-story, fun and games, midpoint, bad guys close in, all is lost, dark night of the soul
• Act Three (Resolution ~25%): Finale setup, climax, resolution, and final image

Chapter Breakdown Template

For each chapter, track:

• POV character
• Location and timeline
• Chapter goal, conflict, and outcome
• Key scenes

Scene Cards

Detailed scene planning including character goals, conflict, disaster/outcome, emotional arc, and word count targets.

Story Beats Tracker

A comprehensive table to track all major story beats with target percentages, word counts, and actual chapter placements.

Subplot Tracking

Keep your subplots organized with dedicated sections for tracking their introduction, development, climax, and resolution.

Revision Checklist

After your first draft, use the built-in checklist to ensure your story hits all the right marks.