Is It Better to Outline Each Chapter or Just Have a General Outline?

Whether to outline each chapter or opt for a general outline is a decision that largely depends on your writing style, the complexity of your project, and personal preference. Here, we explore the pros and cons of both approaches to help you make an informed choice.

General Outline

Pros: Flexibility: A general outline allows for more spontaneous writing and the ability to adapt your narrative as you go. Big Picture Focus: This approach helps you maintain an overview of the entire narrative or argument, preventing you from getting bogged down in details. Easier Start: With a general outline, you can begin writing sooner, without needing to flesh out every chapter in detail.

Cons: Potential for Lack of Direction: Without detailed chapter outlines, you might stray off-topic or struggle with pacing and structure. More Revisions Needed: You may need to revise significantly to ensure coherence and flow throughout your work.

Chapter Outlines

Pros: Clear Direction: Providing a roadmap for each chapter makes it easier to stay on track and ensures that each section serves a specific purpose. Detailed Planning: Helps identify key themes, character arcs, or arguments in advance, streamlining the writing process. Easier to Manage: Breaking down the work into smaller sections can make the project feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

Cons: Time-Consuming: Creating detailed outlines for each chapter can be a time-consuming upfront process. Less Flexibility: You may feel constrained by your outline and miss opportunities for creativity or new ideas that emerge during writing.

Conclusion

If your project is complex or if you prefer structure, outlining each chapter may be beneficial. If you value flexibility and spontaneity, a general outline might serve you better. Many writers find a hybrid approach—having a general outline with some detailed chapter plans—works well. Ultimately, choose the method that aligns best with your writing process and goals.

That's entirely a personal choice and will depend to an extent on the type of story you are writing. For crime and mystery stories, it's often necessary to have a better idea of the story's direction to ensure that your hero can find clues and red herrings in a logical order. On the other hand, a story built on "what ifs" and well-developed characters might have a far more general plan.

I like to have an idea of the point of each chapter. What atmosphere do I want to create, what’s the focus of the chapter, and how do I want the reader to feel by the end of it? That way, your chapters will be far sharper from the first draft, and you will need less rewriting later. And trust me, I can tell when a writer hasn't planned their story.

For me, the plan/story evolves as I go. I start with a very vague idea, and as I research, develop the characters, and find answers to questions, the direction of the story evolves and the details develop. Sometimes it's in directions I hadn’t anticipated. This flexibility balances with your personal preferences and how you write better. Some people work better with a clear plan that also saves writing blocks, while others prefer to have more freedom within the chapter to see how it goes.

But I think it's well worth knowing at the beginning of each chapter what the point of the chapter is within the context of the story. Whether it is a note or detailed depends on you and your story's needs. Remember, clarity and purpose in your outline can significantly enhance the quality of your final work.