> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://playbook.pharmatools.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Build a First Content Outline

> Organise key messages and source materials into a structured content outline ready for draft development.

export const RiskBadge = ({level = "low"}) => {
  const styles = {
    "low": {
      bg: "#D1FAE5",
      fg: "#065F46",
      label: "Low"
    },
    "low-medium": {
      bg: "#ECFCCB",
      fg: "#365314",
      label: "Low–Medium"
    },
    "medium": {
      bg: "#FEF3C7",
      fg: "#854D0E",
      label: "Medium"
    },
    "medium-high": {
      bg: "#FFEDD5",
      fg: "#9A3412",
      label: "Medium–High"
    },
    "high": {
      bg: "#FECACA",
      fg: "#991B1B",
      label: "High"
    },
    "critical": {
      bg: "#DC2626",
      fg: "#FFFFFF",
      label: "Critical"
    }
  };
  const s = styles[level] || styles.low;
  return <span style={{
    display: "inline-block",
    backgroundColor: s.bg,
    color: s.fg,
    padding: "2px 12px",
    borderRadius: "999px",
    fontSize: "0.75rem",
    fontWeight: 700,
    letterSpacing: "0.03em",
    textTransform: "uppercase",
    verticalAlign: "middle",
    whiteSpace: "nowrap"
  }}>
      Risk tier · {s.label}
    </span>;
};

<Tip>
  <RiskBadge level="low" />

  \~10 min with AI, \~30 min without
  Standard review; the outline is a planning document, not a final deliverable.

  Key messages + sources → AI draft outline → Writer refinement → Final outline
</Tip>

## Best for

* Starting a new deliverable (slide deck, monograph, manuscript, training material) and establishing structure before writing
* Translating a briefing document or messaging framework into a content plan
* Organising multiple source documents into a coherent narrative
* Preparing an outline for client or internal review before committing to a full draft

## Inputs

* Key messages or messaging framework (ideally from the [Extract key messages](/workflows/extract-key-messages) workflow)
* Source materials (papers, data packages, briefing documents)
* Deliverable specifications: format, audience, channel, and length requirements
* Any existing templates or structural requirements for the deliverable type
* Client or internal briefing document (if available)

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Clarify deliverable requirements">
    Confirm the format, audience, purpose, and any structural constraints before generating an outline. If the deliverable has a mandated template (e.g., CSR, regulatory submission), use that directly instead of this workflow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Gather inputs">
    Assemble key messages, source materials, and any approved messaging framework. If you have not yet extracted key messages, complete the [Extract Key Messages](/workflows/extract-key-messages) workflow first.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Provide inputs to the AI">
    Include the key messages, audience specification, format requirements, and approximate scope. The more context you provide, the more relevant the structure.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate a draft outline">
    Use the prompt pattern below. Consider requesting two structural options (e.g., disease-first vs. product-first) so the team can compare approaches.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review structure and flow">
    Assess whether the outline matches the deliverable type and narrative strategy. A slide deck for an advisory board needs a different architecture than a monograph. Read the outline as a narrative sequence and check that the audience can follow it without backtracking.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Refine and annotate">
    Adjust section order, add or remove sections, and annotate with specific content notes or source references. Match section count to the deliverable scope — a 10-slide deck needs 5–7 content sections, not 15.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Share for alignment">
    Present the outline to the project team or client for review before proceeding to a full draft.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Output

A structured outline with 5–12 main sections (depending on deliverable type), each with clear headings, a one-sentence content description, mapped key messages, and approximate length guidance. The outline follows a logical narrative progression and includes a defined safety/tolerability section. Any sections with insufficient source evidence are flagged.

## Prompt pattern

```
You are a medical writing assistant. Your task is to create a content outline for the following deliverable.

Deliverable type: [SPECIFY — e.g., HCP slide deck, medical education monograph, publication manuscript, training module]
Target audience: [SPECIFY]
Purpose: [SPECIFY — e.g., communicate Phase III results to oncologists, support payer value discussions]
Approximate length/scope: [SPECIFY]

Key messages to incorporate:
[INSERT KEY MESSAGES]

Structure the outline with:
- Section headings and subheadings
- A one-sentence description of what each section should cover
- Notes on which key messages map to which sections
- Suggested approximate length or number of slides per section (if applicable)

Rules:
- Every section should have a clear purpose. Do not include sections that are structural filler.
- Ensure the outline flows logically — the reader should be able to follow the narrative from section to section.
- Include a section for safety and tolerability unless the deliverable explicitly excludes it.
- Flag any sections where you are uncertain about placement or content.
```

<Tip>
  **Customisation:** Request multiple structural options (e.g., story-led vs. data-led) when the narrative approach is not yet decided. Add specific structural constraints ("no more than 10 slides", "must include a competitive context section") directly in the prompt.
</Tip>

## Why this works

AI generates a logical structure and organises multiple key messages into a coherent sequence in minutes, producing a working framework the writer can evaluate and reshape. The human writer then applies the strategic and editorial judgement (narrative approach, audience-appropriate depth, source allocation, and alignment with the broader communications plan) that turns a generic structure into a fit-for-purpose outline.

## Common mistakes

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Generic textbook structure">
    AI defaults to "Background - Methods - Results - Conclusions" when the deliverable needs a story-led flow (unmet need - evidence - clinical impact). Assess whether the structure matches the deliverable type and narrative strategy before accepting it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Missing required sections">
    The outline omits a safety section or skips a competitive context section that the brief requires. Cross-check every requirement in the project brief against the outline and verify all key messages are allocated to at least one section.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Illogical narrative flow">
    Evidence sections appear before clinical context is established, or the mechanism section follows efficacy data instead of preceding it. Read the outline as a sequence and ask: would the audience follow this without backtracking?
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Over-structured output">
    AI generates 15 subsections for a 10-slide deck. Match section count to deliverable scope. If it does not translate to the final format, it is not a useful outline.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Unallocated key messages">
    Key messages from the brief or messaging framework are missing from the outline entirely. Check that every message is mapped to at least one section before signing off.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Tool stack

| Tool                                                         | Role                                                                         |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Claude](https://claude.ai) / [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com) | Generate candidate outline structures from key messages and source materials |

**Alternatives:** [Gamma](https://gamma.app) for presentation-specific outlines and slide structuring. [Napkin](https://napkin.ai) for visual concept mapping during early planning.

## Review checklist

<Accordion title="Human review checklist">
  * Every key message from the brief or messaging framework is allocated to at least one section
  * No key messages are duplicated across multiple sections without purpose
  * The narrative arc makes sense for the target audience (e.g., disease burden → unmet need → evidence → clinical implications for an HCP audience)
  * The structure matches the deliverable format (e.g., slide count for a deck, page allocation for a monograph, module structure for a website)
  * Safety and tolerability have a defined section — not appended as an afterthought
  * No sections exist purely as structural filler (e.g., a "Background" section with no defined content scope)
  * The outline is consistent with the project brief, brand guidelines, and any communications strategy
  * Section lengths are realistic: a 3-slide section in a 10-slide deck should not contain 5 key messages
  * Source materials are sufficient to populate each section; flag any section where evidence gaps exist
</Accordion>

***

**Next steps:** From your outline, proceed to [Write a Manuscript](/workflows/write-a-manuscript), [Draft a Regulatory Document](/workflows/draft-regulatory-document), [Create a Medical Slide Deck](/workflows/create-medical-slide-deck), or [Adapt for Different Audiences](/workflows/adapt-for-different-audiences). Run the completed deliverable through [Final Human Review](/workflows/final-human-review).

***

*Last reviewed: 15 April 2026*