Now, onto outlining...
Before I can begin writing a story, I have to know how I plan to end it. Even though, I pants it through most of the first draft, I must understand what I'm writing toward before I start. That little bit of focus is a must.
Most of my outlining, organizing comes after the first draft and before I start the second, more polished draft. [The version that goes to crit partners].
I've found writing brief bios for all my characters really useful. I sketch out a brief back story of their life before the novel opens and figure out what their goal is in the story. The back story may never make it into the finished project, but it helps me enrich the characters and the world. Sometimes it turns into another book (Backworlds).
I keep a journal for each project containing the character bios and world building. I've also created chapter sheets on which I write down the purpose of the chapter, the goal/focus, the scene, the characters in it, how the scene shapes the characters/plot, which plots/subplots the scene impacts and the setting. For some reason all of my organizing and plotting is done pen to paper. Writing is done on keyboard.
As I work on draft two, many post-its get stuck on my monitor. Ie, "mention Meelo's gun shot more often." And as feedback comes in from my lovely and brilliant crit partners, the plot remains in flux. And I find I only outline in detail to a point. The rest is committed to memory and I'll write minimum blurbs for the ending chapters, so I don't lose track of the plan.
Third draft, I pluck the post-its off my monitor and read them, jotting down which chapters the notes apply to. As I go through chapter by chapter, I'll implement my crit partners' suggestions. If it requires extensive rewriting, I will make a new outline, a condensed version though.
With the next project, I'm going to try more pre-planning of the characters and their goals and motives. I just can't do much more with plot than understand the big points I want to hit and where I want to end up. My brain just can't come up with great plot twists unless I'm writing. The brilliant flashes of inspiration only happen when in the act of creating.
Just how much do you outline? When? And what do you outline? How much detail do you include?
37 comments:
...great post, Pax.
An outline for me is a must, but primarily used for all those sticky notes. For the most part, the climax and exciting conclusion are engraved in the brain, so I don't waste too much space on what will be remembered. It's all those nifty ideas that are suggested along the way that get included in the outline for later use.
El
I need a detailed outline and brief character bios before I even begin writing. It will change along the way, but like traveling, I need a map!
Gosh, I'm a lot like you. I brainstorm until I have an idea of where the novel is headed. I can't start until I know the ending. Then I will brainstorm and summarize each chapter directly before I write it.
I've tried outlining the whole novel once, and it didn't work out so well. I deviated too much. I'm more of a panster, for sure.
When a story idea comes to me, it comes whole. The opening line, the main plotlines, and the last sentence as well. As it comes in such a rush, I just start writing. Subsequent drafts add sub-plots etc. I tried outlining once, and I felt too confined.
I usually write by the seat of my pants. I write the story how it comes at me. Usually, the characters tell me their motivations, personalities, and backstories. Usually, after the first draft is done, I just polish it off and send it out to a publisher. Sometimes though, after the first draft is done, I read through it and realize that the story didn't come out like it was in my head. then I write an outline as to should have happened differently and I rewrite it based on the outline.
I tend to write as pantser, but I really want to be an outliner. I've outlined a few stories and loved how free I felt to just write, not having to worry about where everything was going. But outlining is very hard for me, I can't really feel the story, tell if it's logical, or natural. So I've tended to use the first draft as my outline. It's messier that way, but it kinda works.
I guess.
I'm learning to schedule... I think it would be helpful to write it out. Duh! of COURSE it would!
I find my outlines get sketchy, too, Elliott, feeling some places don't need as much writing down as other parts.
I admire that you can do that, Alex.
We sound a lot alike Miranda. I usually do the brainstorming while writing the chapter. My brain seems to track the logic, whether something will work or not. If it impacts details earlier, then that gets a post-it on my monitor.
Wow, I wish I got that much all at once, Annalisa. I seem to get a snippet or one seen flashed.
Interesting, Angelina. You must have a fairly clear idea throughout the first draft then.
It's very hard for me, too, Rusty. My first draft is also my outline. Or becomes an outline, a lot of it gets trashed. lol
I have a very strict schedule, Anne. Otherwise I'd get nothing done.
I need a pretty detailed outline before I start so that I know the direction in which I want to go with the story. The real meat of it though is in the actual writing of the journey chapter by chapter. I don't plot those out quite as carefully but allow the characters free reign to go where they please.
I'm a total plotter. I brainstorm for a while until I'm sure I have a solid idea. Then I open a Word document and type a summary just to get it all down.
After that, I make another Word doc for the official, chapter-by-chapter outline. I leave myself enough room that I can be creative with it, but I always establish each chapter's objective. I do quite a bit of character outlining, too.
I'm kind of the same way. If I know how a story ends, I'll find a way to get there. Sometimes I do outlines, but I usually deviate significantly from them by Chapter 3. :P
Good mix, Michael.
I'd like to be able to do that, Shelley. I guess it's sort of what I do after the first draft.
lol Me, too, Lindsay. I guess that's why I'm usually only diligent about a few chapters.
It's fascinating to read other's processes. I don't outline and plan to the extent that you. My chapter outlines amount to a two sentence blurb each. I don't do character sheets, but I do think a lot about the background/personality of each before I begin.
I tend to write down a broad list of key plot points and the ending and work off of that during the first draft; I end up with some improvised material, though not as much as if I'd pantsed my way through the entire story. Then I go back and fill in all the details about the characters/plot/setting.
Maybe it's because I'm OCD when it comes to planning/organizing, but I have to outline everything before I begin. I write character bios, I write a very detailed synopsis, I have a cork board with character pictures/descriptions, I have a computer folder full of research on my "world"...I think I'm certifiably insane. Especially since my book usually takes me on a different course as I write, and then I have to tweak everything. :)
I had to laugh about the post-it notes on your monitor, as I am working on my second draft right now and I have so many notes about things to add I'm starting to feel like I need to just start all over again! I like the character bios, I have those in my head but didn't write them down, and I can see where that could be very helpful. I know I need to get more organized with writing so I don't end up with another mess like I've got now, yikes! Great post! :)
That's a hugely useful post as I've been toying with a few ideas for stories but never know where to start.
'I sketch out a brief back story of their life before the novel opens'
This has got to be immensely helpful. It's so easy to begin with their lives -- even in the author's mind -- where the story begins, but retracing steps into their past is vital to cultivating dimension. I've certainly been remiss in that regard and want to correct that with future efforts.
A very good post, M.
I like your ideas~ Thank you for sharing. I think back stories move us forward. I think jumping in the middle is always more intriguing. It is where the action is.
Ah, outlining for me is difficult. I have a theme for each section and know a few choice plot things that need to happen, and then the rest is just pure pantsing.
After a point, that's what my outlines become, too, Brinda.
I do similar, Eagle. And I find the more I write a piece beginning to end, the more I can plan ahead on the next one.
I really admire that you can do that, Vicki.
I think it's a learning process, too, Julie. I seem to do more and more oranizational-wise with each new story.
Well, I hope you find a place to start, G
It is immensely helpful, Suze. Character is the major problem with my first novel [that I need to rewrite again at some point]. I think we learn with each new piece and get better and better.
I agree, Ella, & knowing the back story helps us jump in well.
I'm pretty similar, Julie.
We're really similar. I pants through my rough draft with only the ending in mind.
The I take the bits I really liked and put it into an outline before using them as guidance while I rewrite.
Then I edit on my own. And then I send the ms out to CPs. When you guys send me the crits, I go through the parts I received line by line, fixing things and working any changes through the rest of the draft before sending out the next part. :-)
Thanks for the great tips on outlining! Sometimes I also plan out the ending first, but it doesn't always work out that way. Post-It Notes really do come in handy! Julie
I take a chapter at a time when I go through the feedback, Misha. Thanks for catching the magnet thing. :)
I love post-it notes, Julie.
Honestly I have most of the things I write outlined in my head. If I bother to write it down in a physical manner I just end up writing instead. :P
You're very organized. I'm jealous. I've tried to outline both in a general and detailed manner, but I always stray from the outline. My story takes me where it wants to take me. Usually this is a very good thing.
Have a wonderful weekend. :)
I outline before I write my first draft, and even before I write my 2nd or 3rd drafts. Certainly helps me work on each chapter faster!
An outline for me seems to work as well as notes. Which is to say; not at all! Geez! Maybe what I really need is solitude...
I am impressed with your outlining and like that you keep a journal for each project containing the character bios and world building. chapter sheets on which I write ;own the purpose of the chapter, the goal/focus, the scene, the characters in it, how the scene shapes the characters/plot, which plots/subplots the scene impacts and the settingand that all of your organizing and plotting is done pen to paper. I should do much more of this. I start with good intentions but then lose my way, so I plan to start it up again with your good example to keep me going.
I don't outline unless I'm writing non-fiction. When I write fiction I start with a single summary sentence in my header and change that if the story doesn't come down to the page as I'd originally intended. You have quite a system, PAX! I'm impressed.
My memory isn't so good any more, Damian. I need to write some stuff down or I'll forget.
I sound more organized than I am, Christine. As I said, I usually only outline a few chapters like that. Then I go to a short couple of lines per chapter outline.
I envy folks like you who can do that, nut. I bet it makes for less of a mess.
Quiet and solitude are nice, Pat.
Since I'm working on series now, Madeleine, the journals become more important. As detail from previous stories will be used in the next.
I can see an outline being quite essential for nonfiction, Lee.
The more I write it seems like the more I outline. I think part of it is I get lost in little details and/or my endings aren't as good without outlines. I dig them now, but hated them when I first started out.
I found outlining very helpful with my latest project and the more detailed I was with each chapter outline the easier it all went. Now that I've reached the last third it's harder as I had only a vague outline of this part. Thankfully, I know exactly how it all ends :)
I'm also an outliner... I need something before i can start... and then I tweak as I write the first draft, as things evolve and present themselves to me... and then again, the outlines changes more with each review:)
I don't outline that much...since its been only short stories till a few months back...the only novel I tried earlier was a four chapter effort.
Even for my flash and shorts...I plan the names, places and that one incident or event it's based on, the end and then built the story around it. Sometimes with a changed beginning or ending.
My novel follows the same process, just a little more detailing of character, the world involved and what each chapter contains.
Some of my best ideas come while I am actually writing or day dreaming the story. (yeah, a little crazy that way);D
Libby! I'm finding the same is true for me. Maybe as we learn how to construct stories by writing them, we then learn what they need & can therefore organize better before we start. Maybe it's a learning process like everything else.
Vague outline has been my mantra, MsHatch. I aim to change that with my next WIP.
It's good to know I'm not the only one changing things all the time, Tania. :)
I haven't outlined short stories either, Rek. I'm finding novels need more of that sort of thing for me, and my longer short stories.
I love my outlines. I use a whiteboard and post-it notes. I plan out the character arc and the plot and I write up a brief synopsis of the story.
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