I used to use a generic outline template that was posted here before, but recently I discovered that it's better to use more specific ones. I hope this helps somebody. :)
Here they are:
Romance
Act I
Hook - The lovers meet, or have already met, but aren't in love at the beginning of most love stories:
Backstory - We learn why the lovers should be in love:
Trigger - Something happens to drive the characters apart:
Act II
Crisis - The lovers question their commitment:
Struggle - The lovers endure a series of events that drive them further apart:
Epiphany - If the story is not a tragedy, the lovers realize their love is more important than whatever has come between them. If the story is a tragedy, this doesn't occur, and the events of Act 3 go awry:
Act III
Plan - The plan may be very simple in a love story. It's often merely the protagonist's resolve to change:
Climax - The climax of a love story is often short and sweet:
Ending - Once the climax is past, there's really nothing left to do except to add "and they lived happily ever after:
Adventure
Act I
Hook - It's best to start an adventure story with some action:
Backstory - The goal or potential adventure is revealed:
Trigger - The protagonist embarks on the adventure, often precipitated by events beyond his or her control:
Act II
Crisis - This checkpoint, one of the most important in the emotional story, is often subordinate or even omitted in adventure stories:
Struggle - This is the heart of the adventure plot and may make up nearly all of the long form:
Epiphany - This checkpoint, like the crisis, is very important in the emotional story, but it's often subordinate or even omitted in adventure stories:
Act III
Plan - In stories with an emotional core, the plan cannot occur until after the epiphany. But in action stories, there may be no epiphany, yet the plan and climax cycle may repeat a number of times until a final, overarching climax completes the tale:
Climax - This final climax defeats the antagonist and brings the protagonist's adventure to a close:
Ending - The protagonist is shown post-adventure, often returned to his or her previous life and seldom changed much as a result of the adventure:
Any genre in which the protaganist changes something about themselves
Act I
Hook - We meet the protagonist in his or her unchanged state:
Backstory - The groundwork is set for a confrontation between the protagonist and his or her need to change:
Trigger - An event occurs that begins the protagonist's battle against change:
Act II
Crisis - The protagonist begins an inner struggle against change:
Struggle - The protagonist struggles against physical obstacles. These obstacles should be related to the protagonist's need to change so that the outer struggle mirrors the inner one:
Epipany - The protagonist realizes the need for change:
Act III
Plan - The protagonist embarks on a course of action that will change him or her forever:
Climax - The protagonist changes:
Ending - The protagonist is shown in his or her changed form:
YOU ARE READING
Help With Story Outlining
RandomThese are forms you can use to help outline a story.