Very Short Fiction Story Outline Form

Very Short Fiction Story Outline 

Title: Insert Title Here

1. Setting: Briefly specify the time and place.

2. Main Character: Focus on one character with a key trait or motivation.

3. Core Moment: A single decisive event or thought that drives the story.

4. Outcome or Twist: An unexpected result or revelation.

5. Theme or Message: A concise idea or emotion to leave the reader pondering.

-Claude chat 

Full Novel Outline Example

 

Title: The Mystery of Maplewood Middle

Main Characters:

• Alex Parker (12): Curious, clever, and a bit of a troublemaker.
• Maya Lin (12): Alex’s best friend, tech-savvy, cautious.
• Principal Gomez: Strict but fair, seems to be hiding something.
• Mr. Jenkins: The mysterious new janitor.
• The Maplewood Mystery Club: A secret group of students.

---

Outline

Prologue

• A shadowy figure sneaks into Maplewood Middle at night, hiding something in the old library.

Chapter 1: The Detention Dilemma

• Alex and Maya get detention for a prank gone wrong.
• While cleaning the library, they overhear strange noises behind a bookshelf.

Chapter 2: The Secret Door

• Alex discovers a hidden door in the library wall.
• They find a dusty notebook with cryptic clues.

Chapter 3: The Maplewood Mystery Club

• Alex and Maya learn about a secret club from the 1980s.
• They decide to investigate, recruiting their friend Sam.

Chapter 4: Clues and Codes

• The trio deciphers the first clue, leading them to the school’s basement.
• They narrowly avoid being caught by Mr. Jenkins.

Chapter 5: The Janitor’s Key

• Maya hacks the school’s online records, finding Mr. Jenkins’ mysterious past.
• They spot him with a strange key.

Chapter 6: Midnight Stakeout

• The friends sneak into school at night.
• They witness Principal Gomez and Mr. Jenkins arguing about “the treasure.”

Chapter 7: The Trap

• The kids set a trap to catch whoever is sneaking around the school.
• Their plan backfires, and Alex gets locked in the basement.

Chapter 8: The Escape

• Maya and Sam rescue Alex using clues from the notebook.
• They discover a hidden room filled with old school trophies and a locked box.

Chapter 9: The Truth Revealed

• The box contains letters from the original Maplewood Mystery Club.
• The “treasure” is a time capsule meant to inspire future students.

Chapter 10: A New Club Begins

• Alex, Maya, and Sam start a new Maplewood Mystery Club.
• They return the time capsule to Principal Gomez, who reveals she was a member of the original club.

Epilogue

• The friends receive a mysterious new clue, hinting at their next adventure.

-LLM

Simple Outline For A Short Story

Below is a simple outline* to use to help you write your short story.

The Magic 5-Step Story Plan

Step 1: Introduction

  • Who is the main character?

  • Where does the story take place?

  • What's the main character's problem or goal?

Step 2: The Problem Gets Bigger

  • Something happens that makes the problem worse

  • The main character tries to solve the problem, but it gets harder

Step 3: The Turning Point

  • Something big happens that changes everything

  • The main character learns something new or important

Step 4: The Solution

  • The main character finds a way to solve the problem

  • Things start to get better

Step 5: The Happy Ending

  • The problem is solved

  • The main character is happy

*from llama LLM

Why Writers Struggle With Outlining

How To Outline A Book

 

An interesting article explains how to, and why one should, outline a book. The article also has links to book outline templates for downloading.

https://selfpublishing.com/book-outline/

3 Steps To Create A Book Outline

https://youtu.be/muR9nYY3yBA