Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter job: which outline beat does this chapter serve?
POV / timeframe: whose head, when and where.
Scene - what the viewpoint character wants at the start; who or what stands in their way; one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
Value turn: what is different by the last line.
Open questions: only what is blocking this chapter.
(leave empty writing space)
Chapter 2
Chapter job: which outline beat does this chapter serve?
POV / timeframe: whose head, when and where.
Scene - what the viewpoint character wants at the start; who or what stands in their way; one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
Value turn: what is different by the last line.
Open questions: only what is blocking this chapter.
(leave empty writing space)
Chapter 3
Chapter job: which outline beat does this chapter serve?
POV / timeframe: whose head, when and where.
Scene - what the viewpoint character wants at the start; who or what stands in their way; one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
Value turn: what is different by the last line.
Open questions: only what is blocking this chapter.
(leave empty writing space)
Chapter 4
Chapter job: which outline beat does this chapter serve?
POV / timeframe: whose head, when and where.
Scene - what the viewpoint character wants at the start; who or what stands in their way; one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
Value turn: what is different by the last line.
Open questions: only what is blocking this chapter.
(leave empty writing space)
[Working Title]
Elevator Pitch
One to two sentences: your protagonist, their inciting incident, their primary goal, and the stakes. Keep this at the top to prevent scope creep.
Core Theme
The underlying message or argument of the book (e.g. "Greed destroys families"). Every major event should tie back to this.
Target Metrics
Target word count, reader demographic, and deadline.
Character Engine: [Protagonist Name]
Wants: what they are chasing, out loud.
Needs: what they actually need, underneath.
The Lie They Believe: the false worldview they hold at the start, usually born from a past wound.
Wound: the thing in their past that drives them.
Flaw: what gets in their own way.
Voice: how they talk, and what they would never say.
Arc: who they are at the start, who they are at the end.
Act I
The Status Quo
What does the character's normal life look like?
Ground the reader with one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
(leave empty writing space for the scene)
The Inciting Incident
What disrupts their normal life?
What does the viewpoint character want at the start of this scene?
(leave empty writing space)
Crossing the Threshold
The point of no return where the story truly begins.
Ground the reader with one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
(leave empty writing space)
Act II
Rising Action
What obstacles do they face? Who or what stands in their way?
What does the viewpoint character want at the start of this scene?
(leave empty writing space)
The Midpoint
A major shift or revelation that changes the nature of the mission.
Ground the reader with one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
(leave empty writing space)
The Dark Night of the Soul - All Is Lost
The lowest point, where victory seems impossible.
What does the viewpoint character want at the start of this scene?
(leave empty writing space)
Act III
The Climax
The ultimate showdown or resolution of the main conflict.
Ground the reader with one dominant sight, sound, or smell.
(leave empty writing space)
The New Status Quo
How has the world or the character changed, permanently? How do things change?
What does the viewpoint character want at the start of this scene?
(leave empty writing space)
