Reverse Outlining and Book Planning
I am an over-writer. If I want a 100k manuscript, I write a first draft at 115k. I usually cut between 10-20k words from my initial drafts, either through line editing or combining scenes. Occasionally I cut entire chapters.
If your drafting style is similar to mine, this can get overwhelming to fix in subsequent drafts. Figuring out where to cut things can be tricky. I didn’t get a solid grasp on how to do that until I started making reverse outlines of my books, and now it’s something I make every time.
What is a Reverse Outline?
It’s very similar to a regular outline, except you’re making a list or summary for every chapter of an existing book. You can make a bulleted list for each chapter or you can dedicate a few paragraphs to each scene. Some people use color coding for different characters in your outline. This lets you quickly figure out which characters get the most time on the page.
What to Include
This will really depend on the type of book you’re writing. If I’m doing multi-POV, I usually write the entire chapter from that character’s perspective. So for the chapter notes, I put down:
1. POV character
2. Main plot points
3. Word count
4. Notes about any changes I want to make in draft two
Writing notes about your edits as you summarize is a great way to make a to-do list for yourself. Once you finish making the outline, you end up with a chapter summary and a list of changes to make. Writing down the POV and wordcount for each chapter will tell you if you’ve given one character too much page time.
Ways to Write a Reverse Outline
I make bulleted lists in word or scrivener, but some people make spreadsheets with columns and color-coded graphics. Other people write the equivalent of a detailed synopsis in paragraphs or put their outline on flash cards so they can re-arrange plot points visually. If you enjoy making charts, you could make a reverse outline in power point or Canva.
I’m not a visual organizer, so I stick to ordered lists. I do all my drafting and editing in linear order too. As you can tell I’m very fun and spontaneous.
Other Useful Editing Documents
I make a few other documents for every novel I write, and I use all of them while editing.
1. Dramatis Personae: I always have a list of characters and a brief explanation of who they are. Sometimes I split up this list by location or family.
2. Glossary: My books have a lot of original words. Every time I invent a word, I try to add it to the glossary with a definition and a final spelling.
3. Cut scenes folder: don’t delete the scenes and chapters you remove. Save them. One time I took out half a chapter and later I dug through my folder of cut scenes and put it back in.
4. Worldbuilding notes: I keep this separate from my reverse outline. This is where I put every worldbuilding detail as I write, so I can go back and easily check a detail once I’m 50k words into the book and need to know something minor for continuity.
5. Bibliography/List of Sources: if you’re writing anything historical or science-based, it’s good to have a list of reference books or articles you used. Going back later to find an old link to double-check something can be difficult.
6. Sequel Notes: if there are scenes from the end of the book I decide to use for book 2, I save them in this folder.
It’s easier to find information you need when it’s organized in a way that makes sense to you. I try to make most of these documents while I’m drafting so I have it ready for editing, but there are no rules on how to do this. It’s just a suggestion.
When Should I Make a Reverse Outline?
I usually make one based off my raw first draft. It’s how I decide on my structural edits. Making the reverse outline helps me figure out patterns in my manuscript or weak acts/chapters. I don’t make any line edits at this stage.
But I Already Have an Outline
When I write, what’s in my original outline and what’s in my draft are two different things. If you follow an outline to the letter every time, then a reverse outline may not be helpful to you. But if your original outline is more general and things change during your drafting process, it can be a great tool.