Should You Outline a Nonfiction Book? A Better Way to Plan Before You Write

From Edie: Julie Lavender helps writers decide whether to outline your nonfiction book. Learn why a strong outline can help you organize your ideas, stay focused, and write with greater confidence.

Should You Outline a Nonfiction Book? A Better Way to Plan Before You Write

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

Do you prepare to write nonfiction as an outliner or spreadsheeter?

If you’ve attended a writers’ conference recently, like Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, or a similar, amazing gathering of writers, you’ve probably heard a session or discussion on fiction writing as a “pantser” or “plotter.” If you haven’t heard these terms, here’s the gist of their meanings. A person who writes “by the seat of their pants,” letting imagination and spontaneity guide the words and chapters is called a pantser. On the other hand, a plotter plans stories before even starting the writing process. 

As a nonfiction writer, I pondered the idea of similar terms for those of us in the nonfiction world. I’m wondering if most of my nonfiction friends would call themselves “spread-sheeters.” A couple of my kids love and use spreadsheets in their professions too, but I just can’t seem to get behind the spreadsheet idea. I don’t like the tiny little boxes that usually won’t show all of the words I want to say in that section without clicking on it! 

I prefer to write nonfiction as an “outliner.” Yeah, I know … I just dated myself. I’m not sure high school English classes still teach the techniques of crafting outlines. I think it may have become a lost art. 

If you haven’t written with an outline lately … or ever … allow me the opportunity to give you a refresher course. Here’s a basic outline template below.

I. Introduction 

Write a concise statement that conveys the books central message. Include the felt need you plan to address, and the reason you are writing the book. (The words here might sound exactly like a pitch you’d share with an editor at a conference!)

II. Body

• A. Chapter One – first supporting idea of your book. Include the statement that reflects the takeaway you hope the reader will gain from this chapter. 
• 1. Anecdote, statistic, definition, question, or whatever fashion you decide to introduce the chapter. 
• 2. Supporting details or explanation of the chapter’s point
• 3. Bible verse(s) you plan to include in the chapter. 
• 4. Quotes you plan to use in the chapter 
• 5. Questions, tasks, or assignments you want to share with the reader
• 6. Resources and references used to support the chapter’s message or theme

• B. Chapter Two – second supporting idea of your book. (continue each chapter with the same format as above

III. Conclusion. Summarize the point of your book. State how your book met the felt need you addressed initially. 

An outline is super-handy to help you stay on task when writing a nonfiction book. The organization of an outline lends itself to a cohesively written manuscript that stays focused and on task. You’ll be able to quickly search for a Bible verse to see if you’ve already used the same verse and the same with a quote or assignment. 

Keep in mind that you might not have every bullet point filled in when you begin writing the book, but a more complete outline makes the writing flow smoothly. 

What about you? Are you Team Spreadsheet? Or are you Old School, Team Outline like me? 

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Should You Outline a Nonfiction Book? A Better Way to Plan Before You Write from @JLavenderWrites on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Julie Lavender still remembers her sophomore English teacher saying, “You can’t have an A without a B, and you can’t have a 1 without a 2,” when referring to outline formatting. She loved the challenge of an outline, like putting together a puzzle. Julie is the author of books, articles, devotions, and newspaper stories, and whether she makes a formal outline on paper or brainstorms one in her head, she finds herself completing an outline before every project.