How to write a proper Chapter Outline?

xcomplex · Nov 7, 2009

I really need to know lol. I searched online and what I found was that I have to list points of the main events in the chapter. So for example:

Chapter 1:

Introduces Robert and Lila
Outlines their descreat relationship
Lila is caught by her parents and grounded for the full summer

Chapter 2: ....

(BTW this isn't my actual story, just something off of the top of my head

So is this how I am supposed to do it?

entropic island · Nov 7, 2009

In the chapter outlines for the old proposals I sent agents (of course, I got rejected, so PLEASE don't take my word for it) I would summarize the chapter like;

A happens, but what will happen if B happens? Yadayadaya...and C happens.

So like that, only in a paragraph. That's what I did. I got rejected. Any one else?

Kathleen42 · Nov 7, 2009

If it's for your own, personal use then do whatever way works best for you.

When I was asked to send one to an agent to show how revisions would work. I did the following (note that this is for fiction, may not be correct, and may be way too much detail for your purposes):

Chapter One

1.1 Brief description off first scene.
1.2 Brief description of second scene.

Chapter Two
2.1 Brief description of first scene.
2.2 Brief Description of second scene.
2.3 Brief description of third scene.

Stijn Hommes · Nov 9, 2009

Aidan Watson-Morris said:
In the chapter outlines for the old proposals I sent agents (of course, I got rejected, so PLEASE don't take my word for it) I would summarize the chapter like;

Your method is not neccesarily the problem. You probably got rejected for sending proposals regarding fiction projects instead of a finished manuscript. Agents want finished work. If you've already got an agent, they're not gonna ask for outlines either. All they want is your next project.

Mara · Nov 9, 2009

Are we talking about an outline for personal use or an outline for someone else? (I'm not entirely sure I understand why you'd need the latter, but I'm not very experienced. I kinda assumed most people finished writing, re-writing, and polishing their work before an agent or publisher even knew it existed.)

If it's for personal use, here's a method I came up with for outlining. (The events-based outline just didn't work for me.)

Mara's Version of Character Conflict Outline
The novel (or chapter) is composed of various conflicts centered around individual characters or sometimes groups. Each conflict has a setup, complication, and climax. Setup includes identifying the central character. Climax includes the resolution.

I don't bother to list the scenes from a chapter, but I did list "sections" of my novel (locations and events; basically chapters or groups of chapters). Then I put notes like "Setup 2, Complication 5, Climax 3" for each chapter to indicate which conflicts are involved and what stage of conflict is involved in that chapter. I guess it would be possible to break chapters down like that as well.

Here's an example. This is about half of a chapter. (I tacked the scene outline onto the end while posting this. I had it in my head, but not written down.) The characters are fighting a band of wannabe supervillains. (They're not a serious threat, and not the major villains of the story. That's why they're introduced and defeated so quickly.)

Chapter X Outline

Conflict 1

Setup: Kate wants revenge on society, but feels guilty about turning on Mako and friends.
Complication A: Kate gets in a fight with heroes, pretty much gets committed to fighting for Denizen. Thinks she will go to Atlanton jail or be killed if she loses or surrenders.
Complication B: Urges Denizen not to let Hellraiser kill Biff.
Climax: Defeated by Biff and Mako because Hellraiser didn't kill Biff. Apologizes to Mako. Captured.

Conflict 2

Setup: Hellraiser wants to kill people, but Denizen forbids it.
Complication: Hellraiser has a chance to kill Biff, but Denizen intervenes on ethical grounds, embarassing him.
Climax: Hellraiser decides to turn on Denizen. Fights heroes solo, gets beaten, costs other supervillains their numerical advantage. Escapes to "Hell."

Conflict 3

Setup: Denizen wants to be a comic-style supervillain and rule the world, but doesn't want to kill people.
Complication: He has a chance to kill Biff and possibly Mako, but refuses.
Climax: His decision costs him the battle, and he is captured.

Conflict 4

Setup: Dr. Robo wants to show the world he's a great roboticist, but he's not. He uses the Copper shard to fake it.
Complication: He junctions the shard to a giant robot and tries to fight the heroes. Mako recognizes the shard.
Climax: Mako reclaims the shard, disabling the robot. Dr. Robo is defeated and flees. Extradimensional fortress starts to collapse.

Outline:
Prior Chapter: Setup 1, Complication 1a

Biff Falls In Portal Trap: Brief description, not a full scene

Hellraiser Ambushes Biff: Complication 1b, Setup 2, Complication 2, Climax 2, Setup 3, Complication 3

Mako and Biff Talk: (Some novel-level conflict complications occur here, but not the specific chapter-level stuff mentioned before.)

vs. Kate and Denizen: Setup 4, Climax 1, Climax 3

vs. Dr. Robo: Complication 4, Climax 4

How to write a proper Chapter Outline?

xcomplex

Fantastic Fantasy!

entropic island

.

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Mara

Clever User Title