How to Write a Book Outline

Write a book outline for your non-fiction or fiction book before writing your book proposal. Outlines help you organize your work by looking at the big picture and taking a closer look at the structure.

Instructions

1

Write your title and name on the first page.

2

Outline your table of contents on the next page. A table of contents is a good starting point for a book outline. You can see your book at a glance and in logical order.

3

Write the chapter name followed by 2 or 3 words that describe the content of that chapter; or, you can use the subheading for each chapter if you are writing non-fiction.

4

Outline your introduction in point form on a new page. Include your subject or book hook. A hook is a line that gets readers reading and keeps them reading more.

5

Include the purpose of your book. Everything you write should come back to this statement.

6

Write a short outline for each chapter of your book. Include a main statement from the chapter, followed by points covering major events or areas of the chapter. End the chapter outline with a concluding sentence.

7

Include a conclusion at the end of your book outline. You want to tie up all loose ends if it is fiction. Make sure all your chapters lead to this conclusion.

8

Write an outline for your resources and index if you are writing nonfiction. You don't need to go into depth, just treat it like your table of contents. Make a list of headings and subheadings.