I was trying (and failing) not to get lost in subreddits today, and found this one super-simple approach to laying out your book. A 13-Line Plot Outline. The idea is to write one paragraph or line for each of the numbers as a quick, clear plotline that can be viewed and referred to at a glance.
Think Save the Cat, but super simplified for the sake of clarity and sanity.
- Introduction
- Inciting incident
- Inner conflict
- Point of no return
- Reaction
- Subplot
- Midpoint
- The villain approaches
- All seems lost
- Rock bottom
- The truth is revealed
- Final battle
- Ending
I would say that I’m 75% plotter, 25% pantser when it comes to writing, so something like this sings to me.
What about you?
Do you write according to plans or vibes?
What would your story 13-Line Plot Outline look like right now if you were to apply it?
If you take this list for a spin, I’d love to see it. Please share!
xo Jenn
