If you're still struggling with decisions about what shape your writing should take, there are steps you can take to help you further develop your outline. One method is to pick a word or term specific to your topic and write out a definition for that word. Then do another. Starting with the simplest, more elementary terms and progressing to the more complex, place those terms in the order in which you think they should be introduced in your paper.

For longer works, like a novel, chances are you already have an idea about some of the scenes you plan to include. For a romance, for example, write up the first meeting and first kiss scenes. Perhaps write another scene that includes a description of one of the places where you intend for your hero and heroine to spend some time. Once you have several such scenes written, decide where you think you should place them in the book and write your outline around those scenes.