Struggling to organise your story into something that actually makes sense? We’ve been there. For many writers, morphing a burst of inspiration into a fully fleshed story can be daunting, particularly without a clear framework. That’s where the Snowflake Method comes in. Created by Randy Ingermanson, the Snowflake Method is an outlining technique designed to help you build a novel from the ground up, beginning with just one sentence and blossoming into scenes, characters, and subplots. It’s structured enough to keep you focused, but flexible enough to allow for creativity. Join us at What We Writing as we explore how to outline a novel with the Snowflake Method, complete with practical examples and great tips to get you going. Whether you’re a first-time novelist or looking to bring more structure to your writing process, the Snowflake Method may just be the tool you’ve been looking for!
What Is The Snowflake Method?
The Snowflake Method is credited with being the brainchild of author and physicist Randy Ingermanson and is a technique for outlining a story from scratch by starting out with a basic summary and adding elements as you go.
The Snowflake Method works well for both:
- Plotters (who love planning everything ahead of time), and
- Plantsers (who like to wing things, but require some structure to stay focused).
By breaking your novel into manageable pieces, the Snowflake Method helps to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by a blank outline, hone your story’s structure, and keep you moving forward, even when you’re not 100% on what comes next.
Check Out All The Differences Between Plotters vs. Pantsers vs. Plantsers
Pros Of Using The Snowflake Method
As mentioned above, one of the biggest pros of the Snowflake Method is that it offers a balance between the formality of traditional outlines and the unplanned, more impulsive sides of creative freewriting. This makes the Snowflake Method an ideal method for almost every type of writer, regardless of their preferred genre or experience.
In all, this writing technique is perfect for:
- First-time writers who need a clear, guided outline
- Planners (aka “plotters”) who love working methodically
- Writers with complicated or multi-POV stories that require layers of development
- Busy creatives aiming to cut their novel down into more manageable chunks
How To Use The Snowflake Method
To start using the Snowflake Method, think of a story idea and describe it with a one-sentence summary. As an example, the sentence may be something like: “Three young adults find a mysterious artefact buried deep within the woods that a group of criminals have been hunting for.”
The Snowflake Method then requires you to build that sentence into a paragraph, using that paragraph to craft different character descriptions. From there, you use those descriptions to create a number of storylines that centre around those characters.
Exactly like how a snowflake expands from a single water droplet, this process of outlining a novel continues to grow outward until you have a fully developed novel.
10 Steps Of The Snowflake Method
1. Write a One-Sentence Summary of Your Story
This one sentence will provide the groundwork for your whole novel’s outline.
Example: A cynical investigative journalist has to look after his distant teenage son, whilst investigating a murder in a small village.
2. Expand This Sentence into a One-Paragraph Summary
Use that sentence to write a one-paragraph summary that explains the main story. It should introduce central characters and break their narratives into a structure with a defined beginning, middle, and end. If you want your story with a three-act structure, think about the primary exposition, the inciting action, and development, and the climax. Remember that a story can have multiple plot points. No matter how many you land on, each of these plot points will be spokes that link out from your central premise.
Check Out Our Guide On How To Write The Three-Act Structure
3. Create One-Page Summaries for Your Characters
For every major character, write up a short summary that includes:
- Name and role within the plot
- Motivations (what they want)
- Conflict (what’s stopping them from getting their motivation?)
- Growth (how they change)
Tip: Your characters should want something deeply, and it should be the driving force behind their journey.
4. Expand Your Paragraph Into a Full Page Summary
Next, take your one-paragraph summary you’ve written in step 2, and flesh it out into five paragraphs that reflect a five-act structure:
- Setup
- First turning point
- Midpoint complication
- Second turning point
- Climax and resolution
Tip: Keep this part flexible. The goal isn’t to lock yourself down; it’s about finding the shape of your story.
5. Write Detailed Character Charts
Take the time to go add more details to your main characters, think about their:
- Backstory
- Internal conflict
- External conflict
- Arc (how they grow emotionally)
- The role they play in crucial scenes
Check Out Our Guide To Internal Vs External Conflict
Common Mistake: Don’t treat your characters like plot tools. Give them motivations, even if they only flash up every now and then.
Check Out These Free Writing Tools
6. Expand Your One-Page Plot Summary into a Scene List
Now’s the time to chisel your story down into dozens of scenes, each one of them progressing the story.
Tip: You don’t need to worry about dialogue yet. Just describe what happens:
- What’s the central conflict?
- Who appears in the scene?
- What happens and changes at the end?
7. Develop Full Timelines For Your Characters
Keep track of where all of your characters are, both emotionally and physically, throughout the plot. This ensures that you’re consistent with your characters and helps you to weave subplots alongside the main narrative.
Tool: Use a spreadsheet or visual timeline to chart interactions and turning points.
8. Write a Multi-Page Story Description
This is your story treatment, a multi-page version of the plot that reads much like a narrative summary or synopsis. You’re writing this for yourself (and perhaps even a literary agent), not your readers.
Check Out Our Guide On How To Write A Novel Synopsis
Tip: Aim for 4-6 pages in all. Allow the voice and mood of the story to shine through, but remain in summary mode.
9. Make a Scene Spreadsheet or Index Card System
Place every scene into a tool such as Excel, Notion, Scrivener, or even some more traditional ones like paper index cards. Make sure to include:
- Scene number
- POV character
- Word count (estimate)
- Purpose of the scene (tension? revelation? emotional beat?)
This will serve as your story blueprint. Easy to rearrange, delete, or revise.
10. Begin Writing Your First Draft
With your story outline fleshed out, you’re all set to start writing with clarity and confidence. Because you’ve done all the prep legwork, you can focus on scenes, voice, and emotion, without the added stress of needing to know what happens next.
It isn’t essential to finish all of these steps; in fact, most writers don’t! Use the Snowflake Method as an adaptable novel planning technique, and tailor it to your style. Don’t be afraid to veer off course if something doesn’t feel right or you have a new idea: your Snowflake is an outline, not a cage.
Check Out If You Need An Outline For A Novel
Snowflake Method vs. Other Techniques
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to outlining a book. The Snowflake Method is just one of many different strategies authors use to structure their stories. Here’s a quick breakdown of how it compares to some of the other most popular outlining techniques, and how you can decide which one best suits your style.
Snowflake Method
Approach: Bottom-up development
Structure: Grows from one sentence to a full manuscript in steps
Ideal for: Writers who prefer methodical progression, detailed planning, or who are grappling with larger, more complex stories
Strength: Combines creativity and structure, whilst allowing room for flexibility
Still the go-to writing approach for anyone looking to build naturally from a spark of creativity.
The Hero’s Journey
Approach: Archetypal structure based on myth
Structure: 12 stages (e.g. Call for Adventure, The Ordeal, Return with the Elixir)
Ideal for: Adventure, science-fiction, fantasy, or any stories featuring character transformation
Strength: Provides stakes and emotional depth through universal beats
Take advantage of this approach if your tale is about a character’s transformation through a symbolic journey.
Check Out Our Guide To Writing A Hero’s Journey
Three-Act Structure
Approach: Classic narrative arc
Structure: Act 1 (setup), Act 2 (confrontation), Act 3 (resolution)
Ideal for: All genres, especially screenplays and fast-paced fiction like thrillers
Strength: Simple blueprint for rising action and payoff
The best outline if you need a broad overview and like visualising your narrative in defined acts.
Save the Cat
Approach: Beat sheet with specific moments
Structure: 15 beats (e.g. Opening Image, Debate, Midpoint, All is Lost)
Ideal for: Authors who want a firm, scene-by-scene plan
Strength: Offers a “plug-and-play” outline that many writers find both accessible and fast
Go for this approach if you’re looking to build your novel like a screenplay and keep the momentum high.
When to Use Each Method
| Writing Style | Best Fit |
| You love planning in detail | Snowflake Method |
| Your story is mythic or transformational | Hero’s Journey |
| You want a broad, flexible outline | Three-Act Structure |
| You need clear beats and pacing help | Save the Cat |
| You’re not sure where to begin | Three-Act Structure or Snowflake Method |
Each of these story outlining methods has its clear pros and cons. Some writers are even comfortable blending two or more methods together by combining elements; they may start out with the Snowflake Method and then layer in Save the Cat scenes later, for example.
Ultimately, pick the method that stands the best chance of helping you get your story on the page. The right outline is always the one that keeps you inspired and writing!
Check Out Our Guide On How To Outline A Novel
James has been passionate about storytelling ever since he could hold a pen. Inspired by the epic fantasy and historical dramas he devoured in his youth, his work now centers on dark, psychological tales featuring intense, introspective characters and atmospheric, gothic undertones. In 2025, he founded What We Writing to share his creative journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way with fellow writers and passionate storytellers.
