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Hey Reader,

There are two types of writers in this world: those who make outlines and those who scoff at outlines.

Then there alllll the other types of writers, such as those who sometimes make outlines, those who word-vomit then outline then word-vomit again, those who bullet point the whole thing then floof it out, those who start at the end, those who start at the start, and those who never ever start at all.

👀

But what if you’re a writer, like Steph, who knows an outline can be a great tool to get you started, so you start one, but then it becomes ridiculous and you get exhausted trying to finish the outline so you can start the writing, then you never actually start writing?

I feel like “make an outline” is common — and often good — advice, but if it ends there, it can stall us. When you actually dig into making an outline, it’s not that simple — everything feels more complicated than it should.

So here are 3 ways to outline your book.

1 The detailed index card outline for visual thinkers

• Take your book idea and write it on an index card or a Trello board or whatever.
• Flip that index card over and scribble bullet points for the main problem you’re solving or question you’re answering. (This is the basis for your intro.)
• What are the main things your reader needs to know about that idea? Write each of them on another index card or whatever you’re using.
• For each of those main things, flip over the index card and write the following bullet points: a question you’ve heard or asked about the thing, the answer to that question, a story that can illustrate your point.
• Take another index card and write your “answer” to the problem you’re solving or question you’re answering. Flip it over and bullet point: how the reader has changed, a story to show it, a future they might see. (This is the basis for your conclusion.)

2 The post-draft outline for word vomiters

• Vomit your first draft out as quick as possible — don’t worry about structure or grammar or any of that, just get your ideas out as fast as possible.
• Put it in a drawer.
• Summarise the whole thing in bullet points (use method 1 above if you like) — think about the reader journey — where do they start? Where do you take them? Where do they stop on the way?
• Get your first draft out of the drawer, and compare it to your outline. Use the outline to edit the first draft and get it into some kind of sensible shape. Alter the outline if you need to!

3 The one-page outline you can map out fast

• Slap down the big question you’re answering. If you don’t think you are answering a question, create a question that makes sense. It’ll help you structure things.
• Answer that question as simply as possible.
• Show your working: think of it like a maths question — how did you get from question to answer? What are the steps you need to go through? Keep it high level for now.
• Keep it by your side as you write, and change it if you need to.

This is not an exhaustive list — there are many, many ways to outline a book.

The main thing to keep in mind is this:

It will never be “finished” — that’s not the point of an outline. The point of an outline is to give you points of reference, beacons in the dark.

The outline might change as your ideas develop, and that’s fine — let it.

I find it helps to think of it as a living, breathing document. One that shifts and changes as you write, because as you write, your ideas will shift, you’ll think of different ways to create your book, different ideas and stories to include, and you’ll change as you write it too.

If you think of your outline as a thing that has to be “finished” it makes things harder because then it’s rigid and you have no scope to grow within your book and your ideas.

If you’d like a place to start, my Book Blueprint Session is perfect.

Get started with confidence and a step-by-step plan.

In one 90-minute intensive session, we’ll:

• Nail down your Big Idea so you can explain your book in one clear, confident sentence
• Map out your reader journey - who they are, what they need, and how your book will transform them
• Create your rough book structure so you know exactly what to write and in what order
• Identify and demolish the specific mindset goblins that are keeping you stuck
• Get you writing-ready with a clear plan you can actually follow

You leave with:

• A book blueprint you can reference every time you sit down to write
• Clarity on your book’s core message and structure
• Confidence that your idea is actually bloody brilliant
• The ability to START WRITING instead of endlessly “planning”

This is for writers who have had it with procrastination and are ready to get their book out of their head and onto the page.

Investment: £1,495 +VAT (payment plans available).

I have three of these available in March, and one of them has your name on it if you want it. Reply and let me know, and it’s yours.

TTFN,

Vicky 🫡

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