To use templates effectively for character outlining in a novel, start by customizing the template to fit your story's genre. For a mystery novel, you might want to focus more on a character's secrets in the template. Then, use the template to create contrast between characters. If one character is highly intelligent, make another more street - smart. Also, as you develop your characters using the template, think about how they will grow or change throughout the story. A character who starts off as naive might become more cynical by the end. This way, the template becomes a tool not just for creating characters, but for shaping the entire narrative.