Fiction Book Outline Template Generator
Fiction Book Outline Template Generator
Template Generator
Welcome to your pre-generated book outline! The purpose of this handy tool is to give you a
“fill-in-the-blank” format to follow in order to get your book ASAP—and with a proven story
structure!
(Pssst, if you’re up for a fun challenge, check out our Book Outline Challenge and get
yours done in as little as 24 hours with our system!)
We’ve put in the work to pre-format a few things for you, along with providing a roadmap in
order to get your book done. Not to mention the several resources included along the way in
order to make each of these sections easier for you.
1.) Everything in red is what you will replace with your own content. This means to be aware
of changes in the Copyright and Self-Promo pages at the beginning of your book. Also,
anything highlighted in YELLOW is something that you will need to erase.
2.) The structure of your fiction novel will vary depending on the genre and audience. So
keep in mind that these tips for each section are just that, tips based on what we teach
our students and based on what we’ve seen work best in selling books.
3.) The resources provided for each section are there to help you along the way. We’ve
listed both blog posts and videos that will be very beneficial to watch both before
outlining and before writing your first draft.
1.) Download your Mindmap and fill it out! Check out this blog post for how to do this.
2.) Read this blog post (and watch the video there) to understand how this outline should
work and help you accomplish finishing your book.
Not a student and need help? Click here to have a 1-on-1 coaching call about your book!
3.) For students, head to Module 2: Step 8 - MindMapping & Outlining in order to get yours
done with the best information and tips.
1.) If you’re not a student, sign up for your FREE video training by clicking right here!
2.) Read this blog post and any other sources listed in order to cut down on both writing and
editing time.
3.) Book a FREE coaching call (for non-students only!) to get clear on your book and any
help you need to get it done.
If you’re not a student and have any questions, book a call with us to discuss your book,
progress, and any challenges you might be facing along the way!
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Your Title
Your Name
____________________________________________________________________________
Copyright Page:
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Copyright notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or
dead, organizations, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal
copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and
is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
How to Copyright a Book
Self-Promo:
[Optional: This is a great space to promote other books, plug your social handles, or do any
other form of self-promo you deem necessary or beneficial]
Check out this example from our Fiction Coach’s Mortality Bites box set:
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____________________________________________________________________________
Resources: Student
Resources:
How to Market a Book How to Market Your Book: Step 5 -
Newsletters
Promotion for Authors
Book Promo Ideas Video
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Acknowledgments:
(NOTE: OPTIONAL)
If you’ve got people to thank, those who’ve helped you along the way,
You can make it short and sweet, or write a page of them if there have been
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
Parts of a Book - Acknowledgements
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
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Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
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Resources:
Parts of a Book - Table of Contents
Prologue [optional]:
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Only write a prologue if it is absolutely necessary. Many prologues get overlooked by readers
because some authors write them as an “info-dump” instead of a part of the story.
If your only intention for your prologue is to talk about the world, don’t write it.
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Resources:
How to Write a Prologue
Part 1:
Of a 3 Act Structure - Setups & Failures & The First Slap (oh my!)
Before we get into the details, we’ll be using a 3 Act Structure in order to complete the rest of
the outlining process.
As you likely already know, the number of chapters varies greatly depending on each book.
Therefore, we can’t outline each chapter for you. However, we will specify chapters depending
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Your story should follow a similar pattern in the following chapters. There is no limit, minimum or
maximum, that you have to hit for chapter numbers. Just remember: each chapter should be
significant to the plot and move it forward.
This is a significant moment of failure for your character where 70% of hope is lost.
The first Slap setup: Write the event of your first Slap here in order to work from. What is the
first biggest obstacle your character will face and lose? Remember, this sets them back
significantly from their goal.
● How does this impact your character’s overall journey to accomplish their main goal?
● How does this impact your character emotionally?
● What is your antagonist/villain doing to either cause this or in reaction to this?
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Chapter 1
The Setup
This is a vital part of your book. While many writers spend a long time (too long) on the first
sentence, what’s most important here is the first page altogether. It’s not just about your first
sentence, so forget that!
But, you do want to make sure you’re using this first chapter to set up your character, what their
life looks like, as well as an introduction to the potential conflict in the book.
a. Intro to your characters everyday life, starting in “medias res,” which means “in the
middle”
b. Pick 3 characteristics of your character to highlight with this opening chapter
i. Think: Shy, fascinated by weather, their job is a wild dog wrangler
c. What happens in the opening that’s interesting to catch our attention?
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d. How is their everyday life linked to the main conflict of the story?
e. What other characters are involved/we’re introduced to?
Outline Scene 2 (optional, only if the scene changes): Place your scene setting here
____________________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 2
The Inciting Incident
NOTE: Inciting Incidents generally happen in the first 20% of a story, but can happen later. For
more information about how to best use inciting incidents, slaps and climaxes, join the Tuesday
Group Coaching Call, every week at 12pm EST. The calendar is in the course.
Now, the inciting incident can happen in the first chapter. Keep in mind that by doing so, you’re
promising your readers a fast-paced book, and therefore you’ll have to maintain this throughout.
At the same time, you can also have a chapter between the first and the inciting incident if you
want to develop a stronger emotional tie to your character first.
However, the inciting incident typically happens later in the book, in chapter 2 or 3. Avoid putting
this incident several chapters into your book or people will think it’s boring, and will have the
mindset of, “just get to the good stuff already.”
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources: Student
Resources:
Not a student and need help? Click here to have a 1-on-1 coaching call about your book!
Chapter 3
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Chapter 4
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Chapter 5
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Chapter 6
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Chapter 7
[Note: You may have more than only a few chapters throughout Part 1 of your book. These
serve as a guide for structure to increase conflict and intrigue. Feel free to repeat or add more
chapters before your First Slap and keep in mind the rotation of consequences being related to
the main plot and your character’s internal struggles or conflicts.]
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Chapter 8 - The First Slap
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources: Student
Resources:
“Yes, but” & “No, and” Structure Method Module 2: Step 3 - Dripping Information
Story Structures
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Part 2:
Of a 3 Act Structure - Taking Action, Higher Conflict, & The Second Slap
Part 2 Summary: During the second part of your book, the bulk of the “action” will happen and
your character will move from a place of “reaction” to a place of “proaction”. Think of it as your
character finally taking the offense after playing defense during the first part.
This will be higher intensity, usually faster paced (meaning more cliffhanging chapters), and the
most devastating blow your character will face comes at the end of this, called The Second
Slap.
This is a significant moment of failure for your character where 99% of hope is lost, and it
seems like your main character will not succeed.
The second Slap setup: Write the event of your second Slap here in order to work from, so
you can craft the chapter and conflicts in order to reach this. What is the first biggest obstacle
your character will face and lose leading up to the climax? Remember, there is relatively all
hope lost that your character will succeed after this.
● How does this impact your character’s overall journey to accomplish their main goal?
● How does this impact your character emotionally?
● What is your antagonist/villain doing to either cause this or in reaction to this?
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources: Student
Resources:
3 Act Structure Blog Post Module 3: Step 1 - Action/Reaction
Story Structure
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Chapter 9
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Chapter 10
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Chapter 11
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Chapter 12
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Chapter 13
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Chapter 14
[Note: You may have more than this many chapters in Part 2 of your book. These serve as a
guide for structure to increase conflict and intrigue. Feel free to repeat or add more chapters
before your Second Slap and keep in mind the rotation of consequences being related to the
main plot and your character’s internal struggles or conflicts.]
Not a student and need help? Click here to have a 1-on-1 coaching call about your book!
Chapter 15 - The Second Slap
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
3 Act Structure Blog Post
Story Structures
Show Don’t Tell in Writing
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Part 3:
Of a 3 Act Structure - The Climax & Resolution
Part 3 Summary: This is the final “hurrah!” of your story, where your character will go from their
lowest low, to facing off their biggest challenge/the antagonist, to the resolution of the book. This
will be a fast-paced section, high tension, with a lot of tying up loose ends.
Typically, this is the shortest of your Three Acts. There shouldn’t be much more than 3-5
chapters in this section, meant for the rise after the Second Slap, the setup for your climax, the
climax, and your resolution, which should never be more than two chapters.
There are few rules for a climax other than it has to be epic, amazing, and fulfill on the promises
you set up for your readers from the first chapter.
The climax setup: What is your climax? How does your climax tie in to the promises you set up
in the opening of your book? What is sacrificed in order to make the climax possible (this isn’t
necessarily required, but think about moral/emotional sacrifices along with physical ones, etc.).
Climax twist: This is obviously not required. You can write an epic book with a strong, impactful
climax without having a twist. However, this does add another layer to this moment that can
bring it from “great” to “unforgettable”.
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
3 Act Structure Blog Post
Story Structures
How to Foreshadow
How to Write a Nove
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Chapter 16
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Chapter 17
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Chapter 18
[Note: There shouldn’t be more than 4-6 chapters in Part 3 of a 3 Act structure. Doing so can
make your story feel as though it’s dragging on too long. However, each book is unique, so use
your judgement on this one.]
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Chapter 19 - The Climax
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Chapter 20 - The Resolution
The End
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources: Student
Resources:
Parts of a Story - Resolution Module 2: Step 6 - Outlining a Series
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Dedication [optional]
While an acknowledgment appears in the start of a book, this is a space for a lengthy
dedication, with more details and even some insight into you and why you’re dedicating this
book to a specific person.
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
Parts of a Book - Dedication
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Review Ask
While this is optional, we highly recommend everyone add this page in the page of their books.
This is a great opportunity for you to ask readers to “give back” in the form a review.
Head over to Amazon or wherever you purchased this book to leave a review for me.
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
How to Get Good Book Reviews
How to Get Book Reviews Video
Why Amazon Deletes Reviews Video
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Read More! [Optional]
If you have another book in this series or have other series for readers to sink their teeth
(eyes?) into, drop them here!
You can even upload a picture or two with a couple quotes of endorsements.
Example:
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
How to Get Book Endorsements
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Author Bio
This is a space for you to leave your author bio, and a headshot of yourself!
Example:
Ramy Vance is a Canadian who lives in Edinburgh with his wife, three-year-old kid and
imaginary dog. He enjoys a beautiful city, whisky (Scottish spelling, not mine) and long walks.
He writes kickass Urban Fantasy thrillers set in the GoneGod World (and elsewhere). Currently
his greatest aspirations are writing more stories and finally get that real dog so he can have an
excuse to go on even more long walks.
____________________________________________________________________________
Resources: Student
Resources:
How to Write an Author Bio That Sells Module 8: Step 5 - Author Bios
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NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
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you!
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