By the end of this page you will have a scene-by-scene spine for your novel: what happens, in what order, and why each beat earns its place. These five Claude prompts build that spine without writing the book for you.
Why novel outlines stall
- You have a premise but no midpoint, so the second act turns into characters talking in circles.
- Your outline is a list of events with no cause connecting them, so the plot feels random.
- Every scene has the same emotional temperature, which flattens the whole book.
Prompts that get you unstuck
1. Premise to spine
My genre is [genre] and my protagonist is [protagonist description]. My central conflict is [central conflict]. Build a three-act spine with five to seven major beats per act. For each beat, state what changes and why it forces the next one.What it does: Converts a premise into a causal chain instead of a list of events.
How to use: Replace [genre], [protagonist description], and [central conflict]. Keep the beats you can defend; cut the rest.
2. Find the midpoint
Here is my current outline: [paste outline]. Identify where the midpoint reversal should land, based on what my protagonist wants versus what they need. If the midpoint is weak, propose two alternatives and say what each one costs later in the story.What it does: Anchors act two so the middle stops sagging.
How to use: Paste your [outline]. Choose the midpoint that creates the hardest problem for act three.
3. Scene list by POV
For each major beat, write a scene list of three to five scenes. Label each scene with its point-of-view character [POV character], its setting, and the one thing that changes. Flag any scene where nothing changes.What it does: Expands beats into scenes and exposes the ones with no purpose.
How to use: Replace [POV character] with your actual narrators. Cut or merge every flagged scene.
4. Vary the tension
Review my scene list and label each scene as high, medium, or low tension. If more than three scenes in a row share the same label, tell me which one to cut or reframe to break the run.What it does: Keeps the pacing from flatlining across a whole chapter block.
How to use: Paste the scene list from prompt 3. Reorder or rewrite the scene the prompt flags.
5. Track the subplot
My subplot is [subplot summary]. Show where it should appear across the outline so it builds alongside the main plot. Give me four to six insertion points, each with one line on what the subplot adds at that moment.What it does: Weaves a secondary thread through the book instead of dropping it in once.
How to use: Replace [subplot summary]. If a point adds nothing, drop it rather than forcing the fit.
Weak ask vs better ask
| Weak ask | Better ask |
|---|---|
| Give me a plot for my novel. | Build a three-act spine where each beat forces the next, given my [genre] and [central conflict]. |
| Help me fix the middle. | Find where the midpoint reversal should land based on what my protagonist wants versus needs. |
| Add more scenes. | Flag any scene where nothing changes and tell me whether to cut or rewrite it. |
Keep going
- Browse the Writing prompt library
- 5 Claude prompts for case studies
- 5 Gemini prompts for author bios
- 7 Claude prompts for reader personas
Want more like this? Browse the full free library at GuPrompt.