Fiction Formula: How to outline a bestselling novel

Name: Fiction Formula: How to outline a bestselling novel
Rating: 4.2 (18 reviews)

A structured guide to writing a book with genre plotting templates

Created byDerek Murphy

Last updated 7/2023

English

What you'll learn

A step-by-step guide to plotting bestselling fiction
Why readers get bored & how to keep them hooked
A 24-chapter plot outline so you know exactly what to do

Course content

1 section • 7 lectures • 6h 10m total length

Novel writing basics 1 (what is story)1:08:27
Explore the five essential story elements—unifying narrative, purpose, drama, structure, and resolution—and learn to craft compelling characters, settings, and a plotting arc toward a bestselling novel.
8 critical steps to an engaging novel (plot your book)1:12:31
Learn eight point plot outline based on the hero's journey to structure a bestselling novel with ordinary world, inciting incident, midpoint, battles, and reveals.
ACT 1 chapter outline (emotional investment)1:07:07
Outline act one with the ordinary world, inciting incident, and first plot point to anchor emotional investment, conflict, and character change in commercial fiction.
ACT II~III chapter outline (emotional payout)1:24:03
Outline act two and three with enemies and allies, trials, earning respect, conflicts, midpoints, twists, and a final battle, leading to growth and revelation.
How to create conflict & suspense in your novel (without boring backstory)1:16:56
Develop drama by balancing outer, inner, and friendly-fire conflicts with suspense and intrigue, revealing key information at the right moment to keep readers hooked.
Novel Writing Templates (Download)0:49
Self-editing0:09

Requirements

Willing to write books readers love

Description

How to write a book: fiction novel outline templates

I spent 10 years in a library getting a PhD in Literature, and still didn't know how to write a novel. But after editing a few hundred books and writing a dozen of my own, I've created clear and simple resources for outlining commercial fiction that is better than anything else available. I hope you think so too.

Whether you're a pantser or a plotter; whether your first rough draft is finished or you haven't even started; this guide to plotting and story architecture will drastically improve your novel's pacing, create more intrigue, and keep readers engaging. Ultimately, you'll end up with a much more satisfying book - which means better reviews, and more sales.

FEEDBACK ON MY PLOTTING RESOURCES:

"I've been listening to this non-stop. Dude has done his research on story structure."

"Finally implementing your structure into the beats of my story. I really think you're on to something here. You can literally immediately visualize hundreds of movies you know (that worked) based on when certain beats happen."

"I have been looking for a plot structure like this for a long time! It helped me to complete a system that I'm so happy with. Thanks so much!"

"This has been so helpful! You don't understand what this means to me. If anyone ever asks me how I managed to write three full POV stories at once in the same book, I'll credit Derek Murphy."

"Man this right here helped me a ton yo. It cut out most of all the nonsense that the other outlines be giving."

"When I put my story ideas into other outlines they seem to leave me still feeling lost, and confused with what should happen in certain chapters. But this one? I was able to connect the dots from beginning to the complete end. I had to study it for a week straight before I finally was able to really understand how to use this story structure completely."

"Thank you so much for creating this story outline. Me being able to really complete a story blueprint makes me feel so happy right now."

Who this course is for:

authors and writers who need structure, but hate plotting