Your free fiction book template: HERE
Your free non-fiction book template: HERE
Often perceived as optional (and sometimes unnecessary) by seasoned authors, an outline holds immense significance in non-fiction writing.
Having an outline for a non-fiction title is like plotting a map for an unfamiliar territory.
It helps you with direction, especially in a fictional setting where you can easily get lost in your own imagination.
Outlines matter, not just for first-time novelists but for bestselling authors as well.
Many established writers swear by the efficacy of outlining before starting a new book.
It helps them stay organized and focused while writing, saving precious time that would otherwise be spent on fixing plot holes or inconsistent character development.
And if you want to write as many books as possible in your lifetime, creating an outline is a must.
It will help you churn out quality work faster and improve your book’s overall structure and flow.
And perhaps most importantly, using a proven book outline (template) will breed consistency in your writing, and as such, it’ll be easier for readers to identify and connect with your unique style.
But while outlining holds a ton of value, it can also be daunting for many writers.
The idea of planning out a whole book before even writing a single word appears overwhelming and intimidating.
So, here’s where the value of a fiction book outline template comes into play. It serves as a starting point, giving you a framework to build upon and customize per your story’s unique requirements.
What’s Included In a Free Fiction Book Template?
Whether you’re an experienced writer or a newbie, below is a simple yet effective fiction book outline template to guide you through outlining.
1 – Hook
This is the starting point of your book.
It ought to be intriguing, even provocative, to capture your reader’s attention from the get-go.
Start with a compelling opening sentence or paragraph that sets the tone for your story and promises an exciting journey ahead.
Here’s what we mean: “It was a dark and stormy night” or “In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.”
These opening lines from famous books immediately grab your attention and make you want to continue reading. Use this section of your outline to brainstorm ideas for your hook until you find one that feels right for your story.
2 – Introduction
Here, you introduce your protagonist and their world, giving readers some background bits to understand the context of your story.
Consider highlighting any significant events or challenges they face to create a sense of intrigue and anticipation for what’s to come.
Take a careful look at this example: The morning sun shone through the window of Lily’s small apartment, casting a warm glow on her face. She sat at her writing desk, staring at the blank page before her. After months of struggling to find inspiration, she finally had a breakthrough – an idea for a book that could change everything.
You’ll notice how this introduction not only sets up the protagonist and their world but also hints at an inevitable conflict or obstacle they must overcome.
3 – Rising Action
The rising action is where the main conflict of your story unfolds.
It includes obstacles, challenges, and setbacks your protagonist must endure.
This section builds and showcases tension, which is the only effective means of keeping your readers engaged and wanting more.
Think about this as a series of events that push your protagonist out of their comfort zone and propel them towards a goal, consequence, or repercussion.
4 – Climax
The climax refers to the turning point of your story. It’s where everything comes to a head, and your protagonist faces their biggest challenge. The climax must have these attributes:
- Stakes are high
- Tension is at its peak
- The protagonist must make a difficult decision or take decisive action
- There’s no going back from this point
Every fiction book requires a climax.
It’s not like you can leave it out and still have a compelling story. So, see that you spend enough time on this section of your outline to get it right.
5 – Falling Action
The falling action is where the story starts to wrap up and move toward a resolution.
After the climax, your protagonist must face the aftermath of their actions and make sense of everything that has transpired so far.
This section should address any subplots or secondary characters and tie up loose ends before heading into the resolution.
Take this as an example:
As the rain fell harder, David made his way up the winding path towards the old manor.
He knew what he had to do – face his fears and confront the evil behind those walls.
6 – Resolution
The resolution is where everything comes together.
It serves as the closure for your protagonist and readers.
It is where loose ends are tied, conflicts are resolved, and your protagonist’s journey comes to an end.
Your resolution should answer any lingering questions or uncertainties.
In other words, it must afford readers a sense of completion and fulfillment.
See this example:
As the sun set on his small town, David stood outside the dilapidated manor, watching it crumble to the ground.
He had faced his fears and defeated the evil that haunted him for most of his adult life.
A sense of relief and peace washed over him as he walked away, knowing he would never have to return.
“Other” Key Elements to Consider in a Fiction Book Outline
Aside from those six components that make up your fiction book outline, don’t forget about these critical elements:
- Character development
- Setting and world-building
- Dialogue
- Point of view
These elements make up the substance and presentation of your story.
As you continue to flesh out your outline, keep them in mind and adjust, if need be, to ensure they are adequately addressed.
One helpful tip is to create a separate section in your outline for each element and brainstorm related ideas or notes as you make progress.
Doing so keeps you organized and guarantees that these crucial aspects of your story aren’t left out.
Your free fiction book template: HERE
Your free non-fiction book template: HERE
Non-Fiction Book Outline Template
Convention tells us that writing a book is a spontaneous affair.
It progresses based on pure creativity, and ideas flow freely from the writer’s mind.
Well, this isn’t entirely true.
While some writers may have a more spontaneous approach to writing, many prefer organizing every bit of detail before diving into the writing process.
A well-structured outline, a roadmap if you may, is an indispensable part of your non-fiction book.
It keeps you focused on the main points, organizes your thoughts and ideas, and guarantees your readers a cohesive flow of information.
The Importance of Outlining Your Non-fiction Book
An outline makes perfect sense for a non-fiction book.
It’s a guidepost that keeps you on track throughout the experience.
An outline helps you identify flaws in your book’s structure before investing too much time and effort into writing.
It allows you to rework and fine-tune your ideas until they are well-organized and make sense.
What’s Included In a Non-Fiction Book Outline Template?
The introduction serves as the opening act of your non-fiction book, setting the stage for what’s on the menu.
But unlike a fictional story, it doesn’t need to start with an attention-grabbing action or dialogue.
It can be more subtle but see to it that it’s unique.
An introduction to a non-fiction book may contain background information, a brief overview, or a personal anecdote related to the subject matter.
However, the most crucial aspect of your introduction is the thesis statement.
This clear and concise statement outlines your book’s central argument or point.
The thesis statement is the backbone of your non-fiction book, guiding the flow of your arguments and insights throughout the chapters.
Chapters Breakdown
1 – Introduction
- Hook: A compelling statement or question that draws in the reader.
- Thesis Restated: Reiteration of the book’s main argument.
- Overview: Summary of what this chapter will cover.
You probably will read about how this template for the first chapter is boring and ineffective, but it’s intentional.
The first chapter should always set the tone for the rest of the book and introduce your main argument.
Fiction begs to differ because it requires more creativity to keep the readers glued.
But non-fiction puts its argument upfront and saves detailed information for later chapters.
Background Information of Your Non-fiction Book
- Hook: A captivating story or fact that piques the reader’s interest.
- Why This Topic Matters: Explanation of why this topic is important to you and your readers.
- Historical Context: Brief overview of the historical context surrounding your topic.
Main Points
- Point 1: Detailed explanation of the first main point, including examples and supporting evidence.
- Point 2: Detailed explanation of the second main point, including examples and supporting evidence.
- Point 3: Detailed explanation of the third main point, including examples and supporting evidence.
2 – Content Chapters
- Topic: Brief description of the subject of the chapter.
- Key Points: List of main arguments or pieces of evidence that will be presented in the chapter.
- Case Studies or Examples: Real-life or case studies supporting your key points.
- Conclusion: Summary of what was covered in the chapter and its relevance to the book.
Remember that books will have several chapters, so following the same structure for each chapter will help maintain consistency and coherence in your writing.
3 – Conclusion
- Summary: Recap of the book’s arguments and points.
- Implications: Discussion of the implications of the book’s findings or arguments.
- Call to Action: A compelling call to action based on the evidence or arguments presented in the book. But this one’s a subject for debate, as most authors feel there’s no need to convince a reader to do anything else after reading the book.
4 – Appendices (if applicable)
Detailed Information: This section includes any detailed information that may be too in-depth for the book’s main body. This could be technical data, extended case studies, or comprehensive lists.
5 – Bibliography
Sources: List all the sources you have cited in your book, formatted according to your citation style.
6 – Acknowledgements
Gratitude: This section is where you acknowledge those who have helped create your book.
This could include anyone from your editor to family and friends who supported you throughout the journey.
7 – About the Author
Biography: A biography of the author(s) to provide credibility and context to the reader. Include relevant qualifications or previous titles, as they can add value to the book.
A well-structured outline for your non-fiction book is key to its success. It’s not like if you don’t have it, your book will fail. The idea is to streamline the writing process with the intention of producing an organized piece of work.