Plotting Your Masterpiece: 7 Methods to Map Your Book

Writing a book can be tougher than facing down a grizzly with a butter knife.

That blank page glares at you, daring your fingers to dance. Your thoughts bounce around like a pinball machine on tilt. So, how do you wrangle those wild ideas into a story? How do you keep them organized so they don’t derail the narrative?

The answer is simple: plot.

Plotting gives structure to your story and outlines the sequence of events that will make up your book. It makes sure that every piece falls into place and helps ensure your readers stay engaged with the story as it unfolds. Here are seven ways to start plotting your next book masterpiece.

Try the Unchained Brainstorm

First, try free-flowing your thoughts onto the page.

Let that stream of consciousness pour out unfiltered, like a tipped bottle of ink. Call it the "Unchained Brainstorm." It ain't orderly, but you can tidy it up later.

Action: Write freely and without judgment to get your initial ideas out of your head and onto the page.**

Explain It Back Scene-by-Scene

Or take that tangled ball of plot and unwind it scene by scene in simple sentences, as if explaining to a child.

The who, what, when, and why of each story beat. Linear and straightforward. It will help you make sure that your story and timeline remain intact.

Action: Break down each scene into its elemental pieces so you can make sure they fit together in the end.

Shoehorn Your Story into a Formula

If you need more structure, follow a plot formula.

Hero's Journey, three act, Save The Cat, etc. Shoehorn your story into one of those prefab molds, even if you gotta lop off some limbs to make it fit. It's messy work, but that's what revisions are for.

Action: Leverage proven narrative frameworks to shape your story.**

Go Chapter by Chapter

Go chapter by chapter if that suits your style.

Summarize what happens in each, like mapping a road trip stop-by-stop. Gives you the lay of the land and ensures proper pacing.

Action: Map out your story chapter-by-chapter to control pacing and flow.

Build a Lore Bible

Building a fantasy world?

Make a "Lore Bible" to catalog the rules, cultures, magics, and technologies that make your world unique. Keep everything consistent when your imagination runs wild.

Action: Create a detailed reference document to keep invented elements consistent.**

Make a Motivation Outline

For character-driven stories, try the "Motivation Outline."

Track what each person wants and knows to ensure their actions make sense from their perspective. Realistic motivation yields realistic characters.

Action: Chart character motivations and knowledge to ground their actions in realism.**

The final word

See, outlining is just finding the right map to guide your literary travels.

Whether you prefer to wander or follow a strict route, scribbling a draft is the first step. Charting the journey simply makes the writing flow.

So, pick your preferred method and carve that story sculpture from stone. It doesn't have to be perfect on the first pass. Outline now, refine later. But get the core of your vision down however you can before it slips away.

The key is progress, not perfection.

Book writing is a marathon, not a sprint.

Remember, the outline merely lights the path so you can put one word in front of the other until you've got a complete manuscript. Everything else comes later.

It ain't easy. But armed with an outline and determination, you can wrestle that story onto the page.

So grab your pen, pick your method, and start charting your masterpiece today. The blank page is waiting.

Ready to write your book and not sure where to start?

Grab my free, 6-step template on how to write a book for people who don’t have time to write.

Everything you need to get that book out of your head and start writing in less than an hour.