How I Outline to Maximize Character Development (Without Losing the Plot)
by S.K. Allen
Hey, writers—
One of the biggest mistakes I see writers make (and that I’ve made plenty of times myself) is treating characters like passengers in a plot car. The story is already mapped, the destination fixed and the characters just get dragged along for the ride.
That’s how you end up with characters who feel flat or reactive, even if your plot is doing gymnastics.
So today, I’m breaking down how I outline specifically to grow characters how I center their arcs in the structure so every scene earns its emotional weight.
Step 1: Start With the Lie They Believe
Before I even think about what’s going to happen in the story, I ask:
What lie does my protagonist believe about themselves, other people, or the world?
This “lie” becomes the fuel for their emotional journey. It’s the internal conflict that should evolve with them step by painful step throughout the plot.
Examples:
She believes love is a weakness.
He thinks he can’t lead because he’s broken.
They think their power makes them unlovable.
Every scene that follows? It’s either challenging that lie or reinforcing it, until the character has no choice but to confront the truth.
🔥 Step 2: Plot From the Inside Out
Yes, Like I said in a previous article, I use traditional story beats, like the inciting incident, midpoint, climax, etc. but I twist them:
Each major plot point must be tied to a shift in the character’s internal state.
If something big happens, and it doesn’t change my character; break them, push them, teach them; then it’s a placeholder, not a turning point.
That means my outline reads more like:
Inciting Incident: The moment the character’s worldview gets challenged.
Midpoint: The moment they try to change... and fail.
Climax: The moment they make a new choice based on who they’ve become.
The plot doesn’t just move… they do.
Step 3: Track the Emotional Beats
Here’s where I get tactical. I create an Emotional Beats Checklist that I layer into my outline. It looks something like:
Are they making decisions or reacting?
What’s their emotional state at the beginning vs. end of the scene?
Did they lie, hide, reveal something?
What’s the subtext beneath their dialogue?
What belief is being challenged here?
This helps me make sure I’m not just writing scenes where stuff happens. I’m writing scenes where emotional truth gets revealed, buried, or reshaped.
Final Thoughts
Your plot is the arena, but your character is the fight.
Don’t just write what happens. Write how it changes them.
That’s what your readers come back for.
Not the twist, not the magic system, not even the spice… (though we love that too)
They want to feel.
They want to see someone transform and maybe recognize themselves in the process.
So the next time you sit down to outline, ask:
Am I building a journey, or just drawing a map?
If you want the exact Story Blueprint Template and Emotional Beats Checklist I use to build characters-first fiction, it’s coming soon as a bonus bundle for paid subscribers!
Until then…
Keep writing like it matters,
Because it does.
~S.K.