Build a complete book outline step by step: pick nonfiction or fiction, nail your premise, structure your parts and chapters, write per-chapter beats, and finish with a printable outline document, word-count targets, and a chapter checklist. Everything saves automatically as you go.
Step 1 — What kind of book is it?
Nonfiction
Teach, explain, or argue. Chapters carry an idea: point → story → takeaway.
Fiction
Tell a story. Chapters move the plot: goal → obstacle → turn.
Step 2 — Premise & reader promise
Step 3 — Parts & chapters
Add parts (major sections), then add chapters and assign each to a part. A typical book has 2–4 parts and 8–16 chapters — but build what your book needs.
Parts
Chapters
Step 4 — Chapter beats
Step 5 — Your outline document
Chapter checklist
Reorder chapters
Use the arrows to move chapters within the outline. Parts group chapters; deleting a part keeps its chapters (they become unassigned).
Outline preview
Go Deeper with the Book
The Book Outline Builder is just the start. Freelance Writing Made Simple by Kimani Upshur, M.Ed. takes you deeper into the writing craft — turning ideas into finished, publishable work.