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.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

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.

Resources

• This is the type of outline you may have used in school.
• This article explains outlines for writing books.