Pick a story structure, then fill in each beat. Progress, word counts, and saved outlines keep your plan for a novel or screenplay in one place.
Story structure
Act 1: Setup
Show the protagonist's ordinary world, what they want, and the event that sets the story moving.
End of Act 1: Turning Point
The protagonist makes a choice that pulls them into the main conflict.
Act 2, Part 1: Rising Conflict
Show the new situation, the first obstacles, and the allies and opponents the protagonist meets.
Midpoint
A major event in the middle of the story changes what the protagonist knows or what is at stake.
Act 2, Part 2: Complications
Things get worse. The protagonist loses ground and reaches a low point.
Act 3: Climax and Resolution
The final confrontation and its aftermath.
Outline progress
0 of 6 beats filled in
Words
0
Characters
0
Saved outlines
No saved outlines yet. Use “Save outline as…” to keep a named copy here.
TIP
Don't try to perfect every beat. Write a line or two for each one first, then go back and expand the beats that feel thin.
What Is a Plot Outline Template?
Most writers know the story they want to tell but not the order of events. A plot outline template gives you a set of beats, such as the setup, the midpoint, and the climax, and asks one question per beat. You answer them in a line or two, and the skeleton of the story appears.
This tool includes five story structures: three-act structure, the hero's journey, seven-point structure, Freytag's pyramid, and kishotenketsu. Each beat shows a short prompt and a live word count. A progress bar shows how many beats you've filled in, and you can save named copies of your outline, copy it as text, or download it.
Your outline is processed and stored in your browser only. The tool does not upload it.
When to Outline with a Story Structure
Starting a novel or screenplay
If the blank page is the problem, every beat comes with a prompt. A line or two per beat is enough to get a working skeleton.
Fixing a draft that lost its direction
Map your existing story onto three-act or seven-point. Empty or thin beats show where the pacing breaks down.
Planning more than one project
Save each outline under its own name, such as a contest short story and a longer novel, and open either one when you're ready to work on it.
Moving your plan into your writing app
Once the beats are set, copy the text or download a .txt file and continue in Word, Google Docs, or the app you draft in.
How to Outline Your Story Beat by Beat
- Choose a story structure: three-act, hero's journey, seven-point, Freytag's pyramid, or kishotenketsu.
- Read the prompt under each beat and write your answer in the box. A single line is fine for a first pass.
- Check the progress bar and word counts to see which beats are still empty or thin, then expand them.
- Save the outline under a name, or copy it or download it as a .txt file to keep working elsewhere.
Note: Your text autosaves in this browser, so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off.
Before You Start: Saving, Backups, and Privacy
- Treat the beats as prompts, not rules. Skip or combine any beat that doesn't fit your story.
- Each structure keeps its own draft. Opening a saved outline replaces the current text for that structure, and the tool asks before it does.
- Autosaved text and saved outlines live in this browser only. Clearing site data removes them, and the saved list holds the 50 most recent outlines, so copy or download anything you can't afford to lose.
- Everything runs in your browser. The tool does not upload your outline.
Three-Act vs. Hero's Journey vs. Seven-Point: Which Story Structure Fits?
A quick comparison of the five structures in this tool.
| Structure | Beats | Shape | Works well for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-Act Structure | 6 | Setup, confrontation, resolution, with a midpoint | Novels, screenplays, most genre fiction |
| Hero's Journey | 12 | Departure, initiation, return | Adventure, fantasy, coming-of-age stories |
| Seven-Point Structure | 7 | Hook to resolution, often planned from the ending backward | Genre novels, writers who like to plan the ending first |
| Freytag's Pyramid | 5 | Rises to a climax, then falls | Drama, tragedy, stage plays |
| Kishotenketsu | 4 | Introduction, development, twist, resolution | Short stories, flash fiction, comics |
Beat counts match the templates in this tool. Other writers and books divide these structures differently.
Choosing a Story Structure and Fixing a Stalled Outline
A few ways to get unstuck when the outline stops moving.
Which structure should you choose?
For a long book, a structure with more beats, such as the hero's journey or three-act, gives you more checkpoints for pacing. For a short story, kishotenketsu or a lean three-act outline keeps things tight. If you like to know the ending before you begin, seven-point is built for that.
Stuck on the midpoint or the climax?
Ask what your protagonist most wants to protect, then ask when they come closest to losing it. That moment is usually your climax or your lowest point. You can also fill in the resolution first and work backward, which is how the seven-point structure is often used.
Do you need a finished outline before you write?
No. An outline is a map, and it's normal for the story to change once you start drafting. Fill in the beats roughly, begin writing, and come back to update the outline as the story settles.
Try the same idea in two structures
Each structure keeps its own draft, so you can switch between, say, three-act and seven-point without losing text. Seeing the same story laid out two ways often shows which beats are strong and which are missing.
Common Outlining Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Spending weeks perfecting the outline before writing
Trying to fill every beat in detail can delay the actual draft indefinitely.
💡 See the solution▼
Following the structure so closely the story feels generic
If every beat is a stock event, the plot can feel predictable.
💡 See the solution▼
Losing work after clearing browser data
Autosaved drafts live in your browser. Clearing site data, switching devices, or using a private window means they won't be there.
💡 See the solution▼
Mixing two stories in one editor
If you start a new project in the same structure, the old text is still there, and the two plans blur together.
💡 See the solution▼
An outline that sags in the middle
The opening and ending come easily, but the middle beats are thin or empty.
💡 See the solution▼
Plot Structure Template FAQ
Q.What is a plot outline template?
A. A plot outline template is a fill-in-the-blank framework for the major events of a story. Each section, or beat, comes with a short prompt, so you decide what happens at that point instead of facing a blank page. This tool includes five structures: three-act, hero's journey, seven-point, Freytag's pyramid, and kishotenketsu.
Q.Which story structure should I use?
A. Three-act is a good default for novels and screenplays. The hero's journey has 12 stages, which helps with adventure, fantasy, and coming-of-age stories. Seven-point works well if you like to plan from the ending backward. Freytag's pyramid suits dramas built around a single climax, and kishotenketsu fits short stories that turn on a twist. If you're unsure, fill in two and see which one feels natural.
Q.How many steps are in the hero's journey template?
A. The template has 12 stages, based on the version Christopher Vogler adapted from Joseph Campbell's monomyth: Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting the Mentor, Crossing the First Threshold, Tests/Allies/Enemies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, Ordeal, Reward, The Road Back, Resurrection, and Return with the Elixir.
Q.Does the tool save my outline?
A. Yes. Everything you type is saved automatically in your browser, so a refresh or a closed tab won't lose your work. The text stays on your device. Clearing your browser's site data deletes it, so use "Save outline as…" or the copy and download buttons to keep a backup.
Q.Can I keep outlines for more than one story?
A. Yes. Use "Save outline as…" to store a named copy. Saved outlines are listed with the structure they use and the date, and you can open or delete any of them. The list holds your 50 most recent outlines.
Q.Is there a word limit for each beat?
A. No. The tool doesn't limit how much you write in a beat. A single line is enough for a first pass, and you can write full paragraphs when you're ready to expand.
Q.How do I move my outline into Word, Google Docs, or another writing app?
A. Click "Copy outline text" to copy every beat title and your notes to the clipboard, then paste them into your document. "Download as .txt" saves the same content as a plain text file that most writing apps can open.
Q.If I switch structures, do I lose what I wrote?
A. No. Each structure keeps its own draft. You can switch from three-act to seven-point and back without losing text. "Clear this structure" only clears the structure you are viewing, and it asks for confirmation first.
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