Free Writing Template | 30 Chapter Outline

This is a text version of the 30-chapter outline originally presented in this article. Since not everyone uses Scrivener, I thought I’d make the text available to the masses by blogging the outline here. Enjoy! Now write something amazing!

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MS Word .DOCX Format

Special thanks goes to Instagram user writerlydosageofinspiration—an effort by Lelia Strong at The Writer’s Block—the 30 Days/30 Chapters pages, as found somewhere in the NaNoWiMo forums. With her help, I was able to get my hands on clean copies of this simple yet powerful outline.

For my Free Scrivener Template, click here!

  1. Intro to MC and normal life | Who is the main character (MC)— place, time, world? Who are the MC’s existing supporting characters (not necessarily the ones from 13)
  2. I know what I want | What does MC want in life—goal, dreams?
  3. I’m getting what I want | What’s the MC’s plan, how’s it happening right now?
  4. Inciting/devastating/life changing incident | MC’s plan is ruined by something outside his/her control.
  5. I’m not getting what I want | MC takes in/processes what’s happened, reacting emotionally
  6. Why did this happen | MC examines their process and consider how to get back up/to normal
  7. Enter exotic/new/different world/place/path | Because of whatever happened in 4, and because they can’t do 6, the MC is thrown into an exotic/different world/place/path
  8. I wanna go home | MC is in shock, wanting to trying to get back to the old world/place/path
  9. I can’t go home | MC comes to the conclusion that they can’t go back, so they look around
  10. Woah, Wait | MC becomes distracted by the new (world/place/path) surroundings, then remembers their goal
  11. Enemy/antagonist enters | MC discovers the new enemy/antagonist that will keep them from their goal here
  12. What now | MC is depressed about enemy/antagonist, personal goal, but wonders what to do
  13. This may work | MC explores, makes friends—some maybe unwillingly. MC considers alternate options for goal
  14. This isn’t so bad | MC has accepted the new world, the friends, the goals— they enjoy themselves
  15. Enemy/antagonist strikes | The enemy/antagonist threatens their new world/personal goal/something
  16. Main character fights | They recover and the MC decides s/he won’t stand for this
  17. Who’s with me | MC and supporting characters band together to take a stand
  18. Gear up | They plan and prepare for journey/battle/some stand, considering what they know
  19. On the Road | They push through, band together, solve problems, put aside differences
  20. Enemy Plays | The enemy/antagonist plays at their weak points, threatening their bond and stand
  21. We can do this | They come through feeling beaten, but band together again and agree to push forward
  22. Push | They push themselves to be the best they can be and continue on toward the final
  23. The enemy’s/antagonist’s lair | They arrive at the enemies’ front yard, planning, training, observing
  24. Crisis! | They move their plans to action and things don’t go as planned—this is their lowest point
  25. What went wrong | MC considers their fault, discovering it was their first problem
  26. Can’t give up | They make their plan for their final direct effort to take down the enemy/antagonist
  27. Climax | They put this final plan into action, it seems to be going well
  28. We can do this | They almost are in shock at their success, continue using through, in a daze/awe
  29. Victory! | They defeat, save, and/or reach their final goal, ultimately being victorious. Notable lesson learned
  30. Resolution | Wrap up the loose ends, MC goes home/review lesson learned, reconcile relationships

Basic Elements Required To Get Started

  1. Main Character (MC) (strengths and weaknesses, critical fault) and his/her place/time/world
  2. The MC’s Goal
  3. The incident that impedes the goal
  4. A new or altered place/time/world (resulting from 3)
  5. Supporting Characters (strengths and weaknesses)
  6. The Enemy or Obstacle
  7. Supporting Enemy or Obstacle Characters and his/her/its place/time/world