Outlining Your Novel Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises for Planning Your Best Book (Helping Writers Become Authors)

This is a book and workbook in one. It helped me to see the importance of an outline even though I enjoyed writing the first 300 pages pantser style. because at that point the story kinda stalled. I really need to get more into my antagonist! Anyway, this was short and sweet, great ideas without the boring beat you over the head instruction I've seen in other books.

This book helped me get further along in my writing journey.

I debated on whether to purchase this workbook as I didn't have the book that goes with it, nor did I have the funds at the time to purchase both. I am so grateful that I made the decision to reach out to the author, who didn't force the issue of purchasing both. I do agree that if you can buy both, do so, however, just this workbook alone has helped me tremendously. I was struggling with the ideas in my head and how to put them down in a cohesive manner. This workbook has helped me with the dream of writing a fantasy fiction novel. Since purchasing this book, I have ordered many other of her books and workbooks as they really get down to the heart of how to write your book and make it an engaging and enjoyable read. I highly recommend this workbook!

I recently listened to a video interview with Ms. Weiland and was intrigued enough to purchase the "Outlining Your Novel Workbook.*" I was absolutely not disappointed. I have tried other outlining structures before, and each have their merits. However, this one seems to fit my writing style. I found the character outlining/backstory questions particularly helpful. For the first time, I was able to outline the basics of my novel without feeling the need to get into specific scenes or story beats right away. By defining the stakes, the character motivations, and the antagonist purpose in the story, her system allowed me to flesh out the story in a way I have never done before. I look forward to seeing how the entire novel finishes and how much of what I created using her guides and questions makes it into the final story. I would recommend this workbook to anyone who might be looking for a full story plotting guide, or someone who just needs a few questions to point them in the right direction. *I did not read the companion book.

This book is a great guide to making your work better. For me I always felt like I wasn't quite hitting the nail on the head when I finished my novel and when I found this book it showed me the nitty gritty of what I was missing. The valuable info that readers may never know but that you the writer must know in order to write a gripping story is very important. Ms Weilands probing questions into the characters forces you to think about all you never considered. If you have 'itchy writing fingers syndrome' as I like to call it, i.e. when you want to write you just goddamm want to write especially when your characters are talking to you so loudly you just find it impossible to think of anything else other than what they are showing you. STOP and go through this book. It helps you to slow it down by the questions that are pose to you and you see well heck I didn't think of that and how it could improve the story. Long and short of it I'd definitely recommend!!! I bought all of her books on writing, they are affordable and worth it because you improve your craft. Oh and check out her website it helped me a lot.

To say this book is useful doesn’t do it enough justice. KM Weiland instruction is very helpful, expert and clear. She does not get lost in academic literary references that often lose sight of first level intent, but keeps the focus on learning, and progressing in the technique and skill of outlining your novel. It is a like attending a writers master course from the comfort of your home. I also adore the fact that Ms Weiland offers a very thorough weekly podcast, newsletter and invites email questions that addresses all issues regarding your writing ✍🏻 kudos KM Weiland! A lifeline in the writers journey.

K.M. Weiland explains the process of outlining your novel in a very approachable, understandable manner. That said, if you've bought the original book, as I did, you'll find the material in the workbook rather redundant. Maybe that's just me; while reading the original book I took notes and worked through the steps in my writing journal, making a workbook unnecessary. If you prefer a guided approach, this book is just as thorough as the original format.

I've always been a pantser until working on a novel that wasn't coming together for me. I decided to step back and give outlining a try. This workbook is clear, concise, and to the point without unnecessary fluff. I highly recommend this workbook for anyone who wants to learn outlining.

Another great contribution to my working day. Thaks Ms. Weiland!

Boy was I doing things the hard way! Before I read this book I was pantsing my way through my novel and thinking things were great until I had a 'lightbulb' moment that just HAD to be included in my novel. That spelt the beginning of the end for my story. I didn't have an ending, any character arcs, backstory or any way of feasibly restructuring my work to make sense because my work HAD no structure! Katie's book completely changed my approach to writing a novel with clear, easy to follow exercises for the elements of your story. She gives great, real world examples of how the different elements are used and the checklist style pointers are invaluable. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Both plotters and pantsers will get a huge amount of time saving (and novel saving!) advice from this brilliant book.

As a group of like minded people, I thought it pertinent to start a brand new style of book club. A 'How to' book club. We have a wide variety of writers and genres at different levels. Each attendee gained many idea's and understanding to take away from this book and the opportunity to use the work book was invaluable. This book also reinforced what we have been teaching for over six years now at the RWR Rainforest Writing Retreat in Australia, and writer now have an excellent resource to revisit if they ever get stuck. I do have to say, I love the 'Ask the Authors' section and checklists at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend this tool for the aspiring writer.

I also have the book Outlining Your Novel, and together they were key to get me to move from pantsing to outlining. Although I do believe the workbook is great as a stand-alone product, buying them together means you get that extra bit out of the workbook. I have always resisted the idea of outlining, mostly as I thought it took away from my creativity, but also because I believed that it slowed me down. Since reading Weiland's book I realized that spending time on the outline of the novel actually speeds me up. It is almost like a first draft is written before I even start. And the workbook has all the key aspects of the book pulled out so I no longer need to go to my tabbed up book. I just open my Kindle and start working with a fresh notebook for each new story. Well worth the low price point!

I'm a 38-year-old aspiring writer working on my first fiction novel and am finding this workbook, along with it's mating book "Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success," indispensably useful. Other outlining books may provide equal instruction but I'm doubtful they do so in as warm and encouraging a manner as K.M. does in hers. She provides firm and clear instruction while consistently maintaining a respect for the artful side of the craft. The workbook guides the reader through dozens of exercises useful for liberating the ideas and concepts required to assemble a sound story structure. Her use of examples from film and literature, including her own work, is invaluable for grounding the concepts she covers in each chapter. As I grope my way through this mammoth endeavour, it feels as though I have a personal writing coach when I use these books. There are 4 publications in the series (2 books and 2 workbooks) and I highly recommend all of them. They're very reasonably priced and money well spent.