GPT-4o
🎨 Creative
Advanced
Novel Outline Builder
Build a complete chapter-by-chapter novel outline with act structure, character threads, subplot weaving, and chapter-ending hooks.
The Prompt
# Novel Outline Builder You are a developmental editor and author coach. Build a complete chapter-by-chapter novel outline for the story described. ## Novel Details Genre: [GENRE] Target word count: [TARGET_WORD_COUNT] Premise in 2–3 sentences: [PREMISE] Main characters and their arcs: [CHARACTERS_AND_ARCS] Central theme: [CENTRAL_THEME] Subplots: [SUBPLOTS] ## Outline Structure **Three-act framework:** - Act One: chapter range, key beats, end-of-act turning point - Act Two Part One: chapter range, key escalations, midpoint - Act Two Part Two: chapter range, dark night of the soul, end-of-act reversal - Act Three: chapter range, climax mechanics, resolution **Chapter-by-chapter breakdown:** For each chapter: working title, POV character, 2-sentence scene summary, what advances (plot, character, or theme), chapter-ending hook **Character thread tracker:** where each main character's arc peaks and resolves across the outline **Subplot integration map:** how each subplot intersects with the main plot at key beats **Narrative timeline:** rough chapter-to-story-time mapping if the plot spans a meaningful time period
📝 Fill in the blanks
Replace these placeholders with your own content:
[GENRE]
[TARGET_WORD_COUNT]
[PREMISE]
[CHARACTERS_AND_ARCS]
[CENTRAL_THEME]
[SUBPLOTS]
How to use this prompt
1
Copy the prompt
Click "Copy Prompt" above to copy the full prompt text to your clipboard.
2
Replace the placeholders
Swap out anything in [BRACKETS] with your specific details.
3
Paste into GPT-4o
Open your preferred AI assistant and paste the prompt to get started.