Planning Your Roman Novel: Brainstorming & Outline

 Welcome, aspiring author! Embarking on a Roman novel is a fantastic journey. This document will guide you through the initial stages of brainstorming and outlining, helping you shape the foundations of your epic tale.

1. Core Concept & Hook

Every great story starts with a compelling idea. What's the central conflict or intriguing question at the heart of your Roman novel?

• The Hook: What's the single most captivating element that would make a reader pick up your book?

• Central Conflict: Is it a personal struggle, a political conspiracy, a military campaign, a love story against a grand backdrop, or something else?

• Time Period: Which era of Roman history interests you most?

  • Republic (e.g., Punic Wars, Marius vs. Sulla, Caesar's rise): Political intrigue, civil strife, expansion.

  • Early Empire (e.g., Augustus, Julio-Claudians, Flavian dynasty): Consolidation of power, imperial cult, gladiators, rebellions.

  • Later Empire (e.g., Crisis of the Third Century, Diocletian, Constantine, Fall of the West): Decline, barbarian invasions, spread of Christianity.

• Key Themes: What messages or ideas do you want to explore? (e.g., power, ambition, justice, loyalty, freedom, identity, fate, love, betrayal).

Your Turn: Jot down some initial thoughts for your core concept and hook.

2. World-Building Essentials (Roman Style)

Even though it's historical, you'll be building your specific version of Rome.

• Location(s): Where does your story primarily take place? Rome itself, a frontier province (Gaul, Britannia, Egypt), a specific city (Pompeii, Antioch)? Be specific about the type of setting (e.g., crowded insulae, a grand villa, a military camp, a bustling forum).

• Societal Layers: Which social strata will be important to your story?

  • Patricians: Old aristocratic families.

  • Plebeians: Common citizens.

  • Equites (Knights): Wealthy businessmen, often involved in finance and public contracts.

  • Soldiers: Legionaries, auxiliaries, centurions, generals.

  • Slaves: Their lives and struggles.

  • Freedmen/Freedwomen: Former slaves.

  • Foreigners/Barbarians: Those outside Roman society.

• Culture & Daily Life: What aspects will you highlight? (e.g., religion, law, entertainment, food, family structures, education, art, technology).

Your Turn: Describe the primary settings and the social groups your story will focus on.

3. Character Ideas

Who are the people who will bring your story to life?

• Protagonist (Main Character):

  • Name (Roman names often had three parts: praenomen, nomen, cognomen, e.g., Gaius Julius Caesar).

  • Occupation/Status (e.g., a young senator, a legionary, a gladiator, a slave trying to earn freedom, a vestal virgin).

  • Goal: What do they want?

  • Motivation: Why do they want it?

  • Flaw/Internal Conflict: What holds them back?

• Antagonist (Opposing Force):

  • Who or what stands in the way of your protagonist's goal? (Could be a person, a group, a societal norm, or even a natural disaster).

  • What are their motivations? (Often, the best antagonists are not purely evil, but have understandable, if misguided, goals).

• Key Supporting Characters: Briefly brainstorm a few important figures (allies, mentors, rivals, love interests).

Your Turn: Create a rough sketch of your protagonist and antagonist, along with one or two key supporting characters.

4. Plot Brainstorming (The Journey)

Think of your story in three main acts, even if it's just a rough idea for now.

• Beginning (Act I): Setup

  • Introduce your protagonist and their world.

  • The Inciting Incident: What event kicks off the main conflict and sends your protagonist on their journey?

  • Establish the protagonist's goal.

• Middle (Act II): Confrontation & Rising Action

  • What obstacles do your characters face?

  • What complications arise?

  • What are the stakes? How do they get higher?

  • The Midpoint: A major turning point or revelation that changes the direction of the story.

• End (Act III): Resolution

  • The Climax: The ultimate confrontation where the protagonist faces their greatest challenge.

  • Resolution: How are the conflicts resolved? What has changed for the protagonist and their world?

  • Thematic resolution: How do your initial themes play out?

Your Turn: Outline a very basic three-act structure for your Roman novel.

Take your time with these initial steps. The more thought you put into them now, the stronger your foundation will be. Once you've filled out these sections, we can discuss your ideas and move on to developing a more detailed outline or diving into historical research!