In the pack: ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini Prompts for Writers and Authors
Reverse Outline of a Finished Draft
Prompt
My chapter summaries or the chapters themselves (pasted below or in parts): {{DRAFT_CHAPTERS}}
Point-of-view characters: {{POV_CHARACTERS}}
For every chapter, create one row in a table with these columns:
- Chapter number
- POV character
- Story time (day, date or "unclear")
- Scene goal: what the POV character wants in this chapter
- Conflict: what stands in the way
- Outcome: how the chapter ends (yes, no, yes-but, no-and)
- Plot threads touched
- Word count, if I've given it
After the table:
1. List chapters where the outcome doesn't change anything, as candidates to cut or combine.
2. List plot threads that disappear for more than three chapters.
3. Show how the POV is split as a rough count of chapters per character.
4. Flag time jumps that may confuse a reader.
Stick to what's on the page. Don't suggest new scenes or rewrite anything; I'll use this map to plan my revision.
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About this prompt
“Reverse Outline of a Finished Draft” is a free prompt for ChatGPT in the Writing & Creative category, 180 words long, added to The Prompt Index on October 28, 2026 by The Prompt Index. Copy it with the button above, paste it into ChatGPT or any other AI chat assistant, and send it.
It has 2 placeholders to fill in first:
{{DRAFT_CHAPTERS}}, {{POV_CHARACTERS}}.
Use the “Customize this prompt” fields to personalise it before you copy.
Recommended models: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini.
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