Writer’s Shop Talk: Outline THIS!

Writer’s Shop Talk: Outlining the Novel’s Narrative

Briefly outline your narrative arc. What are the beginning, middle, and end of your story? What are the key romantic beats that advance the story from one section to the next?

Reunion: Coda is more than just a “romance” novel; in my eyes, at least, it’s a mix of coming-of-age story with a standard novel spiced up with romantic elements. In that light, here’s my attempt to create a brief outline.

Beginning: Jim’s High School Years:

The prologue restates Jim’s topsy-turvy emotional state at the end of Reunion: A Story: High school is over, commencement is two days in his future, and Jim is grappling with his regrets about not telling Marty, the girl he loves, how he feels.

Beginning: Jim’s College Professor Days:

In the first chapter, Jim seems to be in a better place emotionally two years after his divorce and his fateful trip to Miami. Still single but coming off the successful publication of his latest book, he is trying to enjoy life and have new experiences, including going to new nightclubs to hear music and maybe meet someone new. Which, of course, he does at the Moonglow nightclub when the beautiful (but somewhat mysterious) Maddie asks if she can sit at his table to rest for a while. Romantic Beat: The First Meeting and Dance

Beginning: Jim’s High School Years:

In the first true flashback, Jim is in 10^th grade (this is at a time when most Florida high school students started “senior high school” as sophomores) and joins the school’s men’s choral group on the first day back to school after the winter holiday break. Romantic Beat: Jim Meets Marty

Middle: Jim’s College Professor Days:

Several weeks into his relationship with Maddie, Jim deals with a revelation about a past love and a temporary separation from his new love when Maddie, a classically trained pianist with the New York Philharmonic, must go with the orchestra to London to record a new album at Abbey Road Studio. Romantic Beat: No “Dark Moment” trope as in a typical romance novel, but the two lovers are separated by nearly 3,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean.

Middle: Jim’s High School Years:

In this section, which covers some of Jim’s experiences as a junior and senior, our protagonist finds that he’s deeply in love with the beautiful Marty, but his fears about being rejected and memories of the sad end of a previous relationship prevent him from acting on his feelings. Nevertheless, Jim and Marty get along well as singers in mixed chorus. Romantic Beat: If Jim’s emotional conflict is considered a “Dark Moment,”  this is it, but he does try to get close to Marty by suggesting they sing a duet together in the last set of chorus assemblies (aka “The Spring Concert”).

End: Jim’s High School Years:

During the second half of their senior year, Jim and Marty practice together for their duet, but are stunned when their chorus teacher leaves South Miami a month and a half before the Spring Concert. A substitute teacher takes over the chorus classes, but the Spring Concert is canceled shortly afterward. Jim still has a chance to tell Marty how he feels about her, but doesn’t….though he almost does. Romantic Beat: Not a traditional “Happily Ever After (HEA)” ending, but there are some kisses exchanged.

End: Jim’s College Professor Days:

Jim and Maddie reunite after her working trip to London and eventually consummate their relationship. Jim experiences some problems with a difficult-to-reach and contrarian student in his Columbia University history class, and, by the end of the novel, he finds love in Maddie’s arms and is at peace with his youthful past. Romantic Beat: Jim and Maddie’s reunion at JFK International Airport leads to an intimate weekend together…and…?