Remember that your chapter summary is a tool to help you plan and organize your story. Don't be afraid to make changes and revisions as you go along and keep your focus on telling the best story possible. Now that you’ve learned about story structure and planned your novel, you are ready to start drafting.

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Now that your complete story is on the page, writing the first draft of your novel manuscript will be a relatively easy task. While you may make changes along the way, having a roadmap to follow can help you stay focused and avoid getting stuck.

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The level of detail in a chapter summary can vary depending on the author's preferences and writing style. Some authors prefer to create very detailed outlines that map out every scene and piece of dialogue, while others prefer a more general outline that allows for more flexibility in the writing process. Personally, my chapter outlines typically just consist of a brief summary of what scenes I need in each chapter. The rest of the elements listed above then seem to emerge on their own as I write my draft. But that’s just me. Other writers may prefer…

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Once your outline is complete, use it as a guide as you expand your idea into a more substantial novel synopsis. Writing a novel synopsis before writing the novel draft can be a useful exercise in planning and organizing your story. Once you have a rough outline of the story, go through each section that you outlined in writing assignment #3 and flesh it out with more detail. Here are some steps you can follow to write a novel synopsis:

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A novel synopsis is a summary of the plot, characters, and themes of a novel. It typically provides an overview of the story without going into too much detail. A good novel synopsis should give the reader a sense of what the book is about, including the main conflict or challenge facing the characters, the setting, and any important themes or ideas explored in the story. It should be concise and engaging and should ideally make the reader want to read the book to find out more. A novel synopsis is often used as a marketing tool to promote the book to potential readers, agents, or publishers. However, I also find it useful to write a first draft of a synopsis as part of the novel planning process.

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Outlining a novel is a personal process, and there is no one “right” way to do it. However, here are some general steps you can take to outline your novel:

1. Determine your basic story elements: Start by determining the key elements of your story, such as the main character, the setting, the conflict, and the resolution.

2. Create a rough chapter outline: Decide on the basic structure of your novel, including the number of chapters and their approximate length. Select one or two of the story structure outlines we just reviewed to use as a guide to keep your story focused and on track. Then, create a rough outline of what will happen in each chapter.

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The final resolution of a novel is the point where the main conflict is resolved, and the story draws to what may feel like an inevitable conclusion – or not – depending on the author’s intent. It’s the moment when the protagonist achieves their goal or fails to achieve it, and the loose ends of the story are tied up. The final resolution can take many forms depending on the type of story and the author’s intent. It may involve a dramatic showdown between the protagonist and the antagonist, a moment of self-discovery or realization, or a quiet moment of reflection and acceptance.

The second plot point in a novel is a critical plot point that occurs toward the end of the story, usually around 90% or more into the book. It is the final major turning point before the climax and resolution of the story. There may be a final injection of new information that will once again change the game. A final piece of the puzzle may fall into place, and the protagonist may come to a conclusion as to what must happen. The protagonist will risk everything in this last attempt to win. The protagonist can no longer remain passive or wait for someone else to come to the rescue.

In Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere , the second pinch point occurs when Mia Warren, one of the novel’s main characters, is revealed to have a secret past that threatens her relationship with her daughter Pearl and puts her in danger of losing custody. This is a moment of increased tension, as Mia’s past catches up with her and she must fight to protect her daughter and her own autonomy.

In Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give , the midpoint occurs when the protagonist, Starr Carter, decides to testify in front of a grand jury about the police shooting of her friend Khalil. This is a critical moment for Starr, as she has been struggling with whether or not to speak up and seek justice for her friend. The decision to testify marks a turning point in the story, as it sets the stage for the rest of the novel’s plot and conflict.

The first pinch point usually comes after the protagonist has made some progress in their journey, but before they have fully committed to the final push toward their goal. It serves as a reminder of the obstacles and challenges that still stand in the way of the protagonist and helps to increase the sense of urgency and tension in the story.

For example, in Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, the first pinch point occurs when Nick Dunne, the protagonist, is arrested for the murder of his wife, Amy.

In George Orwell’s 1984, the first plot point occurs when Winston Smith begins his forbidden affair with Julia. Up until this point, Winston has been a loyal Party member who follows the rules and accepts the Party’s propaganda without question. But his growing feelings for Julia, and his desire to rebel against the Party’s oppressive regime, mark a major turning point in the story. Winston’s decision to start a secret relationship with Julia sets in motion a chain of events that will lead him to question everything he once believed in and will ultimately put his life in danger.

In novel writing, a “hook” refers to a technique used by writers to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into the story from the very beginning. A hook is usually found at the opening of a book and serves to create intrigue or suspense that makes the reader want to continue reading. Hooks can take many forms, but they are often a type of statement or situation that creates an emotional response in the reader, such as curiosity, shock, or empathy. Some common types of hooks include starting the story with a dramatic event, a powerful image, a memorable quote, or an unusual setting.

Brooks is a writing coach, author, and speaker known for his expertise in the craft of storytelling. He is the author of several books on writing, including Story Engineering: Mastering the 6 Core Competencies of Successful Writing, Story Physics: Harnessing the Underlying Forces of Storytelling, and Great Stories Don't Write Themselves: Criteria-Driven Strategies for More Effective Fiction. Brooks is also the founder of Storyfix.com, a website dedicated to helping writers develop their storytelling skills. Brooks' approach to writing emphasizes the importance of structure, character development, and genre expectations. He believes that successful stories must meet certain criteria, and that writers who understand these criteria can create stories that are more engaging, satisfying, and marketable.

According to Brooks, the story structure is the backbone of your story.

The “Creation Myth” story structure is common in origin stories and other epic tales. In this story structure, the protagonist creates or discovers something new and must then deal with the consequences and responsibilities that come with it. A “creation myth” novel might explore the origins of a fictional world or universe, often drawing on mythological or religious themes.

A “which way is up” novel typically follows a protagonist who faces a series of unexpected and confusing events that challenge their perception of reality and make it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. The protagonist experiences a shift in perspective or a change in circumstances that completely upends their world, and they must navigate this new reality to achieve their goals.

Image attribution: Which Way is Up movie with Richard Pryor (1977)

A “from bad to worse” novel, as described by Kurt Vonnegut, typically follows a protagonist who faces increasingly difficult challenges and setbacks as the story progresses. The protagonist starts off in a bad place, experiences setbacks and challenges that make things worse, and then must work to turn things around and achieve a better outcome.

Image attribution: From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper

The “Boy Meets Girl” story structure described by Kurt Vonnegut is a classic narrative pattern often found in romantic comedies, dramas, and other forms of popular fiction. It follows a basic pattern that centers around a romantic relationship between two characters, often a man and a woman, but could also be two people of the same gender.

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The “Man in a Hole” story structure is a simple and common plot shape that follows a basic pattern that can be applied to many different types of stories, including novels, movies, and plays. The protagonist starts off in a good place, experiences a setback or challenge, and then must work to overcome it and emerge transformed.

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Kurt Vonnegut, the acclaimed American author known for his satirical and anti-war writings, was critical of the traditional, linear approach that dominates much of literature and popular culture. He preferred a more experimental, non-linear approach that allowed for more creativity and surprise. In a lecture on the shapes of stories, Vonnegut suggested that stories could be graphed on a simple chart, with the y-axis representing the level of happiness or unhappiness experienced by the protagonist, and the x-axis representing the progression of the story over time. He also identified several basic story structures that he believed were common to most stories. These structures are based on the emotional journey of the protagonist and the overall shape of the plot.