'How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts' - Hogwarts Library

How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts

When I was a new writer, I chafed at the idea of using an outline. I was certain organizing my thoughts in advance would stifle my creativity and make my writing stiff and uninspired. After all, how can serendipity happen if you’ve got everything planned? But then I discovered that it was taking me a long time to finish my books because, when my creative mind was unfettered, I had a tendency to ramble in a chaotic stream of consciousness that I would then have to go back and structure in order for it to make sense. Not only that, but I would over-research. I’d wind up with a thousand words before I realized I was only one-third of the way through my book. I’d have to go back, refocus, trim down, and sometimes even start over! And so, I started outlining. And it saved me. Here’s my step-by-step process. And it works!

Last Updated

05/31/21

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Write down your objective

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Now that you’ve figured out an angle, it’s helpful to write down an objective. What do you want the reader to understand by the end of this book? Put some thought into your objective and see if you can write it in one sentence. My objective for this book was: At the end of this book, readers will understand why outlines are useful and how to use them to organize their writing.

Everything you write should support your objective. An objective will help you stay focused and prevent you from drifting off on tangents.

Here’s a tip: Academic papers often include a thesis statement. A thesis states a premise or theory that your paper will go on to prove. It’s different from an objective. If you need more specific help with writing a thesis statement, try checking with any university writing center.