Affilate links are included in this post. If you click and make a purchase, you get to support a writer! And on Bookshop—independent bookstores.
Should I Read as I Outline?
Well, first things first, there are a lot of opinions about the writing process. It’s deeply personal and what works for one person may not work for another. It comes down to, not only preferences, but also our writing styles, different learning and processing modes, and even personality—are you an obliger, upholder, questioner, rebel?
There’s not one way to write a book. Anyone who tells you that is delusional (and likely on their own high horse). But sometimes we don’t know what’s out there or what will work for us until we meet a different method and try.
And, of course, it’s very likely what works for one project, one genre, or even one season in your writing life may not work the same. See what’s out there! You never know, you might just find your next brilliant idea!
Read on… for a list of writing books that are helpful while brainstorming and outlining.
Book Coaches for Brainstorming & Outlining
Think of this list as a warm-up, maybe even some stretches to get your story gears limber. It’s not and end all to be all, but consider these books as coaches or guides. Perhaps you’ll find something helpful, a spark to send you on rabbit trails of immersive “What if…”, or a new lenses to view character development.
But of all the things I hope you get out of this post and list of writing books is that you can write your novel. There’s endless ways to write a novel, to tell a story, and you are capable. Even if you feel there’s so much you may not know or have answers for, you can do it.
These are your coaches cheering you along the way!
Outlining Your Novel (book or workbook) by K.M. Weiland
Structuring Your Novel (book or workbook) by K. M. Weildand
What can I say? K. M. Weiland knows her stuff and is great about giving practical and relatable examples while breaking down story structure into digestible pieces. Her website is a treasure trove.
I’ve read both Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel and I still can’t decide if one should go before the other. If you feel you need to read both, perhaps try Structuring Your Novel first. If you only have time for one, then go for Outlining Your Novel.
Both the workbooks mirror the books, albeit abbreviated and have space to write your ideas…but you can use it only once. Go for the book and skim as needed.
The Ten Day Outline by Lewis Jorstad
This is a short, helpful book that breaks down the outlining process into ten days. (Keep the time a variable in your mind.) If you’re overwhelmed at the idea of outlining or don’t know where to start The Ten Day Outline is a great place. It breaks down tasks by day, asks a lot of questions to help your story brain tinker, and slowly builds to include your story premise, character profiles, scene list, and story plots.
Jorstad has a whole series going from outlining to drafting to editing your novel.
Goal, Motivation, Conflict by Debra Dixon
It’s a short, older book, but very helpful about getting down to the nitty gritty of what your character wants and why on the deeper levels. It does feel repetitive at times, but it helps you give roots to why your characters want what they want on an internal and external level, as well as what that looks like.
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
Another short, but great book on plot development for a romance novel. Even if you’re not a romance author, if you even have a tinge or full on sub-plot (personal I’m a romance or romantic subplot in every book gal) this is a great book to help you build a well-rounded and satisfying romance.
Conflict & Suspense by James Scott Bell
This is one of those books you don’t hear a lot about in the writing circles, but is absolutely amazing. Conflict & Suspense changed how I approach outlining and scene structure. It’s filled with plenty of examples, but what I found the most helpful is how to structure scenes to keep your reader engaged, your characters always on the edge, and your story building until its climax and release. This is a must-have for your writer’s shelf.
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass
This is a book I’ve yet to finish (it’s on my list for The Writer’s Reading Challenge!), but it has been helpful when I’ve struggled with scenes that don’t feel like they’re quite hitting the points they need to. There are a lot of exercises to try. Be mindful this book can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to try every exercise or overhaul your entire project. deep breath Take what serves you, leave the rest.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
This writing book is not specific to brainstorming or outlining, but encompasses your approach to writing and identifying resistance, getting over the hump of writer’s block, and sitting down to the page. Basically, it’s the Rocky theme song, but for writers.
The Right to Write by Julia Cameron
If The War of Art is Rocky, then The Right to Write is gathering in a mentor’s garden with a warm cup of tea. It’s the love and encouragement you need to believe in yourself as a writer with some velvet brick moments. Cameron is all for believing in yourself, but also shutting up and doing the work.
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I hope you found something helpful to take with you on your writing journey. But above all remember: you can do this. You are a writer. These are all tools, not rules, not absolutes.
Take what serves you, leave the rest.
Write on, wildflowers.
You can find all of these books on Bookshop or in your local library (hopefully).
Affilate links are included in this post. If you click and make a purchase, you get to support a writer! And on Bookshop—independent bookstores.
(Conflict & Suspense and Goal, Motivation, & Conflict are not on Bookshop, but can be found on Amazon.)
