How to Plan a Novel in 30 Days: A Step-by-Step Guide for Outlining Your Book
Whether you ever have or ever intend to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo or NaNo) in November, you shouldn’t hold yourself to only writing a book within those 30 days. If you’re like me, you might find out about NaNo right before it starts and have no idea what to do.
Never fear, even if it feels like you totally should.
Writing a novel is an exciting and ambitious goal, but for many writers, the thought of tackling such a large project can feel overwhelming. One of the best ways to stay organized and motivated is by creating a detailed outline before you dive into drafting. With a clear plan, you can break down the process into manageable steps, ensuring you’re prepared to write a cohesive and compelling story.
Regardless of your participation in NaNoWriMo, let’s walk through a 30-day roadmap for outlining your novel, even if you want to use this process to hit your 50,000 word count by the end of the challenge. It doesn’t matter when you tackle this month-long process, but by the end of it, you’ll have a solid framework that will make the writing process more efficient and less intimidating.
Why Plan Your Novel?
Before we jump into the step-by-step of it all, allow me a moment to explain the benefits of outlining your novel, regardless of if you’re a pantser or plotter:
Clarity: A well-planned outline helps you stay on track. You’ll know where your story is going and how it’s going to get there.
Consistency: Outlining helps you avoid plot holes, character inconsistencies, and pacing issues.
Confidence: When you start with a plan, you feel more confident and less likely to hit writer’s block.
You may identify as a “pantser” (someone who writes by the seat of their pants without extensive planning), but you can still adapt to this process in your own way to suit a more flexible or discovery-oriented approach.
Let’s move on to the day-to-day breakdown.
Days 1-3: Brainstorming Your Story Idea
Start with brainstorming. This is where you’ll gather all your ideas and begin developing the core concept of your novel. Don’t let this part intimidate you; it could be the difference between staring at a blank page and at least putting something out into the universe.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself:
What is the central premise? What is your story about at its core? Is it a quest, a mystery, a romance, or something else?
Who is the protagonist? What does your main character want, and what stands in their way?
What’s the setting? Where and when does the story take place?
What are the stakes? What’s at risk for your protagonist? What happens if they fail?
Write down everything that comes to mind, even if it’s just fragments of ideas. This brainstorming phase will help you clarify the overall shape of your novel.
Goal: By Day 3, you should have a rough idea of your story premise, protagonist, and basic plot.
Day 4-6: Develop Your Protagonist and Major Characters
Now it’s time to focus on your characters, especially your protagonist and the main supporting cast. Strong, well-developed characters are the heart of any great novel, so spend time defining who they are.
Character Development Questions:
What is their goal? What does your protagonist want to achieve by the end of the story?
What are their strengths and weaknesses? What qualities help or hinder them throughout the story?
What’s their backstory? Where do they come from? What key experiences shaped them?
What’s their internal conflict? Every good character has both external and internal conflicts. What emotional or psychological challenges do they face?
Create detailed profiles for your protagonist and any other important characters. These profiles will guide you in crafting authentic interactions and character arcs.
Goal: By Day 6, you should have a clear picture of your protagonist and at least two or three other major characters.
Day 7-9: Build Your Setting
A strong sense of place can immerse readers in your story. Whether your novel is set in a fantastical world, a historical era, or a contemporary city, world-building is crucial.
Key Elements of Setting:
Location: Where does the story take place? Is it a fictional world, a small town, or a bustling metropolis?
Time period: What year or era is your story set in? Are there specific historical events or technologies that define the time?
Culture: What are the societal norms, traditions, and values that influence your characters and plot?
Atmosphere: What’s the tone of the world? Is it dark and gritty, whimsical, or something else?
Create a setting that complements your story and helps drive the narrative forward. Even if you’re writing in a familiar setting, add details that make it feel unique.
Goal: By Day 9, you should have a fleshed-out setting that feels real and grounded, no matter how fantastical or realistic it is.
Day 10-12: Outline the Major Plot Points
Now it’s time to focus on the backbone of your story—the major plot points that will guide the narrative. One popular method is the three-act structure, but feel free to adapt this to fit your personal style.
Three-Act Structure Overview:
Act 1 – Setup: Introduce your protagonist, the world, and the main conflict. The inciting incident—the event that kicks off the story—usually happens here.
Act 2 – Confrontation: The protagonist faces obstacles and challenges while pursuing their goal. The midpoint often involves a major twist or turning point.
Act 3 – Resolution: The protagonist either succeeds or fails in achieving their goal, and the story reaches its conclusion.
Identify the key moments in your story, such as the inciting incident, midpoint twist, climax, and resolution. These will serve as the tentpoles of your outline.
Goal: By Day 12, you should have a clear understanding of your novel’s major plot points.
Day 13-17: Fill in the Scene Outline
Now that you have you major plot points in place, it’s time to take on the daunting task of breaking the story down into individual scenes. A scene-by-scene outline gives you a detailed roadmap of how the story will unfold, from the opening scene to the final chapter.
How to Build a Scene Outline:
Scene Goal: What happens in each scene? What is the purpose of this scene in the context of the story?
Conflict: What obstacle does the protagonist face in this scene? Every scene should have some form of conflict or tension, whether internal or external.
Outcome: What changes by the end of the scene? How does it move the plot forward?
You don’t need to know every detail yet, but try to outline the major beats of each scene. This will help you keep the pacing tight and the narrative focused.
Goal: By Day 17, you should have a detailed scene outline covering the main events of your novel.
Day 18-21: Deepen Character Arcs and Subplots
With your main plot in hand, take some time to flesh out character arcs and subplots. This is where you’ll add depth to your characters and secondary storylines that enrich the main plot.
Character Arcs:
How does your protagonist change by the end of the story?
What emotional or psychological journey do they undergo?
Subplots:
Are there secondary characters whose stories intersect with the protagonist’s?
How do these subplots reflect or challenge the main themes of the novel?
Make sure every subplot ties into the main narrative and serves a purpose. Avoid creating side stories that don’t add to the overall plot.
Goal: By Day 21, your character arcs and subplots should be clearly defined and woven into the scene outline.
Day 22-25: Refine the Pacing and Structure
Pacing is crucial to keeping readers engaged. Once you have your plot and scenes outlined, take a step back and assess the pacing of your story.
Questions to Ask:
Are there any slow or stagnant sections? If a scene doesn’t serve the story or feels repetitive, consider cutting or condensing it.
Do the stakes rise consistently? Make sure the tension and stakes increase as the story progresses, leading to a climactic conclusion.
Is there enough variety in the rhythm of the story? Alternate between fast-paced scenes and slower, more reflective moments to give the reader a breather without losing momentum.
Use this time to tweak the structure and adjust the pacing as needed.
Goal: By Day 25, your novel’s pacing and structure should be smooth, with clear rises and falls in tension.
Day 26-28: Fine-Tune the Beginning and Ending
The beginning and ending of your novel are two of the most important parts. The opening needs to hook readers and introduce them to your world, while the ending needs to provide a satisfying resolution to the story.
Opening Scene:
Does the first scene grab attention?
Does it introduce the protagonist and conflict in a compelling way?
Does it set the tone and stakes for the rest of the novel?
Ending:
Does the climax resolve the central conflict?
Does the ending provide closure, or leave room for a sequel if needed?
Is the resolution satisfying, based on the journey of the characters and plot?
Make sure both the opening and ending feel strong, polished, and consistent with the rest of the story.
Goal: By Day 28, your beginning and ending should be solid, giving your story a strong start and a satisfying conclusion.
Day 29-30: Review and Finalize Your Outline
In the final two days, take some time to review your entire outline. Make sure everything flows logically, from the major plot points to the character arcs and subplots.
Final Review Checklist:
Is the protagonist’s journey clear and engaging?
Do all the scenes contribute to the story?
Are the stakes high enough to keep readers invested?
Does the pacing feel right?
Is there a balance between action, character development, and world-building?
If everything feels cohesive, you’re ready to move on to the drafting stage!
Goal: By Day 30, you should have a complete, detailed outline that serves as a roadmap for writing your novel.
Day 31: Ready to Write!
Outlining your novel in 30 days may seem like an impossible task, but by breaking it down into manageable steps, you can create a strong foundation for your story. Whether you prefer a highly detailed outline or a more flexible roadmap, having a plan in place will give you the structure and confidence you need to get write on in to the writing process.
Once your outline is ready, the next step is putting words on the page—one scene at a time. With a solid plan and clear direction, you’re well on your way to turning your novel idea into a completed manuscript.
