What do you include in your outline structure? For my novel “Ann Arbor’s Bus Orphan” I’ve gone about as far as I can go without listing the scenes (an outline—in fact). All of the scenes in the re-write have not been listed but the highlights of the novel’s progression are set down.
ANN ARBOR’S BUS ORPHAN
Act I
Scene THAD*
CREATION: BLANK PAGE
0%-10% Stage I: SETUP Fully in False Identity
October, 1990
Prologue 1-3
Congressional Session, Lansing MI
POV First Person, Norman Kennedy (60)
Theme of Reparations to Native American by restoring their sacred burial grounds.
Introduction of characters:
Sam Storrer, his brother Jason’s wife Megan and their prophet child Ray
Tom Sweetwater and his uncle Torchey, his wife Heather and sister, Megan
Robert and Doris (Dunacker) Westroad
Ghost: Cougarman
Uncle Torchey threatens tornadoes if sacred burial grounds are not returned by the Harvest Moon
Cougarman attackes camermen
Scene THAD*
CREATION: BLANK PAGE
0%-10% Stage I: SETUP Fully in False Identity
October, 1990
Prologue 1-3
Congressional Session, Lansing MI
POV First Person, Norman Kennedy (60)
Theme of Reparations to Native American by restoring their sacred burial grounds.
Introduction of characters:
Sam Storrer, his brother Jason’s wife Megan and their prophet child Ray
Tom Sweetwater and his uncle Torchey, his wife Heather and sister, Megan
Robert and Doris (Dunacker) Westroad
Ghost: Cougarman
Uncle Torchey threatens tornadoes if sacred burial grounds are not returned by the Harvest Moon
Cougarman attackes camermen
Chapter One 4-11
Norman’s Apartment, Ann Arbor, MI
POV First Person, Noman Kennedy
March 15, 1987
Book, Black Elk Speaks levitates, knee disappears, he disappears in a bus window reflection, billboard dame turns into his mother, and Doris’ blue and yellow mansion turns into a white-painted house.
Doris’ House
Ghost cat comes through the floor, Cougarman appears to Norman for the first time.
Norman’s Apartment, Ann Arbor, MI
POV First Person, Noman Kennedy
March 15, 1987
Book, Black Elk Speaks levitates, knee disappears, he disappears in a bus window reflection, billboard dame turns into his mother, and Doris’ blue and yellow mansion turns into a white-painted house.
Doris’ House
Ghost cat comes through the floor, Cougarman appears to Norman for the first time.
Chapter Two 11-17
Norman overhears Uncle Torchy (fringed leather jacket) and Tom Sweetwater discussing the lay of the land under Doris’ house.
Doris hires Tom who helps her buy a car
Busches Grocery Store
They meet Roger Westroad at Busches with six Storrer children (Jason, etc.)
Sam sees Cougarman on Tom’s shoulders
Norman’s Apartment
Norman worries Roger Westroad will replace him in Doris’ affection
Norman overhears Uncle Torchy (fringed leather jacket) and Tom Sweetwater discussing the lay of the land under Doris’ house.
Doris hires Tom who helps her buy a car
Busches Grocery Store
They meet Roger Westroad at Busches with six Storrer children (Jason, etc.)
Sam sees Cougarman on Tom’s shoulders
Norman’s Apartment
Norman worries Roger Westroad will replace him in Doris’ affection
Turning Point #1 10% Opportunity
EXODUS: HERO’S JOURNEY
10%-25% Stage II NEW SITUATION Glimpses True Essence
March 18, 1987
Chapter Three 18-45
EXODUS: HERO’S JOURNEY
10%-25% Stage II NEW SITUATION Glimpses True Essence
March 18, 1987
Chapter Three 18-45
LAW: LEGALITIES & PUBLISHING CRITERIA
Act II
Turning Point #2 Change of Plans 25%
25% to 50% Stage III PROGRESS Vacillates between false identity and true essence
Date—————–
Chapter Four 46- 57
Act II
Turning Point #2 Change of Plans 25%
25% to 50% Stage III PROGRESS Vacillates between false identity and true essence
Date—————–
Chapter Four 46- 57
WISDOM: WHAT DOES HERO LEARN
Chapter Five 58- 71
Date—————–
Chapter Five 58- 71
Date—————–
PROPHECY: FORESHADOWING
Chapter Six 72-78
Date ——————–
Chapter Six 72-78
Date ——————–
TRUTH: HERO FACES REALITY
Turning Point #3 Point of No Return 50%-75% Stage IV:
COMPLICATIONS & HIGHER STAKES Fully in essence, but reverts one final time
Chapter Seven 79-86
Date——————-
APOCALYPS: BLACK MOMENT
Turning Point #3 Point of No Return 50%-75% Stage IV:
COMPLICATIONS & HIGHER STAKES Fully in essence, but reverts one final time
Chapter Seven 79-86
Date——————-
APOCALYPS: BLACK MOMENT
Act III
Turning Point #4 Black Moment Major Setback 75%-90% Stage V:
FINAL PUSH Returns to true essence
Chapter Eight 87-99
Date——————-
Turning Point #4 Black Moment Major Setback 75%-90% Stage V:
FINAL PUSH Returns to true essence
Chapter Eight 87-99
Date——————-
RESOLUTION ALL POINTS
Date————–
Turning Point #5 Climax 90-100 % Stage VI AFTERMATH Transformed essence
Chapter Nine 94-96
Date————–
Turning Point #5 Climax 90-100 % Stage VI AFTERMATH Transformed essence
Chapter Nine 94-96
THE END