Story Outline Generator: Free Templates & Examples for Every Genre
Six ready-to-use story outline templates with completed examples, story element guides, and grade-level recommendations. Copy any template and start planning your next story in minutes.
Outline Templates
Genre-specific templates covering narrative, mystery, fantasy, persuasive writing, and more.
Completed Examples
Fully filled-in outlines showing students exactly how to use each template.
Grade Levels
Guidance for elementary, middle, and high school writers at every skill level.
What Is a Story Outline?
A story outline is a structured plan that organizes the key events, characters, and plot points of a narrative before writing begins. Think of it as a blueprint for your story: it shows what happens, in what order, and why it matters - without requiring you to write every sentence.
Story outlines are used by professional novelists, screenwriters, and students alike. They prevent writer's block by giving you a clear path forward, ensure your narrative has a logical structure, and make revision dramatically easier because you can spot plot holes before you have written thousands of words.
A story outline includes:
- Characters and their goals
- Setting and world details
- Central conflict or problem
- Major plot points in sequence
- Climax and resolution
A story outline is NOT:
- —A completed first draft
- —A rigid, unchangeable contract
- —A book report or summary of someone else's work
- —Only for long stories (short stories benefit too)
- —Only for "plotters" - even "pantsers" use loose outlines
6 Free Story Outline Templates
Each template is designed for a specific genre or writing style. Click "Copy All" to copy the full template, or browse the sections to understand each story structure.
Basic Story Arc Outline
The classic five-part narrative structure. Perfect for any genre and ideal for students learning story structure for the first time.
1. Exposition (Beginning)
- Setting: Where and when does the story take place?
- Main Character: Who is the protagonist? What are they like?
- Situation: What is normal life like for the character?
- Hook: What interesting detail grabs the reader's attention?
2. Rising Action
- Inciting Incident: What event disrupts the character's normal life?
- First Obstacle: What is the first challenge the character faces?
- Escalation: How does the problem get worse or more complicated?
- Stakes: What will happen if the character fails?
3. Climax (Turning Point)
- Confrontation: The character faces the biggest challenge.
- Decision: What critical choice does the character make?
- Action: What does the character do at the most intense moment?
4. Falling Action
- Immediate Aftermath: What happens right after the climax?
- Consequences: How do events begin to settle?
- Character Reaction: How does the character feel or change?
5. Resolution (End)
- New Normal: How has the character's world changed?
- Lesson/Theme: What did the character (or reader) learn?
- Final Image: What is the last thing the reader sees?
Hero's Journey Outline
Joseph Campbell's 12-stage monomyth simplified for students. Great for adventure, fantasy, and coming-of-age stories.
Act 1 - The Ordinary World
- 1. Ordinary World: Show the hero's everyday life and what they lack or desire.
- 2. Call to Adventure: An event or message challenges the hero to act.
- 3. Refusal of the Call: The hero hesitates or is afraid to leave comfort.
- 4. Meeting the Mentor: A guide offers advice, tools, or encouragement.
Act 2 - The Special World
- 5. Crossing the Threshold: The hero commits and enters the new, unfamiliar world.
- 6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The hero makes friends, faces enemies, and learns rules.
- 7. Approach to the Innermost Cave: The hero prepares for the major challenge.
- 8. The Ordeal: The hero faces their greatest fear or enemy (the central crisis).
- 9. The Reward: The hero gains something valuable (object, knowledge, or growth).
Act 3 - The Return
- 10. The Road Back: The hero begins the journey home, but faces new dangers.
- 11. The Resurrection: A final test where the hero uses everything they learned.
- 12. Return with the Elixir: The hero returns home changed, sharing what they gained.
Mystery Story Outline
A structured framework for whodunits and detective stories. Helps students plant clues, create suspects, and build suspense.
1. The Crime / Mystery
- What happened? (theft, disappearance, strange event, etc.)
- Where and when did it happen?
- Who discovered it?
- What is at stake if it is not solved?
2. The Detective / Protagonist
- Who is investigating? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
- Why are they motivated to solve this mystery?
- What resources or tools do they have?
3. Suspects and Motives
- Suspect #1: Name, relationship to the crime, motive, alibi.
- Suspect #2: Name, relationship to the crime, motive, alibi.
- Suspect #3: Name, relationship to the crime, motive, alibi.
- The True Culprit: Which suspect actually did it? Why?
4. Clues and Red Herrings
- Clue #1: (Real) What evidence points to the truth?
- Clue #2: (Real) What second piece of evidence confirms it?
- Clue #3: (Real) What final piece locks in the solution?
- Red Herring #1: What misleads the detective toward the wrong suspect?
- Red Herring #2: What second false lead creates doubt?
5. Investigation Scenes
- Scene 1: Discovery of the mystery and initial investigation.
- Scene 2: Interviewing suspects and gathering clues.
- Scene 3: A twist - new evidence or a suspect is eliminated.
- Scene 4: The detective is misled by a red herring.
6. The Reveal
- Pivotal Moment: What breaks the case open?
- Confrontation: The detective reveals the truth to all suspects.
- Proof: How does the detective prove the culprit's guilt?
- Resolution: What happens to the culprit? How is justice served?
Personal Narrative Outline
Ideal for memoir writing, college essays, and personal experience assignments. Focuses on reflection and emotional truth.
1. Hook
- Opening Line: Start in the middle of the action, with dialogue, or a surprising statement.
- Sensory Detail: What did you see, hear, feel, smell, or taste?
- Why This Moment: Why does this experience stand out in your memory?
2. Setup / Background
- Context: When and where did this happen? How old were you?
- Characters: Who else was involved? What is your relationship to them?
- Before: What was your life like before this event?
3. The Challenge or Turning Point
- What Happened: Describe the key event in vivid detail.
- Conflict: What made this situation difficult or meaningful?
- Emotions: How did you feel in the moment? What were you thinking?
4. Response and Action
- What You Did: How did you respond to the challenge?
- Help or Hindrance: Did anyone help or make things harder?
- Turning Point: What moment changed how you saw the situation?
5. Reflection
- What You Learned: How did this experience change you?
- Connection to Now: How does it affect your life today?
- Theme/Message: What universal truth does your story reveal?
- Closing Image: End with a memorable detail or full-circle moment.
Fantasy / Adventure Outline
Built for world-building and epic quests. Helps students create imaginative settings, magic systems, and high-stakes adventures.
1. The World
- Setting: Describe the world (geography, time period, society).
- Rules/Magic: What special rules govern this world? (magic system, technology, laws)
- History: What important events happened before the story begins?
- Factions/Groups: What groups or kingdoms exist? What are their relationships?
2. The Quest
- Mission: What must be accomplished? (find an object, defeat a villain, save someone)
- Why Now: What event triggers the quest?
- Consequences: What happens if the quest fails?
- The Destination: Where must the hero go?
3. The Companions
- Companion #1: Name, skills, personality, and reason for joining.
- Companion #2: Name, skills, personality, and reason for joining.
- The Antagonist: Who opposes the quest? What are their motivations?
- Group Dynamics: How do the companions interact? Any tensions?
4. Obstacles and Challenges
- Obstacle #1: A physical challenge (crossing a dangerous place, a battle).
- Obstacle #2: A mental or moral challenge (a puzzle, a difficult choice).
- Obstacle #3: A betrayal or unexpected setback.
- Lowest Point: When does all hope seem lost?
5. The Climax
- Final Battle/Confrontation: The hero faces the main antagonist or challenge.
- Sacrifice: What must the hero give up to succeed?
- Victory (or Defeat): How is the quest resolved?
6. The Return
- Aftermath: How has the world changed?
- Character Growth: How has the hero been transformed?
- New Beginning: What does life look like after the adventure?
Persuasive Narrative Outline
Combines argument structure with storytelling. Perfect for opinion essays, speeches, and persuasive writing that uses narrative evidence.
1. Opening Story Hook
- Anecdote: A short, compelling story that illustrates the issue.
- Emotional Connection: Why should the reader care about this topic?
- Thesis Preview: Hint at the argument you will make.
2. State Your Argument
- Thesis Statement: Clearly state your position or claim.
- Context: Provide background information the reader needs.
- Why It Matters: Explain the significance of this issue.
3. Supporting Point #1 (with Narrative Evidence)
- Claim: State your first supporting reason.
- Story/Example: Tell a story or describe a real scenario that proves your point.
- Analysis: Explain how the story supports your argument.
4. Supporting Point #2 (with Data or Facts)
- Claim: State your second supporting reason.
- Evidence: Use statistics, expert quotes, or research findings.
- Connection: Link the evidence back to your thesis.
5. Counterargument and Rebuttal
- Opposing View: What would someone who disagrees say?
- Acknowledge: Recognize any valid points in the opposition.
- Rebuttal Story: Use a narrative example to show why your position is stronger.
6. Conclusion with Call to Action
- Return to Opening Story: Circle back to your opening anecdote.
- Restate Thesis: Reinforce your main argument.
- Call to Action: What should the reader think, feel, or do next?
- Final Image: Leave the reader with a powerful closing thought.
Story Outline Examples
See how real students fill in the templates. These completed outlines show what a finished story plan looks like at different grade levels.
Example: Mystery - "The Missing Science Fair Project"
The Crime
Maya's award-winning volcano model disappears from the school lab the night before the regional science fair. The door was locked, but the model is gone and a window is cracked open.
The Detective
Maya is determined to find her project. She is observant, keeps a notebook of details, and knows the school building inside and out.
Suspects
Suspect 1: Derek, a rival who lost to Maya last year and was seen near the lab after school. Suspect 2: Ms. Carter, the janitor, who has keys to every room. Suspect 3: Priya, Maya's lab partner, who was upset about not getting credit.
Clues & Red Herrings
Real clue: Glitter from the volcano is found on the gym storage closet door. Real clue: Security camera shows someone in a hoodie at 7 PM. Red herring: Derek's locker contains volcanic rock (for his own geology hobby). Red herring: Ms. Carter's keys were missing but she reported it to the office.
The Reveal
Maya finds the volcano hidden in the gym closet. The security footage hoodie matches Priya's jacket. Priya confesses she hid it because she was angry about not sharing the credit. Maya and Priya talk it out, add Priya's name, and present together.
Example: Personal Narrative - "The Day I Spoke Up"
Hook
My hands shook so badly that the index cards rattled like a tiny rainstorm. Two hundred faces stared up at me from the auditorium seats, and I forgot every word I had rehearsed.
Setup
I had always been the quiet kid - the one who never raised a hand, who ate lunch with a book instead of a group. When my English teacher nominated me for the school speech contest, I almost said no.
Challenge
The speech was about climate change, something I cared about deeply but had never talked about publicly. In rehearsals I stumbled over words. The night before, I almost faked being sick.
Response
Standing at the microphone, I put the cards down and spoke from memory. I talked about the flooding in my grandmother's village. My voice cracked, but I kept going. The audience went silent - the good kind of silent.
Reflection
I did not win the contest, but a classmate told me my speech changed how she thought about recycling. I learned that courage is not the absence of fear - it is speaking even when your hands shake. I joined the debate club that semester.
Example: Basic Story Arc - "The Last Delivery"
Exposition
Twelve-year-old Sam works as a newspaper delivery kid in a small coastal town. Every morning before school, Sam bikes through quiet streets tossing papers onto porches. Sam loves the independence but wishes for something more exciting.
Rising Action
One morning, Sam finds a sealed envelope tucked inside the newspaper bundle, addressed to "The Bravest Person on Maple Street." Curious, Sam delivers it to old Mr. Harding, the grumpy neighbor everyone avoids. Mr. Harding reads the letter and tears up. He asks Sam to help him find the person who wrote it.
Climax
After following clues around town - a bakery receipt, a library book, a knitted scarf - Sam and Mr. Harding discover the letter was written by Mr. Harding's estranged daughter, who is in town for only one more day.
Falling Action
Sam bikes Mr. Harding to the train station just in time. Father and daughter see each other for the first time in ten years. They hug on the platform while Sam watches from a distance.
Resolution
Mr. Harding is no longer grumpy. He waves to Sam every morning and leaves hot chocolate on the porch in winter. Sam realizes that delivering newspapers was never boring - every door holds a story.
Story Elements Explained
Every great story is built from these six fundamental elements. Understanding them will help you fill in any outline template with confidence.
Character
The people (or animals, or beings) in your story. Every story needs a protagonist (main character) who wants something. Strong characters have goals, flaws, and the capacity to change.
Tip: Ask: What does my character want? What is their biggest flaw? How will they be different at the end?
Setting
Where and when your story takes place. Setting is more than a backdrop - it shapes what is possible, creates mood, and can act as an obstacle or ally to the character.
Tip: Use sensory details: What does the character see, hear, smell, and feel in this place?
Plot
The sequence of events in your story. A strong plot has a beginning that hooks the reader, a middle that builds tension through escalating events, and an end that resolves the conflict in a satisfying way.
Tip: Every scene should either advance the plot or reveal character - ideally both.
Conflict
The central problem or struggle that drives the story forward. Without conflict, there is no story. Types include character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, and character vs. self.
Tip: Raise the stakes: Make the consequences of failure personal and significant to the character.
Theme
The underlying message or universal truth your story explores. Theme is not stated directly - it is revealed through the characters' experiences. Common themes include courage, friendship, identity, justice, and growing up.
Tip: Your theme should emerge from the story naturally. Do not state the moral; show it through action.
Point of View
The perspective from which the story is told. First person (I/me) creates intimacy. Third person limited follows one character's thoughts. Third person omniscient knows everything. The choice affects what the reader can know and feel.
Tip: Choose the POV that best serves the story's emotional impact and mystery.
How to Create a Story Outline in 7 Steps
Follow this step-by-step process to go from a blank page to a complete story plan. Works with any template above.
Choose Your Genre and Audience
Decide what type of story you want to tell (mystery, adventure, personal narrative, fantasy, etc.) and who will read it. Genre and audience determine tone, vocabulary, and structure.
Define Your Main Character and Their Goal
Create a protagonist with a clear desire or need. Ask: What does my character want? Why do they want it? What happens if they fail? The character's goal drives every scene in the outline.
Establish the Setting and World
Decide when and where your story takes place. Setting shapes the mood, available conflicts, and what is possible in your story. Note key locations where important scenes will occur.
Identify the Central Conflict
Every story needs a problem. Choose your conflict type (character vs. character, nature, society, or self) and describe the main obstacle standing between your character and their goal.
Map the Major Plot Points
Using one of the outline templates, fill in the key moments: the inciting incident that starts the action, 2-3 rising action events that escalate tension, the climax where everything comes to a head, and the resolution.
Add Supporting Characters and Subplots
Introduce allies, antagonists, and mentors who help or hinder the protagonist. If your story is long enough, add a subplot that connects thematically to the main plot and adds depth.
Review, Revise, and Start Writing
Read through your outline from start to finish. Check for plot holes, pacing issues, and missing character motivation. Adjust as needed, then use the outline as your guide while drafting the full story.
Story Outlines by Grade Level
Not every student needs the same level of detail. Here is how to adapt story outlines for different age groups and skill levels.
Elementary (Grades 3-5)
Recommended templates: Basic Story Arc, Personal Narrative
Suggested length: 1 page outline; 1-3 page story
Focus on beginning, middle, and end. Use simple graphic organizers. Include characters, setting, and one clear problem. Encourage drawings alongside text. Keep the outline to 5-8 bullet points total.
Teaching Tips
- Use a story mountain or story hand visual
- Start with familiar settings (home, school, neighborhood)
- One main character with one clear problem
- Practice describing feelings with emotion words
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Recommended templates: Basic Story Arc, Mystery, Fantasy/Adventure, Personal Narrative
Suggested length: 1-2 page outline; 3-7 page story
Introduce subplots and secondary characters. Teach rising action with multiple complications. Practice different narrative perspectives. Encourage genre experimentation and detailed setting descriptions.
Teaching Tips
- Add a subplot that connects to the main theme
- Include at least 3 rising action events
- Experiment with first-person and third-person POV
- Use dialogue to reveal character personality
- Build tension by raising stakes gradually
High School (Grades 9-12)
Recommended templates: All templates, including Hero's Journey and Persuasive Narrative
Suggested length: 2-5 page outline; 5-20+ page story
Develop complex characters with internal conflicts. Weave multiple themes through the narrative. Use literary devices (foreshadowing, symbolism, irony). Experiment with non-linear structure, unreliable narrators, and genre-blending.
Teaching Tips
- Create characters with contradictions and moral complexity
- Use foreshadowing and symbolism deliberately
- Consider how structure (chronological vs. non-linear) serves the story
- Write scenes that work on multiple levels (plot + theme + character)
- Revise the outline after drafting - structure often becomes clearer during writing
- Study mentor texts in your genre for structural inspiration
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