How to outline a 200k word novel

by Tee
(Nigeria )

Question: Please how can I outline a 200k word novel? It's really long, I feel overwhelmed.

Answer: Well, the first question I have for you in response is... How do you know the novel will be 200,000 words long? Have you written it already? Also, 200,000 words is rather long for a first novel, unless perhaps it's in a genre like high fantasy where long novels are common. Even then, a 200,000 word book is more expensive than average to print, which makes it a bigger risk for the publisher. Depending on how the story unfolds, it might be easier to sell if you divide it into as two or even three books. But even then, you will need a publisher who really believes in the story to make that commitment.

At any rate, if you have already written a manuscript that is 200,000 words long, my guess is you want to write a synopsis rather than an outline. Generally, an outline is a summary of the story you would write before you write the actual novel, to help you stay on track through the writing process.

A synopsis is a summary of a story that has already been written, perhaps to show an agent or editor.

Fortunately, the approach you should take is largely the same regardless whether you are writing an outline or synopsis. I've written two articles on this site that discuss the process, which you may refer to:

https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/writing-an-outline.html
https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/write-a-synopsis.html

The basic approach is to separate the various story, character, and relationship arcs in the story and describe each one in terms of...

1. Setup -- how does it start? How is it introduced?
2. Complications -- how does the problem build or worsen?
3. Move to crisis -- how does it build to a major turning point, a do-or-die moment?
4. Resolution -- how do things stand in the end?

The aim here is to capture the emotional journey you take the reader on.

You may also include the basic plot elements, as they also create the emotional roller coaster for the reader. If relevant, you can also include the nature of the story world or how important themes are introduced.

Once you have summarized all these elements individually, you then braid or weave them altogether into one sequence. Edit the synopsis so it feels story-like and captures the emotional journey.

If you have trouble doing all this in a 2-3 page synopsis or outline, you may need to reduce the amount of detail you include, while still including the most important emotional twists and turns.

Best of luck.

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