Katy - Consider saving the beginning file as a template Scrivener>File>Save as Template. That way you don't have to go through this drill every time you start a new story. You can put your presentation crib notes in the Synopsis.

This year for NaNo, I made an outline switching "Fun and Games" to "Sadness and Moping" and I switched "Darkest Moment" to "Englightening"

At age fifty, although English is my second language, I'm finally taking the action to write a small story about my life's journey, and recently came across this wonderful writing software that will help me to accomplish my task. Thank you for showing how versatile this software really is!

I absolutely see myself reading and endorsing a book like this! It basically has every element id want from a book: scifi/magic/distopian world, some romance, and conflicting morals! Kat this is amazing!

I blocked out my current WIP using your process and I am astonished at how neatly the events line up. Thank you so much for this video, you've helped me figure out where the story needs to go next.

I have literally no instruction in the art of writing but a few weeks ago I've got this inexplicable desire to write something down. Obviously I've got in trouble because i had no idea about where to start and what to do in order to accomplish a decent novel. I discovered your channel yesterday and i spent all day watching your videos. Now i'm structuring my outline and i'm feeling comfortable and proud of what i'm doing. I want to really, really thank you from my heart. You are awesome.

I just want to say that your videos have kept me motivated. I downloaded the free trial of Scrivener and it's absolutely wonderful! I just outlined my entire novel (even though I've already started NaNoWriMo.). Now, I know where I'm going. I'm still behind in word count, but I won't give up. I just want to say thank you SO MUCH for being a wonderful person and for keeping all of us motivated. Keep up the wonderful work and may you work past that part of you that feels disinterest in continuing your story. Have a wonderful day! :-)

I watched this a week before NaNo started this year and set up a template for Scrivener based on it. I'm using it now and it's working very well. I've won NaNo for the past 4 years, but I've never been above the line every day and I've never felt this confident at the end of each scene about what the next scene will entail. I didn't actually outline things, but when I look at my story so far and then read the notes on what belongs in the next section, it's obvious where the story needs to go. Thanks!

You need to get his published it sounds really good. I would definitely read it

Blood & Magic Drinking Game: Drink every time Gwen and/or Wesley break out of jail. Seriously though, nice tutorial! This is awesome, thank you! I'll plot more now in stead of writing immediately. :)

I Created the 3-9-27 structure as a basic Scrivener Template here: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10561661/Fiction/Scrivener/ScrivenerTemplate-Novel-3Acts-9Blocks-27Chapters.zip Unzip it, and in Scrivener under New Project, select the Options and import Template

Thank you so much for this video Kat! I've watched it countless times now for inspiration and guidelines to my own stories. I don't know where I'd been today (writer wise) If it wasn't for your Writers series here on KZfaq. Much appreciation from a little book lover in Norway.

I love your spirit and how you divined your own way to make it happen from the ground up.

"Wesley is magically tortured and almost killed." So he's mostly dead, but not quite dead. Very different from actually dead. ;)

How did I not see this video 4 years ago!?! Very useful video!!

CANT BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO READ THIS FOR 4 YEARS NOW

This is actually a really awesome story and it could be a commentary on the huge class divide in the real world and then the gladiator thing is like game shows and stuff where people basically sign up to embarrass themselves. Very cool.

Cool video. I got some great ideas for outlining... thanks! And your story sounds pretty good - good luck with it! Two suggestions: After you make all your folders (Acts, Blocks, and blank Chapters) but before you add anything story-specific, you should duplicate the whole thing and save it in Templates. That way you never have to type out "Introduction, Inciting Incident," etc, again. Also, you can have Scrivener search for all the Felicity's and change them to Leila's all at once.

I love seeing how people use Scrivener! Has the way you use it changed since this video went up? It would be really cool to see an updated video if you've learned more things to do with the program :)

"Gwesley.. Gwesley? Oh my god." Hahhaa I laughed

Thanks, I have been working with Scivener for only a few days. I don't find it an easy program to get my brain around but I do recognize its potential. Your KZfaq presentation helped a lot.

This was soooooo awesome. I watched the entire thing and I love how the plotting made so much sense.

You've just become my writing role model. This video is beautiful.

I have been attempting to plan my NaNoWriMo novel in a notebook and struggling to see how I could use all the odds and ends of information I had on pages and bits of paper. PostIt notes and those cute coloured tabs weren't much help. Then I found your vlog and thought I'd give Scrivener a go. I am hooked! I love the way you work and how enthusiastic you are about everything. I think I'll be coming back for encouragement in November :-)

All your videos are the MOST USEFUL content on writing I have found. Thank you Kat!

Oh my god! Gwesley adventure had me on the edge of my seat and it was just the outline.

I've had Scrivener since last year's November NaNo, but only now by watching your video have I felt inspired to use it :D Thank you for this!

Thank you for posting this! It's very helpful. You are so organized! I've done NNWM and CNNWM three times, but was nowhere near as organized as you are. I also have Scrivener and have written a middle grade book with it, but I like the way you used it to structure your outline better than what I did. I'm working on a YA novel that is going to be a bear to organize because there are a lot of characters and details in it. This video has given me some great ideas on how to organize it.

Katytastic thank you so much for this video! I have been watching your videos for years, but always for fun and to find book recommendations. I haven’t been writing for a while, and have forgotten so much of what I had read about outlining and planning a novel. This has given me so much confidence to jump into nanowrimo again this year. I love your writing videos! Thanks again, Sammy.

Thank you so much!! Watching someone else outlining was the only thing I needed for doing it myself, I didn't understand until I watch this video, so helpful.

Super helpful information, delivered clearly & concisely. I am ready to outline on scrivener today. Thank you Katytastic!!!

I got recommended this video while outlining. I have watched Kat for years, and while I didn't know how old the video was before i clicked on it, i could instantly tell by how different her voice was haha

I just wanted to thank you for posting this video. I've been struggling to grasp outlining and story structure and your video made it all make sense for the first time in one and half years. I don't have the words for how much thhis meant to me. I've referred to this and your other videos about the block structure several times since first viewing them. Thanks as well for showing me how to use Scrivener.Thanks so so much!!

OMG this is going to be an amazing story! Great job Kat!!!

I literally just purchased Scrivener and then I found this video! Awesome! Thank you so much for this video!

I Just downloaded Scrivener and wanted to say a big thank you. I think what you have done here is very informative and I do appreciate it. :)

As a newbie, I struggle with outlining and structure. I'm trialling Scrivener and your video has really helped me understand the possibilities and capabilities of it. Thanks so much, hope your book goes well.

This is an amazing example, Kat!

Let me tell you something: I was scared of writing, I had no ideas and didn't know if it was worthy, but I started watching your videos and you make it sound like something fun and worthy and I got calm and started having ideas again... I'm not scared anymore. Thanks!

This is epic! I totally felt invested in the story you created!

I love this outline plan! Thank you! Using it now!

What an amazing video, thank you. I've heard about Scrivener for years but never really knew how it worked. Really appreciate you uploading such a useful video -- I love all the videos on your channel, but just wanted give a special shout out to this one. Thanks again.

thank you for this! it was very helpful, and the plot sounds amazing!

Thanks for this outline! It's so useful for NaNo :) I got the special NaNo trial so I could use Scrivener and outlined my story like you did, but I added an Act between 2 and 3 which is the fake resolution. My Final Act is entitled "HA HA YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER" :P So pumped for NaNo this year ^_^

This was a very comprehensive share, and much appreciated. Thank you.

Beautiful. Thank you so much. I'm trying to create an outline for my first novel and this helped soooooooo much 😍

Love Scrivener, and I write more now that I reward myself with shiny stickers on my calender for every 1,000 words.

So excited that you're doing Camp NaNo as well. Your videos during last NaNoWriMo were like my highlights of the day :) I'm using Scrivener, too, and I just love this software and how you can have all your research and ideas in neatly labeled folders, which you can neatly arrange in the binder and it's just really neat :P

Thank you so much for your video. Its been a great help as I have entered NaNoWriMo for the first time this year. Awesome information.

I have yet to actually purchase Scrivener - yes, despite winning the 50% off coupon several times now through NaNoWriMo - but I have used the trial. I love it. Would I eventually like to get it? Yes, and I will. For now though, I do most of my writing between three different computers, only one of which I am allowed to put Scrivener on, so I can't... Yet... Maybe when I'm a famous enough author to work straight from home. ;)

Thank you so much for this! It's very helpful, particularly for someone like me who's never written a novel before. I'm excited for my first NanoWriMo now that I have an idea and an efficient way of outlining. You rock! :D

I just downloaded Scrivener trial! It's working pretty amazing so far!

Thank you so much for this video! :) It helped me a lot and I really like the 3 act - 9 block - 27 chapter method that you have and I used it myself (if you don't mind). This video convinced me to get Scrivener and I'm glad I got it because it helps make my notes coherent (plus it's 50% off for Nano winners, yay!). You're plot sounds awesome and I can't wait to hear more about it in your vlogs during Camp. Good luck to everyone participating in Nano. :)

That book actually looks really good! I really hope it gets published one day so I can read it!

Good thing you are doing April Camp NanoWrimo. You are really inspiring and I'll be taking part in it as well for the first time [kind of a last minute decision] and I am glad you will be too :)

Super helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!

Thank you! Very helpful and pedagogical tutorial.

I never knew this honestly!! This is very helpful. I think am ready to write a book.

Thanks for this. I had downloaded a trial version of scrivner, but didn't know how to use it. Your video was vey useful. Now I'm using scrivner every day and have bought the program.

I would love to see you write a writing book on the 27 chapter outline. Such a unique idea! It really fit the story together!

OMG KATTTTTTTTT THIS IS TOO GOOD OF A STORY FOR YOU TO NOT WRITEEEEE I ACTUALLY CANT BELIEVE HOW AMAZING IT ISSSS

this has really helped me with outlining my July Cam Nanowrimo novel! Thank You!

Gotta love Scrivener! Great vid :)

I watched it to the end. I feel fulfilled!

PLEASE let us know if/when you finish this. I'm sure we all would love to read it.

I love your desktop background! Currently trying out your outline method

This was so insanely helpful, thank you!

This was so worth the 49 minutes. So very helpful.

Thanks so much for this tutorial. I bought Scrivener last year but found it too confusing. This was a lot of help. Additionally I like the 3-9-27 outline format and have created it as a novel template in Scrivener.

I really want to read this now

Great and clean job!!! Thank you.

Thank you so much! This video actually helped me a lot.

I really want to read this!

Thank you so much for your effort! It's pretty helpful!

Nice work. Thought you'd enjoy knowing one of our radio show hosts, Barbara Karnes, mentioned this video in her 6/13/13 broadcast on our network @ about 10:39 into her 14+ min podcast. Barbara's show is called Cool Coincidence. We also listed the url to this video in our YT & BlogTalkRadio descriptions for Barbara's episode in hopes others would find it, and you. Continued success.

that was really helpful and nicely presented. thank you

Thanks for filming this Katy. This looks really interesting. =-)

I definitely need to watch this - I have bought Scrivener but haven't had the chance to test it out yet. Okay now to let it load then watch :)

This is a great story. The ending made me wish for a plot twist like a conspiracy by the merchants or the "new city" wizards, who now have all the magic. (Maybe the theme for a sequel. Plus, Leila can also do some jealous stuff or make things worse because of her internal conflicts.)

Incredibly helpful. Thank you

married in to the family she would go and live in the nice cushy castle and be closer to said hot brother. I like the direction you were taking where she is not just an evil character. There are so many motivations for people to do things, even if other people might see them as bad. You just have to figure out what she wants!

Amazing! Just... AMAZING! I feel like I should try to outline my story first because I never do and end up in writer's block. But i'm going to give it a try. At first when I saw your 3 Act, 9 blocks, 27 chapters I thought it was too much. But after seeing this? It looks so much more organize and simple. I like it! Thank you. And does all your story end with 27 chapters? Or is that just how much you like to tell your story? But anyways, GOOD JOB! I enjoyed this long video. And learned so much! :D

Insanely useful. Thanks!

Your story idea is so cool, watching this just amped up my excitement for Camp NaNo 100%! I know it's ridiculous to be asking questions about a world in a book that hasn't even been written yet, but can they use magic to enchant the Gladiator weapons? Sorry, just curious :) I just finished outlining my story. It's not nearly as detailed as this, but hopefully this time around my story will actually turn out well.

Thanks for the comment. I am currently doing the 30 day trial.

The trial is really a full version, I think. If you do NaNo and win, you'll get a 50% off coupon for it. So I recommend you get the trial (and if you go to the NaNo forums, I think you can get a special trial version that will be good until 12/15) and then if you win NaNo, use the coupon to buy it. If you use the trial but decide not to purchase, you just export your document into whatever format you want and that's that. The trial merely locks out the Scrivener version of it when it expires.

Thank You so much! I am starting to write my first novel and I had no idea where to start!

Yeah. I just bought this program because of your video. :)

In other countries where arranged marriages are more common and still happen to this day, some of the possible brides or husbands might feel security in an arranged marriage. Knowing that they are helping their family financially, having a solid partner for life that will take care of you and your family, and the potential for the bond of friendship and closeness that could come close to a sort of love, if not passionate or romantic. Maybe Leila feels that even if her marriage and feelings

Brilliant lesson. I know this may sound stupid, but what is a block and what is an act? Can someone please explain to me?

You've convinced me so I started this past weekend using the free trial. I decided to divide 4 folders for each book outline. I made a folder for the world information and added pages for each part of history and backstory I wanted to include. Also, I have added character sketches to the characters list as well as some settings sketches to the settings section. Is there a way to compile all that (without the books folders outline) together and print them? Or is my best bet to copy it into a word document and print? Still seems very organized and useful. For each book outline I plan to use the Act structure and blocks as you do as it seems like the most helpful way to keep track of the story. I'll even use the titles as you do for now, instead of writing the chapter title or chapter one. So I can know what type of action has to happen and build on the story structure. You've helped me out a lot! I will also be writing out a chart of the basic outline of the story once it's all typed up because it's always fun to have it on hand in a fun easy mode and not wasting so much printer ink. I'm still a writer by hand. All my research has been noted on scraps of paper and filled in notebooks but I do email myself sometimes and plan to fill the research section with my email info.

I love the way Katytastic broke this down into three acts, three blocks and three chapters. Is there anything out there similar to this but for non-fiction???

Great help - thank you! Helped me greatly. Cheers!

An idea for the Climax chapter: Maybe someone that is respect by both magical and non-magical saw how much Gwen & Wesley work to save everyone helps to calm the riot (siding a bit with Gwen & Wesley) and give them time to explain and gather everyone to reach the Resolution chapter.

Thank you. This is magical

where is katy's book? I NEED TO KNOW :(

So helpful! Thank you!

This would be a great informational/example video for a creative writing class

I started my outline, and when I go to the next folder, some of the cards overlap in my pin up board. Cards from the last folder end up in my new pinup board. I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say lol. I'm a new writer working with Scrivener lol. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

Thanks Kat - much appreciated