The structure of your rough outline begins with an instigating event, continues with one or more waypoints, concludes with a resolution, and finishes with a denouement. The instigating event is the impetus for the story; without this event, no other events would be set in motion, and the characters would have no choices to make. In a 50,000 word novel, this guide waypoints at 10K, 20K, and 30K words. This allows for three major plot twists or complications. Each plot twist or complication must serve a specific purpose in the story that advances the plot towards the resolution. The resolution occurs at 40K words, which allows time for all of the complications to be resolved. The novel finished with a denouement in which any remaining plot threads may be resolved or addressed, and in which the characters can be given a form of closure in their arc.
The Instigating Event
Every story begins with a change in the status quo that launches the characters into their story arc. A novel has room to develop multiple plot threads and character arcs and so requires multiple instigating events. Each event begins a plot thread that will be resolved during the story. The opening section of the story work to set the reader's expectations, and familiarize them with the setting and characters. In addition to the instigating change that sets the story in motion, the early section is used to communicate the status quo of the setting before that change occurred.
In Roc, the story opens with (Event 1) the roc attacking the two main characters (Timothy and Saul) while they are scaling a mountain. Vanessa, Saul's daughter and Tim's girlfriend, is climbing with them. Vanessa is killed in the attack; Saul witnesses it but Timothy does not. Event 2: A year has passed. Saul continues to search for the roc; Timothy works for the US National Park Service. Saul confronts Timothy, telling him that the roc has been sighted again and has received national attention this time. Event 3: The sighting of the roc has drawn an increased number of cryptid hunters and activists to the national park, increasing the workload for the park rangers. The park service is not receiving any additional staff or funding.
First Waypoint: A New Element
In Roc, the national attention goes viral (Complication 1), attracting online influencers and major media coverage as well as non-fringe vacationers. Complication 2: Political pressure has caused the Park Service to order its rangers to confirm the existence and habitat range of the roc in order to establish a protected reserve. Complication 3: The roc attacks a high profile victim. New Element: Private collectors offer to pay top dollar for a real specimen, attracting unscrupulous hunters.
Second Waypoint: Challenge the Assumptions
The second waypoint challenges the assumptions of readers by changing the nature of the conflict or the nature of the setting. It alters or influences the motivations of the characters by changing their relationship with the antagonist or their relationship to the setting. Initial minor conflicts have been resolved by this point; new conflicts should be introduced as a consequence of resolving the previous conflicts, with consequences or interactions that are different in nature from the previous situation. For example, if an initial conflict was a physical challenge between two characters for leadership of a group, the consequential challenge would be a social conflict between the triumphant leader and the supporters of the defeated character.
In Roc, Challenge 1 occurs when Timothy is accused of murdering Vanessa and blaming it on the roc, straining the relationship between Timothy and Saul. Challenge 2: Cryptid hunters discover the corpses of a new species of megafauna upon which the roc has apparently been preying. Challenge 3: The private collectors don't want the roc as a pet or for a zoo, they want to weaponize it for use in war.
Third Waypoint: Raise the Stakes
It is not necessary to expand all three categories in order to raise the stakes of the conflict. Expanding the scale of the conflict means that consequences will affect more than just the characters and their immediate circle of interaction. Expanding the scope of conflict means that more than just the characters and their immediate circle begin to interact with the central conflict. Expanding the relevancy of the conflict increases its importance to the characters and its affect on their lives.
In Roc, the accusation against Timothy (Escalation 1 - relevance) gains traction with the authorities, and it looks like he's going to need to clear his name or face censure and prosecution. Escalation 2 - scope: The existence of the roc threatens to destabilize international politics and instigate extremist actions from environmentalists and religious fanatics. Escalation 3 - scale: The roc begins to actively strike back, hunting and attacking in a methodical manner, and expanding its range beyond the mountains.
Fourth Waypoint: The Resolution
With all of the complications in play, it's time to start resolving plot threads and concluding character arcs. New complications may still be introduced at this stage, including entirely new elements, if they are resolved by the end of the story. The purpose of the resolution is to provide the reader with a logical conclusion to existing plot threads, and to produce an emotional reaction as the character arcs come to a close. Even if some minor conflicts remain unresolved in order to provide a continuing mystery or cliffhanger, the primary conflict was the reason the reader invested in the story and it must be completely resolved.
In Roc, the roc's nest is discovered, along with articles identifying Vanessa (Resolution 1), pinpointing the roc's central habitat and motive, and clearing Timothy of suspicion. The roc has a nest with hatchlings it is protecting and feeding. Resolution 2: The megafauna corpses that were attributed to the roc are revealed to be a hoax perpetrated by social media influencers. The private hunt attributed to collectors or weapons research is revealed to be a scam run by a known grifter. Resolution 3: The US asserts international protection of the roc as an endangered species, forcibly putting an end to the media coverage and the hunting. Resolution 4: Saul confronts the roc and its hatchlings, choosing to let it live instead of killing it.
Final Wrap-Up: The Denouement
After all plot threads have been resolved, the reader should be provided with emotional closure for the finished character arcs and for conflicts that have been unresolved in order to provide a continuing mystery or cliffhanger. Emotional closure for the reader is provided by describing the events that occur after a character arc has concluded, establishing a new status quo for the characters. Emotional closure for unresolved conflicts is provided by prompting the reader to draw their own conclusions about the final resolution of the conflict without detailing the resolution itself.
In Roc, Timothy and Saul meet (Denouement 1) to discuss ways to manage the roc's wildlife preserve inside the national park and protect the public from it. Denouement 2: the influencer whose megafauna corpse videos were debunked continues to search for incontrovertible evidence of more megafauna, swearing that he didn't fake the video. Denouement 3: International organizations spring up to search for more megafauna.
The rough outline touches all of the high points of the story and provides a structure upon which the details of the story can be hung. Use the rough outline to introduce new complications at timely points in the story in order to keep the reader's interest. Use the rough outline to chart the conflicts and ensure that all plot threads receive a resolution. Finally, the rough outline keeps the story focused on the characters and the central conflict in order to provide a rewarding experience for the reader.
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