What are the best tools and methods for creating a plot outline?

Getting clear about your genre will determine every aspect of what is in frame (mise-en-scène). From shots to lighting to set design, genre knowledge helps eliminate choices that won't make sense for your genre, leaving only those decisions that seem to magically manifest. When you narrow your range of choices, guided by awareness of genre conventions (and how they play out in classic films shaped by that genre), you make less work for yourself and clear space for play and creativity.

Determining what kind of story you are telling. This is how you are able to hone in on the genre. Then looking at the structures needed to build and develop a story you will need to gauge Three Act Structure so you have an idea of what you aim to see happen within your story world and to figure out what the governing laws of that world will or will not allow, and how those things shape the characters' lives and experience while growing through their arc.

In all honesty, move off your computer screen! While you can build maps on several quality online platforms and store all of your character webs and world aesthetic photos on Pinterest or Campfire, nothing helps quite like removing all distractions and putting your work right in front of you in a very tangible way. Whiteboards, especially magnetic ones, are fantastic for doodling maps and moving things around easily, be it plot, character traits, or even arcs. But sticky notes on a blank wall or writing out your ideas on notebook paper will help you get much more acquainted with the story you're telling - and the story you want to tell.

Beyond just using visuals, consider the aesthetics or "feel" of a place. For example, if it is taking place in a college setting, there is a very different feel to The Skulls then to Legally Blonde. Spend time thinking about how your setting should feel and the whys behind it. Pinterest and Canva are two very easy, free options for creating mood boards for settings. Make sure you save more than just pictures of places, but aesthetic photos as well that evoke a feeling you want to capture. You can also use collaborative apps such as Mural and Morpholio. The app MilaNote has the added bonus of note management features, allowing you to make writing notes along with your inspo pictures and keep them organized by place, book, or chapter.

For marketing-related copy one of my favorite frameworks is Donald Miller's Storybrand. It's a great way to position yourself as someone who understands you audience and can them achieve their goals. - Define your audience's problems - Be a guide with a solution - Create a clear plan - Include a clear call to action - Discuss the potential for failure - End your story with success An remember, make your audience the hero of the story. You're there for guidance and support.

In my experience, the best time to revise your plot outline is after the first draft is written (or mostly written). Examining your outline through the flow of your draft - where the outline worked successfully, where it didn't seem quite right - tells you more precisely if your plot makes sense within the context of the world, characters, and genre you're seeking to explore.