Guide:Writing an outline

An outline is a planning document that many writers create to help plan out the narrative of their visual novel. It typically uses one of several bullet-point based formats to provide a broad overview of the events of the plot.

Outlines may just be one of the most important starting steps in the process of creating visual novels. After all they are Visual *Novels*. So this poses the question for a lot of people, especially beginner writers, How do I write my outline? What style of outline is best for me? How detailed should I make my outline? Do I even need an outline? The short answer to that last one is most likely yes, but as for the rest, well its tricky. Just like how Cinderella's shoe didn't fit every girl in the kingdom, one outline style wont fit every single visual novel.

Overview and Purpose

To keep it simple, an outline is basically a road map. You know how when you play games or plan a trip, you usually have a relative idea of where you're going/what you're doing before you dive in? Even if its not the most detailed you usually have some semblance of a plan. That idea of a plan, is exactly what an Outline is. Your outline is the plan you set for your Visual Novel so you can stay on track and be consistent with your story.

Unfortunately, there is no "best way" to write an outline. Due to differences in Genre, Length, Writing styles, and even more variables, the ideal outline for a project wont always be the same. However, that's not to say you need to memorize a bunch of outline types in order to write a good story. If you find yourself liking the style of one outline more than the rest, you can embrace that style as a cookie cutter for your works. While its true not every outline type can fit a story, if you have a concept and an outline type that you enjoy, you can mold your concept around the style of your choosing.

Popular Types of Outlines

Freytag’s Pyramid

Freytag's Pyramid is most likely the first plot structure you were ever taught in school.

• Introduction/Exposition -> Rising Action -> Climax -> Falling Action -> Conclusion.

Its an extremely straight forward but effective type of outline that can shine when it comes to short stories. As with all structures it has some pros and cons.

• Pros:
  • Easy to Grasp
  • Simple to Fill In
  • Great for short linear stories

• Cons:
  • Not as ideal for Non linear stories
  • Can make you feel as though your story is limited due to its point blank nature

If you're new to visual novels and looking to dip your toes into the water, Freytag's Pyramid is a great outline to pick for your first work to help with Scope and keeping your project manageable.

Three-Act Structure

The Three-Act structure may just be one of the most popular types of outlines for long form stories. Featuring a similar layout to Freytag's Pyramid, it allows you to dive far more in depth with your story while also being easily manageable.

• Exposition -> Inciting Incident -> Plot Point 1/Climax 1 -> Rising Action -> Midpoint -> Climax 2 -> Pre Climax -> Climax 3/Final Climax -> Falling Action -> Conclusion

As with Freytag's Pyramid though, it also has Pros and Cons.

• Pros:
  • Great for Longer form Visual Novels
  • Relatively Easy to Fill in
  • Allows more wiggle room for non linear stories

• Cons
  • Longer outline means its harder to scope
  • The multiple Climax's may not be suitable for less intense stories

Overall the Three-Act structure is a great structure for many longer form visual novels, hence the reason why its a shining star amongst outline types, but that doesn't mean its perfect.

The Hero's Journey

This is another structure that you're probably familiar with, even if you don't realize it. We've all heard the tales of hero's who receive a prophecy, train, set off on an adventure, slay a couple of dragons, and return home with the solution to whatever problem they'd been met with. Its a time old classic, and as they say, don't fix what isn't broken. With that being said, the Hero's story follows a rather linear structure.

• Meet the Hero -> Call to Action (Sometimes with a following rejection of the call) -> Training Arc/Mentor Arc -> First Battle/Allies & Enemies -> The Arrival -> The Final Showdown -> Glory is Gained -> The trip Home -> The REAL Final showdown -> Conclusion

The Hero's Journey is an outline with many striking strong suits and weaknesses, so lets go over those

• Pros:
  • Very recognizable and well loved
  • Easy to Follow/Fill in
  • Great for Long & Short form Visual Novels

• Cons:
  • Not as ideal for non linear stories
  • Can make your story feel to predictable

The Hero's journey and Freytag's pyramids have a lot in common, sharing almost all the same Pros and Cons alongside both being timeless classics, so even if they may sound less nuanced than you'd like, don't forget that the story is still in your hands.

7 Point Story

Probably a name that's lost on most people, the 7 Point story is like the evolved version of Freytag's Pyramid, fixing many of its weakness's and being a common style in Visual Novels and Comics even if people don't realize it.

• Exposition -> Inciting Incident -> Raised Stakes -> Midpoint -> Everything goes down hill -> Inciting Incident 2/A Solution -> Conclusion

Being an 'improved' version of Freytag's Pyramid, its Pros and Cons are quite similar in the ways of:

• Pros:
  • Easy to Fill in
  • Great for Linear Stories
  • Also Nice for Non Linear Stories

• Cons:
  • Can feel somewhat limited linear story wise
  • Some feel this method leads to the work being dragged on

Overall, the 7 point structure is a nice structure for both new and experienced writers as it provides a solid middle ground between all the popular outline types and can accompany most popular visual novel genres.

Other Types of Outlines

The Fichtean Curve

Are you a huge fan of stories full of drama/accidents that just line up one after another, as if the main character is allergic to taking a break? Then you'll love the Fichtean Curve and its well Curves!

• Exposition -> Crisis -> Crisis -> Crisis -> Crisis -> Climax -> Falling Action -> Resolution

While its definitely not the most popular outline out there, it is a fun one especially if you wanna see just how far you can push your characters.

The Story Circle

Looking for a structure suited for more casual/slice of life stories? The Story Circle may just be your best bet. Following an outline of:

• Comfortable Mundane Life -> A Desire For More -> Uncharted Territory -> Adapting & Moving Foreword -> Goal Achieved -> Prices Paid (Optional - If you want drama in your story) -> Comfortable in new life -> Lessons Learned/Conclusion

The Story circle is a nice way to create a workable loop or one time story that can easily fit a more casual and cozy atmosphere without loosing anything in the process.

The Story Spine

A big fan of fairytale esc works and looking to create your own? Give the Story Spine a Chance! It follows a method similar to Freytag's Pyramid, but with all that fairytale wonder you know and love.

• Once Upon a Time -> Daily Routine -> But, One day (Cause) -> But then (Effect) -> But Then (Effect) -> But Then (effect) -> Until Finally -> And Ever Since -> Happily Ever After

The story spine is an age old classic that will most likely always be well loved, so if that's the kind of story you want to tell, embrace it!

The Snowflake Method

None of these styles really fitting what you need? Maybe give the Snowflake method a try! Unlike the others, the snowflake method doesn't actually follow a set pathway to write your outline, instead it expands and takes shape, just like a snowflake!

• Start with a simple idea (Girl locked in a dungeon) and expand off of that with different snowflake branches! Such as
  • Why is she in the dungeon?
    • How long has she been here?
  • Does she want to leave?
    • What would be her possible escape paths?
  • Is anyone else in the Dungeon?
    • Who are they?

If you're familiar with TTRPG or similar games and campaign planning, the snowflake method may be an outline type that comes naturally to you as it works well with the skills you would have acquired in those other genres.