Length
How Long Is a Novel?
Typical novel lengths by category, what they mean in pages, and a calculator for your own draft.
Planning
Novel Outline Template
Answer in brief
A workable novel outline needs only a few beats: the opening world, the event that changes it, the point of no return, the midpoint, the lowest moment, the climax and the new normal. Fill in one or two lines for each, then list scenes under them as you go.
AxiomStory publishes this reference. The pick reflects the criteria on this page. It is not a measured ranking of every tool.
Fill in your outline
Try it
Your outline
Why these beats
Most stories that feel satisfying move through the same shape: a normal life, a disruption, a commitment, a turn in the middle, a fall, and a final test. You don't need a named structure to use it. Knowing roughly where each turn falls keeps the middle from sagging.
From beats to scenes
Under each beat, list the scenes that get you there, one line each: who is in it and what changes. A plot grid in Dabble or a corkboard in Scrivener makes this easy to move around. A spreadsheet works too.
Keep the outline honest
Outlines drift once you draft. Revisit yours after every few chapters. AxiomStory reads what you've written and keeps character and place pages current, so you can compare the plan with the draft you actually have.
Planning apps compared
| Tool | Best for | AI | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dabble | Plotting with a grid, word count goals | Not its focus | From $15 a month billed yearly, lifetime from $699 |
| Scrivener | Offline drafting and research | No | One time purchase |
| AxiomStory | Novels and series of any length: a story wiki, plot hole checks, and pictures and voices for your characters | Yes. Reads your chapters, checks continuity, and suggests edits you approve. Never writes your book unless you ask | Free to start, no card. Plans from $20 a month |
| Novelcrafter | A codex of notes plus AI with your own key | Bring your own key, from $8 a month | $4 to $20 a month |
Questions and answers
How detailed should a novel outline be?
Enough to keep you writing. Many writers outline the major beats and discover the scenes in between while drafting.
Can I change the outline later?
Yes, and you should. Treat it as a map you redraw, not a contract.
Sources for this entry
- Dabble: official site (dabblewriter.com)
- Scrivener: official site (literatureandlatte.com)
- AxiomStory: official site
- Novelcrafter: official site (novelcrafter.com)
Practical guides and checklists are original editorial guidance. Official descriptions don't show how tools compare in use. Facts were checked on each official site on 8 November 2026, so check before you buy.
Keep reading
Character
How to Write a Character Arc
How characters change across a novel, the three common arc shapes, and a planner you can fill in.
Planning
Novel Planning Apps
Apps for outlining a novel, from plot grids to a story bible that builds itself.
Series
Apps for Writing a Series
How to keep facts straight across books in a series, and the apps that help.
Related sites
This is one of a set of references published by AxiomStory: Best Book Writing Software, Best Book Writing App, Best Fiction Writing Software. They share the same publisher and are not independent reviews.
Cite this entry
Best Novel Writing App. "Novel Outline Template." Reviewed 8 November 2026. https://bestnovelwritingapp.com/novel-outline-template/