---
name: book-outline
description: "Outlines non-fiction books with chapter structure, key arguments, supporting evidence, and word count targets per chapter. Use when a user wants to write a non-fiction book, needs to organize their expertise into a publishable structure, or is pitching a book proposal to publishers or agents."
---

# Book Outline Builder

## When to Use This Skill

- Planning a non-fiction book and don't know where to start
- Have lots of ideas but need structure and sequencing
- Preparing a book proposal for a publisher or agent
- Self-publishing and need a roadmap before writing
- Turning a course, blog, or speaking content into a book

## Core Principle

**EVERY CHAPTER MUST ANSWER ONE QUESTION THE READER HAS. If a chapter doesn't answer a specific question, it doesn't belong in the book.**

## Workflow

### Phase 1: Book Discovery

Ask the user:
1. What's the book about in one sentence?
2. Who is the reader? (their role, situation, and what they're struggling with)
3. What will the reader be able to do after reading this book?
4. What's your unique angle or framework? (what makes YOUR take different)
5. What's the target length? (default: 40,000-50,000 words for business non-fiction)
6. What's the publishing path? (self-publish, traditional, hybrid)

**Minimum needed: questions 1, 2, and 3.**

### Phase 2: Structure the Arc

Non-fiction books follow this arc:

1. **The Hook (Chapter 1)** — Why this matters NOW. The problem, the stakes, the promise.
2. **The Foundation (Chapters 2-3)** — Context, backstory, the framework introduction.
3. **The Core (Chapters 4-8)** — One chapter per key concept, principle, or step.
4. **Advanced Application (Chapters 9-10)** — Edge cases, scaling, going deeper.
5. **The Close (Chapter 11-12)** — Putting it all together, action plan, inspiration.

### Phase 3: Build the Chapter-by-Chapter Outline

For each chapter, define:
- **Chapter title** (compelling, not generic)
- **The question it answers**
- **Key argument** (one sentence)
- **3-5 sections** within the chapter
- **Stories/examples** to include
- **Word count target**

### Phase 4: Validate and Sequence

1. Read the chapter titles in order — does the progression make logical sense?
2. Could any two chapters be combined without losing value?
3. Does each chapter build on the previous one?
4. Is there a clear "aha moment" in the first 3 chapters?

## Examples

### Example 1: Business Book for Freelancers

**Book:** "The $10K Month: A Freelancer's Guide to Consistent Income"
**Reader:** Freelancers earning $3-5K/month who want to hit $10K without burning out
**Unique angle:** It's not about more clients — it's about better systems

**Outline:**

| Ch | Title | Question Answered | Word Count |
|----|-------|------------------|------------|
| 1 | The Feast-or-Famine Trap | Why do talented freelancers stay broke? | 3,500 |
| 2 | The $10K Math | What does $10K/month actually require? | 3,000 |
| 3 | Your Minimum Viable Offer | What should I sell and at what price? | 4,000 |
| 4 | The Pipeline That Runs Itself | How do I get clients without cold pitching? | 5,000 |
| 5 | Pricing Without Apologizing | How do I charge $150/hour without flinching? | 4,000 |
| 6 | The 20-Hour Work Week | How do I make more while working less? | 4,500 |
| 7 | Clients You Actually Like | How do I stop attracting nightmare clients? | 3,500 |
| 8 | Systems Over Hustle | What should I automate and delegate first? | 4,500 |
| 9 | The Retainer Model | How do I create recurring revenue? | 4,000 |
| 10 | Scaling Past $10K | What comes after $10K/month? | 3,500 |
| 11 | Your 90-Day Action Plan | Where do I start tomorrow morning? | 3,000 |
| **Total** | | | **42,500** |

**Chapter 4 Detail:**

> **Chapter 4: The Pipeline That Runs Itself**
>
> *Question: How do I get clients without cold pitching every week?*
>
> **Key argument:** The best freelancers don't find clients — clients find them. Build three inbound channels and you'll never cold pitch again.
>
> **Sections:**
> 1. Why outbound-only is a trap (the hamster wheel)
> 2. The three inbound channels: content, referrals, partnerships
> 3. Building your "content engine" (one post → five formats)
> 4. The referral system that runs on autopilot
> 5. Strategic partnerships: how to get recommended by people with bigger audiences
>
> **Stories:** Sarah the copywriter who went from 0 to 4 inbound leads/week in 90 days using LinkedIn content. Marcus the designer who built a referral network with 12 agency partners.
>
> **Word count target:** 5,000 words

### Example 2: Personal Development Book

**Book:** "The Overthinking Cure"
**Reader:** High-achievers who get paralyzed by analysis and self-doubt

**Outline (condensed):**

| Ch | Title | Question Answered |
|----|-------|------------------|
| 1 | Your Brain Is Lying to You | Why can't I just stop overthinking? |
| 2 | The Overthinking Inventory | What am I actually overthinking about? |
| 3 | The 2-Minute Decision Rule | How do I make decisions faster? |
| 4 | Good Enough Is Perfect | How do I stop perfecting and start shipping? |
| 5 | The Worry Audit | How do I tell real risks from fake fears? |
| 6 | Building Your Action Bias | How do I rewire my brain to act first? |
| 7 | Relationships and Overthinking | How do I stop replaying conversations? |
| 8 | The Evening Shutdown | How do I stop thinking about work at night? |
| 9 | When Overthinking Returns | What do I do when I relapse? |
| 10 | The Thinker's Advantage | How do I use my analytical mind as a strength? |

## Recovery & Fallbacks

- **User has too many ideas for one book:** Help them identify the ONE transformation the reader needs. Everything else is a second book or appendix.
- **User can't articulate their unique angle:** Ask: "What do most people get wrong about this topic?" Their answer is usually the angle.
- **Book outline feels too long:** Business non-fiction sweet spot is 8-12 chapters, 35,000-50,000 words. If above 60K, split into two books or cut the weakest chapters.
- **User wants to write a memoir, not non-fiction:** Adjust the framework — use chronological structure with thematic chapters instead of topic-based chapters.

## Constraints

- **EVERY chapter must answer a specific reader question** — no filler chapters
- Chapter titles should be intriguing, not academic ("The Feast-or-Famine Trap" not "Chapter 2: Income Challenges")
- Include word count targets per chapter to make the writing process manageable
- The first chapter must hook — never open with backstory or definitions
- Include stories/examples for every chapter — non-fiction without stories is a textbook
