brushstroke
I laid out for the plot of the novel in broad brushstrokes before I started to write it.
The book contains both broad brushstrokes and detailed analysis of its subject.
The school listed its expenses only in broad brushstrokes.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Accounts and stories
anecdote
another
anti-narrative
backstory
be another storyidiom
bodice-ripper
cautionary tale
in medias res
kompromat
legend
legendary
lore
misdescription
rundown
running commentaryphrase
scenario
semi-legendary
shaggy-dog story
strand
write something up