How to Plot: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Hannah Noffsinger
- Oct 17, 2025
- 2 min read
A great plot outline is one of the most valuable tools you need when starting to write a book. No matter how detailed, a plot is a map that will guide you through your story journey, help you avoid dangerous regions of writer's block, and eventually lead you to the greatest treasure of all: A fantastic book that you wrote.
Decide what media you will record with
There are tons of ways to keep track of your plot. I've used color-coded index cards, the computer program Scrivener, post-it notes on my wall, sectioned-out notebook pages, a drawing of a map, and simply creating a bullet-point list in my word processor, and there are so many more that I haven't even tried!
The key is to not overthink it. Look around at what you have available to you and pick something to try. If you don't like it, you can always switch to something else!
Start with the major events
It's tempting to start with the scenes you're most excited to write, even if they don't contain major plot points. Definitely write those down, but save them somewhere safe until you're ready to place them in your storyline.
Instead, map out the turning points in your story. These can be things like epic battles, love confessions, major clues, important decisions, or anything else you like, as long as they cause significant change that accelerate* the plot.
*Acceleration = change in speed or direction.
Build bridges between plot points
Now it's time to start thinking about how your characters are going to get from Point A to Point B, whether literally or metaphorically.
Hardly anything changes all at once. What are the smaller steps that will move your story from one plot point to the next? Think about how you can create experiences, information, character interactions, decisions, physical movement, etc. that nudge your story to its end.
Don't forget your subplots!
You are absolutely crushing it so far! Simply go back and repeat steps 1-3 for each of your subplots. Subplots tend to be simpler than main plotlines, so this shouldn't take quite as long.
Add in "filler" scenes
Time for the fun part! Take a look at the "bald spots" in your plot map. You can put whatever you want in there.
Grab any scenes you jotted down but haven't used yet, and find a place to put them. Put a little focus on character interactions, backstory, or setting. Write the fluff scene that was the starting point of this whole book. Writing should be a little self-indulgent, so have fun! ;)
Revise, revise, revise!
Amazing job! You've completed the first draft of your plot! Yes, I said first draft. Walk away for a bit, then come back and look over your plot again. Are there "bald spots"? Does the pacing make sense? Do you have a good balance of action and exposition? Odds are, you'll want to make at least one more draft of your plot. Remember that a great plot makes writing a great book a heck of a lot easier!
Have questions or need advice? Leave a comment or message me on TikTok!
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