Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out

by Jennie Nash

How to write novel in the most efficient way by tackling the hardest part before you start to write, from top book coach Jennie Nash


Whether you’re writing your first novel or your tenth, there is a temptation to pin it to the page before it disappears. It’s such a brilliant idea and you can see the whole thing shimmering in your mind, just out of reach. Maybe you do some work on character development and plotting, but you’re a racehorse at the gate, ready to run, ready to write.

This book is an argument to stop and define the foundational elements of your story before you keep writing – which means understanding your motivation as a writer, considering your reader’s expectations, and making sure your story has a solid structure that will hold up inside and out from beginning to end. This clarity is what gives a novel its power and a writer their confidence.

Jennie Nash is the creator of the Book Coach Certification program at Author Accelerator and has taught hundreds of book coaches and thousands of novelists how to use the Blueprint for a Booksystem—and the Inside Outline at the heart of it — to help them produce their best work in the most efficient way.

“This process makes me want to write, and it makes what I’m writing better. I read it before every draft. It’s that good.” —KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters

“Jennie Nash turned me into a plotter and changed the way I think about approaching any new project. I’m an Inside Outside outline fan for life!” —Alison Hammer, author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me

“If you are about to start writing or revising your novel – hold up! You need this book before putting fingers to keyboard. It’s a step-by-step design-your-novel manual that encapsulates the most important aspect of great story-telling: how to reach deep into your writerly heart and into the heart of the story you want to bring to life.” — Janet Fox, author of The Artifact Hunters

“I will sing the praises of the Inside Outline forever. It’s f*ing genius.” —Carla Naumburg, author of How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids

“The Inside Outline is making writing easier. I can focus more on the writing rather than discovering what the scene is about when I’m creating it. Why isn’t every writer using it? Instead, people are plonking down good money to be told ten key steps in writing dialogue or setting a scene. I’m so grateful I’m no longer one of them.” — Kate Kimball, first-time novelist

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Research, Creative, Reference

89 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2021

About the author

Jennie Nash is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company that trains book coaches to help writers bring their books to life. For twelve years, writers serious about reaching readers have trusted Jennie to coach their projects from inspiration to publication. Her clients have landed top New York agents, national book awards, and deals with houses such as Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette. Jennie is the author of 9 books in 3 genres. She taught for 13 years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, is an instructor at CreativeLive.com and speaks on podcasts and at writing conferences all over the country. Learn more about being coached or becoming a coach at bookcoaches.com or authoraccelerator.com

Reviews

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Jennie Nash. I found her on Creative Live years ago doing a course on how to write your book, a lot of which has made it into this title, and I have followed her ever since.

If you read a lot of craft books, they are often all about the plot. You have to have this many scenes, and the turning point MUST come at page 50 or whatever it is and so on. And it all feels so contrived.

I have tried to 'fix' manuscripts that were not working for me by shoving them into just such a plot table, and all I managed to do was hate my own work. Whatever spark made me want to tell that story is so subsumed by the plot table I can't see it anymore.

Or as Jennie puts it:

Many writing methods ask the writer to make a giant story grid that plots out every one of these action/ reaction/decision moments. I am not a fan of giant story grids, because they tend to completely miss the point. I mean, literally. They tend to lead the writer to thinking only about plot—war and aliens and bad guys—and not about what any of it means to the protagonist. (p. 45).

Right. Titles like this read like action movies with no heart. You might be entertained for a moment but when someone asks you what the story was about, all you can provide is a 'then this happened and then this' summary, like a small child trying to tell you something.

[side thought: is this why the Fast Furious movies actually work? Everyone knows the theme is family, right? it's meme-able it is so clear]

Jennie wants you to add a line and it is 'and because of that...'

And that is where the heart of your story lives.

4 stars

Just an extra thought - and I totally admit this is probably just me. She gives examples of the Inside Outline from coaching clients of hers.

The last one, very detailed, is for a WWII story The American Cellist that the author sold to the first trad publisher they approached. I am dead sick of titles that make ACTUAL Nazis romantic interests or heroes. Dear god, just NO.

And in this story the main character has romantic affairs with Nazis, one of whom is her own brother in law [girl, no], and then she fucks Goebbels. ***Blinks*** I mean I walked around the house for days just randomly shouting SHE FUCKED GOEBBELS much to the horror of my adult children.

And this leaves a taste in my mouth so bad, it actually affects my opinion of this title.

Jennie is big on 'what is your why' and I can say definitively that my why is NEVER to write a Nazi story or have anything to do with one. So I guess that is something. Shrugs.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid book on writing, now that I have read the kindle version I want to purchase the paperback version so that I can highlight and go back to it again and again!

[Margie Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pre-ordered it and snarfed it down. Keep on hand when you are losing courage as a writer.

[Lisa Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a weekend workshop from Jennie almost a decade ago through UCLA Extension -- she's accomplished, warm and inspiring. She's packaged all of that in book form, including great info about different types of narration, the importance of nailing down the book’s timeframe, and shorter/more intuitive outlining (her technique for this is terrific). I received an advance copy of this, and I would highly recommend it to writers of all levels. It will up your game!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little writing craft book is light, only 123 pages, and super easy to read. Unlike a lot of other craft books by writing gurus who spend a lot of time and pages trying to convince you to outline your story (Larry Brooks, especially, Jessica Brody, Shawn Coyne and most of the others do it, too), this one skips a lot of that and cuts right to what you, an author with a story idea and possibly starting on an outline, need to do. I liked that, a lot. It felt like it gelled well with my writing style, but then I've done a ton of reading other craft books, and I didn't need to be convinced. My critique partners know, I'm an outliner. It also offers a concrete strategy (as opposed to amorphous suggestions) for getting there -- the Inside Outline. And THAT I really liked, but you know I'm a planner / plotter, so take that for what it's worth.

However, I picked this one up for revision, not drafting, and so my eye was drawn not to the exercises it asks writers to do to develop their stories in the beginning, although they're great, too. What does your character want, what's her emotional journey, write the query blurb, the logline, etc. A workbook is available for free if you're interested.

But I'd done all those exercises, and I have a darn good idea of what I want to accomplish with my MS. The problem is, it's in my head and not on my pages.

With my writing it's a matter of execution. Prior to this I was just not… accomplishing on the page what I wanted my story to do. I'm on version 6 (six) of my MS, which I know still has issues because beta readers weren't responding to the story the way I wanted. I don't want to make anyone sob over my book, that's not my writing goal on this one. A fun romp with a light heart-string pull is what I want to achieve. My beta readers and CPs had some great suggestions for tightening what was on the page, and I employed most of their suggestions for another version, but even after that rewrite, I knew in my gut, there was something still missing.

I will say, the traditional "show don't tell" advice that litters most writing craft books was definitely getting in the way of my figuring out what I needed to do with my MS. The Blueprint doesn't engage in any of that. In fact, the emphasis in the Blueprint is on making sure your character's emotional struggles, during and as a result of the external plot struggles, feed into their emotional journeys, every step of the way.

If you're interested in reading more, I'll be periodically posting my progress with the Inside Outline on my blog, amb.mystrikingly.com

[Diana Renn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I know Jennie Nash and had the pleasure of working with her and learning from her at Author Accelerator. I've trained coaching students to use her Blueprint method with clients, I've helped to explain it to writers, I've seen book coaches use this framework with writers, and I've used it for my own writing. Having seen the Blueprint in action in these various contexts, I fully believe in its power to lay a strong foundation for a novel and save writers a lot of heartache and indecision down the road. This book distills Jennie's Blueprint workbook steps (which are reflective, targeted, and fun to do!) as well as her philosophy about writing, in a highly accessible way. She is so generous with her advice and her insights. If you're someone who wrestles with decision-making, this is definitely the book for you; it will break the process of planning a novel down into manageable steps and force you to articulate everything from your point to your ideal reader to your book jacket copy, so that you can envision where you are going. The process allows for iterations and some flexibility; it's structured without being rigid, so it's especially helpful for the types of writers who are hesitant to plan. Jennie's personality and voice sparkle on every page, making for a highly engaging read (in fact, I suggest reading it cover to cover first, without writing, and THEN going back to do the exercises). But this book is not about her - it's about you, and your story, and your choices as a writer. Reading and working through BLUEPRINT FOR A BOOK is an empowering experience for novelists of all skill levels and at all stages of the process.

[Michelle Cox]

“Writing a novel is a complex intellectual and creative undertaking. It’s hard. When the going gets tough, return to your why. . . . This knowledge is what propels a novel, but it is also what propels a writer.”

This quote is one of my favorites from the book, but take note: This isn’t a book full of lofty writing motivation or ideas without instructions on how to apply them. This book is actionable, full of step-by-step exercises that, when complete, will result in a solid blueprint for your book. On top of that, it’s full of examples and writerly wisdom from one of the wisest individuals in the publishing industry. Jennie Nash has decades of experience helping writers turn their books into stories that readers want to read. And she created this Blueprint for a Book process so that other writers and book coaches can apply her simple-to-use tool to improve their work. I’ve used the method in my book coaching business from the start and I’m grateful for it every single time it helps one of my clients start, revise or rescue a book that might otherwise have gone off the rails or gathered dust in a drawer.

[Lori Puma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes excellent arguments about what novelists need to do prior to writing scenes. These are consistent with what other book coaches and editors recommend. What is unique about Nash’s system is the outlining

In the Inside/Outside outline you not only write a short description of the major scenes or plot points, you also state what the point is of the scene or plot point. The goal in stating the point is to emphasize the cause and effect nature of well-crafted scenes. To try to stop writers going on and on about events that will bore readers, but that make the writer think the story is advancing.

I agree that that is a common place for novelists to get stuck. However, I wish that there was more information about what counts as “the point” for a scene because this is an incredibly difficult idea to help writers wrap their heads around.

There’s a case study that shows an Inside/Outside outline that has some flaws and this would be a five star book for me if it had included some more commentary pointing out what could have changed to make it stronger.

[Stephanie Bourbon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I am a pantser and recently I've changed my wicked ways. I used to just pants my way through a novel and then use revision tools to revise and fix it. Luckily I worked in the film industry for a long time and have been a reader for the studios as well as a writing/story coach for the last 13 years so I know story, BUT this book has changed the way I approach my novels.
The reason?
Well, it's simple.
The way Jennie teaches this technique of outlining and getting to know your big WHY before you do the writing makes it so the book is much stronger than if you just know your plot points and toss down a story.
I am going to use this method with every novel I use and I'm adding it to my list of books that I recommend for all my coaching clients.
It's a must for all novelists and aspiring novelists out there!

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about using a different approach to writing. It suggests that writers should take some time upfront before writing to answer some fundamental questions. This solution may make your writing more manageable and more efficient. This blueprint has 14 steps that take writers through a list of fundamental questions to unlock answers. It helps writers make sure that their beginning is solid also they can write forward from a great space.

Too often, writing is about leaping into the craft of writing a scene, developing a character or a plot, and creating dialogue. This book changes up that process. I liked the fresh approach. This book is such a valuable resource in helping writers become authors and achieve their dream.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jen...

[Kathleen Basi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I've tried writing using the Blueprint for a Book, though I've been hearing about it for years. I'm still early in the process, but I found that this process incorporated some of the work I've done in other methods but in a more streamlined, less cumbersome fashion, which was what I was looking for. I can see how one could get stuck on the Inside Outline, trying to perfect and perfect and never actually getting started writing the book, but that is a writer's flaw, not a book's. I used this to figure out a book when I had nothing but a three-line high concept. Now I have a complex world populated with people who have opinions about each other. I have moved on to figuring out how to flesh out the big structural scenes with all the smaller ones around it. I'm very happy with this format so far.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennie Nash led a brilliant writing workshop I’d taken early in my writing career. Her points still resonate.

I agree with her suggestion in ‘Blueprint for a Book' to start by identifying the point we’re trying to make. This is similar to the advice I give when speaking about personal brand at writers’ conferences: start with your 'why.'

The heart of her blueprint method is the inside outline, which recommends laying out your plot into a simple and sound "what happens" and "because of that" framework. These are great pointers, actionable for any writer, and proven through Jennie’s many clients.

All writers will find value in this book!

Jennie Nash

[Bryan Conlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am finding this book very helpful. I'd reached an impasse with my first novel to the extent that I was dreading sitting down at the laptop every day.
The 13 step blueprint within this book has helped very much even if one or two of the steps don't make complete sense yet e.g. Step 12 - 'Because of that' Story Summary.

I am certain there are many processes that can be followed when faced with a large book project, and if this is to be my process, then so be it, it's 100% better than the crazy paving route I was already on!

The chapters are short and to the point - no faffing - just how I like it. I'll be referencing this book a lot during the gestation of my own.

[Jade Eliasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My lovely book coach went through Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator program and shared this title with me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a super quick read but is filled with helpful exercises. I only wish it were longer and had even more examples in it! The Stoplight Method is also something my book coach taught me about, and I found them a genius way of providing feedback on a manuscript. You'll learn about the Stoplight Method in this book, among other things! I would definitely recommend this book to writers looking to either plan out their novels or revise their work.

[Lia K Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Jennie Nash and her knowledge of story since signing up for her Author Accelerator program back in 2017. The program has shifted from focusing on writers to focusing more on book coaches, but Jennie’s stellar insight on how to write a book remains available in this book. At 130 pages, Blueprint for a Book clearly and concisely guides you through a set of deep dive questions that will help you design and plan the foundation of your own book. This book is a valuable resource that I will return to again and again.

[Dawn Kravagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each author I’ve read regarding the writing craft has a unique perspective. Jennie Nash method focuses on two main points: “Why do you want to write this story about these characters?”, as motivation to complete the novel, and creating a cause-and-effect storyline that keeps the story propelling forward with character motivations and goals.

It’s not a long book, so I recommend adding it to your library of craft books, regardless of which outline method you prefer. Just thinking about “why” made this book helpful to me.

[Jade Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I eventually read a different book on plotting my novel, I combined my efforts around that book with the straightforward advice I learned from this book. The Blueprint is a great place to start when you really need to get writing, but you need just a little help figuring out what your structure is going to look like. I also appreciate how concise and direct the information is. I'd slogged through so many vague books of this nature and found this one was remarkably useful. You also can't argue with the stellar price. This book is affordable!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. In fact, this is the second time I've read it (apology for not reviewing this then). This Blueprint makes sense, and it works. If you're struggling with a story, then this Blueprint may be your saving grace. I mentioned that this was the second time I read it. I'm so impressed with this Blueprint that I am now training to be a book coach with Jennie Nash. The book is quick to read but packed with fantastic information and great advice. It should be part of your writing craft books collection.

[poier · Rating 5 out of 5]

a simple, extensive, repeatable template. incredibly easy to use and modify. really enjoy how flexible it is.

the book feels slightly barebones, but Nash lays everything out clearly, without fluff. it is similar to Story Genius in its broad aims, but the prework is much more commercially focused.

Nash emphasizes that this is a modular system--it CAN be used as the outline for entire book, but also encourages writers to retrofit it into their existing processes, rather than replacing them entirely. it slots neatly in with the Story Genius method, filling in and shoring up the weaknesses of the system when it comes to macro-level plotting.

[H. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely phenomenal. I gobbled it up in a three hours, and I truly believe it has already helped me become a better storyteller. Blueprint for a Book helps writers easily weave together plot and story, generating the necessary cause-and-effect trajectory that gives a book narrative drive. This method is simple and intuitive for both plotters and pantsers, and it can easily be used to augment any other writing method. Thanks, Jennie! I will read this book again and again! :-)

[LaToya Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I’m an Author Accelerator student (nonfiction track) and have come to view Jennie as a mentor, and friend (in my head). I finished the book today and I really enjoyed it. This is one that will stay close by for repeated use.

What I love is that Jennie is taking the reader, and/or writer, step-by-step through what she teachers her students and coaches her writers. The reader is getting a high quality education for the cost of a book. Jennie clearly states the challenges of writing a novel but with at solid plan, the writer can succeed. That’s where the Inside Outline come in. It will serve the writer as they strive to craft a story that will be loved by many.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slender volume comprised of a useful approach to outlining, but especially to revising, your novel. I used Nash's "Inside Outline" technique for writing a synopsis and found it helpful, lending more drive ("because of that...") to an otherwise dry plot summary. I'll try using her approach for revising my current novel. I would have liked less pages devoted to cut-and-paste examples (with no commentary on what was working and what wasn't), and more pages on craft.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct complement to Story Genius because it's written by the book coach and author (Jen Nash) whose work is used as an example in Story Genius. These are helping me see the value in book coaches for developmental editing and also introducing me to their methodology and plot philosophy. Really helpful when you get stuck in spots in revision and know it needs help but you don't know the why, what, and how of it.

[Taylor Martin-Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennie Nash mercilessly pushes you, and the beginnings of your novel, exactly where you need to go in this delightful book. It is such a beneficial tool to get a good groundwork for your novel started. If I had to simplify it, I would say it cuts away the fat and leaves you with the meat. Even if you think you have a good system on where to start with your book, I deeply urge you to give this a read.

[Ophelia Aldous · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably would've given 3-4 stars if not for the fact that I almost DNF'ed before getting to the second half.

I spent the first half of the book desperately trying to figure out why everyone rated this book so highly, but it turns out it's like one of those cooking blogs that post 1000+ words of boring preamble before the actual start of the recipe.

I might be alone on this, but I really felt like my time was somewhat wasted, despite overally finding the book helpful.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took an Author Accelerator revision workshop a few years ago led by Jennie Nash and have used that blueprint for book prep ever since. This book goes through all the steps of the blueprint explaining how each step leads to a deeper understanding of your novel and main character before writing a single word. A quick, easy to follow craft book for writers at any stage.

[Maxie Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this if you have any dream of writing a novel. Read this if you’ve had a few false starts on novels and can’t seem to figure out why. Read this if you feel too overwhelmed to even begin. Jennie’s instruction is as helpful as it is inspiring. You’ll feel supported, clear, and creative by following the decades-won wisdom in Blueprint. I can’t recommend it enough.

[Callie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has changed my life! I have a degree in Creative Writing and spent years writing things u eventually throw away. This book has charged that as I now have a road map to outlining a novel and ensuring that it is malleable and able to guide me through the entire process. Thank you Jennie Nash!

[Kimberly J Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff in this book. The Blueprint walks the author through every part of book development. It's way more than just outlining the plot of the story. I can't wait to share it with the aspiring authors in my life.