How to Create a Plot Grid to Outline Your Book - FULL TUTORIAL - With Example (Updated: 2026)

I use a plot grid to outline every single book I write. I first learned this method from an article about how JK Rowling outlined the Harry Potter books. In this video, I explain what a plot grid is, why I use them to outline, how they're helpful to both plotters and discovery writers, share a template so you can create plot grids of your own, and share my screen as I fill one out in real time so you can see how I use them. Have you ever used a plot grid to outline your books? - SIGN UP FOR NOVEL NOVEMBER (completely free): https://prowritingaid.com/novel-november?utm_source=Claire-Fraise&utm_medium=partner-influencer&utm_campaign=NovNov-2026&utm_content=YouTube-midroll&utm_term= LINKS: USE MY PLOT GRID TEMPLATE ON GOOGLE SHEETS: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XH8d-gWQ5Wgd2-HPky1BOxT3qUjH2Kt27-4ikkyngcE/edit?usp=sharing 7 Things to Figure Out BEFORE You Start Writing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIUcv_aKe94 - Subscribe to my channel for weekly videos sharing actionable writing tips that helped me improve as a writer. SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/WritewithClaireFraise ❤️‍🔥 READ THE LOVE TRIALS (book 1 in my Criminal Minds-inspired series about ghost hunters who hunt the ghosts of serial killers - enemies to lovers meets Saw): https://www.clairefraise.com/the-love-trials JOIN MY MAILING LIST: https://bit.ly/3zFpz0l 😀 CONNECT WITH ME: MAILING LIST: https://bit.ly/3zFpz0l EMAIL ME: claire@clairefraise.com WEBSITE: https://www.clairefraise.com/​​​​​​ TIKTOK (where I’m most active other than YouTube): https://www.tiktok.com/@clairefraiseauthor?_t=ZP-90cwafzkR5z&_r=1 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/clairefraiseauthor/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/clairefraiseauthor PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/clairefraisebooks/ GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14193771.Claire_Fraise ABOUT: Hi, I'm Claire! I’m an award-winning self-published author of paranormal thriller books. My book "The Love Trials" is an enemies to lovers thriller about a serial killer who forces lovers to play games designed to break their love and accidentally takes a pair of enemies instead. I won the Grand Prize at the 2023 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards for They Stay, and have written four more books in the completed series. There is no one way to write a book. I’m a strong believer that the only way to develop your own writing process is by trying a bunch of different methods to find out what is the most helpful to you. In my videos, I share how I approach every stage in my writing process, from brainstorming to editing, in the hope that it could give you something to try that could help you level up as a writer. I share techniques that have improved my own writing so you can see if the same strategies help you. - CHAPTERS 0:00 Is this you? 0:40 Agenda 1:00 What is a plot grid? 3:03 Why do I like to use plot grids? 4:39 SPONSOR 5:40 Tour of my plot grid template 7:45 LIVE plot grid example 20:43 Closing thoughts