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Outlining a book is an important step in the writing process that can help you structure your story, develop your characters, and ensure that your plot moves forward smoothly. Not every author wants or needs to outline, but for many, the process of outlining their book before writing is important for organization and characterization. For children's book authors, this step is especially important because young readers require a strong narrative that can hold their attention and keep them engaged. In this article, we will walk you through the process of outlining a children's book, step by step.
Step 1: Start with a solid concept
Before you start outlining your story, you need to have a solid concept in mind. This can be anything from a simple idea, like "a story about a boy and his dog," to a more complex theme, like "what would the future be like if we no longer had poverty, but the cost was extreme population control." Once you have your concept, you can start thinking about the plot, characters, and setting that will bring it to life.
Most people who want to write a book already have this first step in mind. Perhaps you had a dream, your child drew an interesting creature, or you were watching a movie and wanted to turn a concept on its head. Whatever the case may be, there is infinite room to create a story. Be careful if you are using copyrighted material. Your concept or idea must be different enough from the source material to be considered original. Fan fiction is a bit different in this regard, but because of the nature of fan fiction, those books often cannot be published without significant name changes and concepts. If a book is no longer in copyright, you have free reign of those characters and ideas. These are also referred to as Public Domain Characters. A few characters currently in the public domain: Sherlock Holmes, Peter Pan, John Carter, Long John Silver, Tarzan, Captain Nemo, Don Diego de la Vega, Winnie the Pooh, and Robin Hood.
"Before you start writing, make sure you have a solid idea of what you want to say. Think about the message you want to convey and the characters that will help you get there." - Mo Willems, author of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!"
Step 2: Develop your characters
Once you have a concept in mind, it's time to start thinking about your characters. Developing strong characters is essential for creating a compelling story that readers will care about. It is important to think of your characters like they are real people.
Here are some basic questions to ask:
Who are they?
Where were they born?
Do they have an accent?
What kind of clothes do they like?
How tall are they?
Once you have determined these you can then dive deeper:
What does this character want vs what they say they want?
What would they die for?
What would they want to live for?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Do they have any idiosyncracies?
You shouldn't just answer these questions for your primary characters either. It is important that all your major characters, even if they are secondary, have the same character building. Secondary characters do not have to have the same kind of growth as the primary character, however you should still be able to answer these questions. Some of these things may never be explicitly stated on the page, but you the writer should know your character inside and out. This will help you get inside your character's head and as you write, you can make logical choices that someone who is like your character would make. For example, if you created a character of a fifteen-year-old girl who has been through the foster care system and distrusts adults, it would make sense when you are writing a scene where a teacher is asking for her to trust them, that she tells them no and refuses their help. That would make sense for her character.
Once you know the basics of your character, it is then time to decide where you would like your character to be by the end. This doesn't have to be super complex at this point. We simply want an idea of where the character arc is going to go. From the example above, perhaps the character arc would be that the girl goes from distrusting all adults to realizing that there really are some people who do care and she ends up opening up to her teaching and ultimately finds the support and love she has been longing for.
"Characters are the heart and soul of any story. They are the ones who drive the action and keep readers engaged." - Jacqueline Woodson, author of "Brown Girl Dreaming"
Step 3: Create a plot outline
With your characters in mind, it's time to start thinking about the plot. The three-act structure is a popular framework used in children’s book writing. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the conflict. The second act is where the conflict is developed, and the characters face obstacles. The third act is the resolution, where the conflict is resolved, and the characters learn important lessons.
While this is the most popular way to tell a story, it certainly is not the only way to structure a book and is something you can play around with. It is also important to not confuse setting with plot. World War II is a setting. While certain things can happen throughout the story, the plot should be driven by the characters, their motivations, and the conflict in the story.
Conflict points are super important and tend to be the catalyst for moving a story forward and progressing the plot. The 5 types of conflict are:
Person vs. Self
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Supernatural
"Your plot should keep readers on the edge of their seats. Make sure your story has plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting." - Jeff Kinney, author of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series
Step 4: Write the first chapter
The first chapter is perhaps the most important part of your book. It sets the tone for the rest of the story and hooks readers in. This is your chance to introduce your characters, set up the conflict, and give readers a reason to care about what happens next.
First-time authors often make the mistake of doing a giant info dump in the first chapter, particularly when writing sci-fi and fantasy. After all, there is a lot of world-building that needs to be done. That's why you should fight the urge to throw it all into that first chapter. Instead, slow down. Remember that your readers are going to connect to the character first, so that is an important part to build out. You can always go back and revise later, but for that first chapter, start by laying out the most important things that will set up your character and plot.
For character, establishing what the character wants is important. This does not necessarily have to be what the character truly wants deep down, simply what the characters believe they want in the beginning, before they have gone through any significant change. That first chapter also should introduce our first conflict point. Is it the school bully? Getting into Harvard? A life-changing diagnosis? Hook the reader and pull them in. You want them to want to keep reading. To do that, you have to connect them fully.
"Your first chapter should be like a magnet, pulling readers in and making them want to keep reading." - Kate DiCamillo, author of "The Tale of Despereaux"
Step 5: Build character arcs
As your story progresses, your characters should grow and change. This is called a character arc, and it's an important part of any children's book. Your characters should face challenges and learn important lessons along the way.
You should have done some of this building in your initial outline, but as you write you may find yourself revisiting this element. Check in with your characters. Is enough happening in the story to show an impetus for change? If not, why not? No author wants to make the mistake of creating a character and then suddenly, at the very end, the character does a full 180 that is completely unearned and out of left field. Don't be afraid to make changes to your outline if the story feels like it needs to go in another direction because our characters begin to take on a life of their own.
"Character arcs are essential for creating a story that readers will care about. Make sure your characters grow and change as the story progresses." - Katherine Applegate, author of "The One and Only Ivan"
Step 6: Include an inevitable setback
Every story needs an inevitable setback, a moment where it seems like all is lost. This is where your characters face their greatest challenge and must find the strength to overcome it. This moment is crucial for building tension and keeping readers engaged. Readers should be worried that the character may not get the thing they were seeking. Maybe they won't. The object they were after is destroyed or worse...doesn't exist. Right when they were about to destroy the dystopian government, they are captured and thrown in prison. The other kids at summer camp discover the main character's secret journal, read it, and tell everyone in the camp what was in it.
Some authors choose to go very dark with these moments,even going so far as to kill off one of their main characters. For other stories, the setback is something small, but still a major obstacle for the main character. Be sure there is enough room in your story for your characters to bounce back.
"Your setback should be the moment where your characters face their greatest challenge. Make sure it's something that will keep readers on the edge of their seats." - Dav Pilkey, author of the "Captain Underpants" series
Step 7: Conclusion
When outlining your children's book, it's important to think about how you want your story to conclude. The conclusion is the final impression you will leave on your readers, and it's where you tie up loose ends, deliver your message, and leave your readers with a sense of satisfaction.
As you outline your story, think about the message or theme you want to convey, and how you can bring that message to life in your conclusion. You may want to bring your characters full circle, showing how they've grown and changed over the course of the story. Alternatively, you may want to end with a sense of hope or possibility, leaving readers with a feeling of anticipation for what's to come. Children's books tend to end hopeful, because children themselves are still so full of hope.
Whatever direction you choose, make sure your conclusion feels satisfying and true to the story you've told. With a well-crafted conclusion as part of your outline, you can leave a lasting impression on your readers and create a story that they will remember for years to come.
"The perfect ending should take your breath away, but still leave you with enough air to whisper, 'Wow.'" -E.B. White, author of "Charlotte's Web"
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