1)      Determine the target market for your book. For example: Harlequin American or Avon single title.

2)      Beg, borrow or purchase the most current example. For example: This month's HA or, if you are targeting single title, then find the most current debut author in your target area, e.g. historical, suspense, or humorous contemporary. Warning-this will not work for best sellers or books older than six weeks.

3)      Now the hard part-you will need highlighters, a pad of paper and a pen or a spreadsheet program of your choice.  Open book-note the number of chapters and put these numbers on the paper giving yourself plenty of room between numbers. Use the markers to highlight the end of each scene--(tip: if you do this out of order, you will not fall into the trap of getting sucked into the story.) Count the number of scenes per chapter and mark them on your outline/spreadsheet. For Example: Chapter 15; scene 1, scene 2, scene 3 chapter 12: scene 1

4)      Isolate and read each scene as if it were a short story. (Again if you do this out of order you won’t be tempted to lose focus.) Write a short one sentence blurb describing each scene. For example: Bill discovers Natalie’s secret.  Sue and Bob make love. Take your time. Don’t expect to do this in one afternoon.

5)      You now have a solid outline of the book. This is a good blueprint to use when plotting your own book. You should be able to see the pattern of conflict in the outline. If you need to, go back and write a second blurb for each scene that includes internal or external conflict. Also for single title, note subplots as a separate sentence.  This is your pattern or blueprint.

6)      Now write a single sentence blurb of not more than 15 words that tells your story. For example: Career woman discovers having a fairy godfather is not all happily ever after.  Write this at the top of your page or poster board.

7)      Make a blank outline using the number of chapters and scenes from your blueprint.  Your book may be different but for the sake of this exercise take the same number of chapters for your book as your blueprint. Spend some time with your plot and see if you can match your turning points to your sample blue print. This will give you a good idea if your idea fits the “target.”  No, it does not have to be the same size. The turning points do not have to happen in the same chapters—but this allows you a visual clue as to how your plot will work for your target market.  You should be able to see right away if your idea is too long or too short—too simple or too complicated. Remember close is good enough but a black moment in the first four chapters won’t do.

This is not “copying.”  Your book is different from the book you outlined, but the overall bones should be similar.  Use this as a pattern or blueprint to determine if your story is a right “fit” for your market. It can also be used to help you determine plot points and conflicts. Finally, once you have your own “blueprint” created you can use it to write your synopsis, your scenes and even your entire book.