Baby Steps: Phase One Outlines

[goadingthepen]

outline!
outline!
outline!
outline!
outline!
outline!
outline!
It can't be that difficult, can it? I'm not usually one to outline. On the flip side, I'm not usually one to finish a manuscript either.

Would love to know:

Are you an outliner??
Does it help you?
How do you outline: brief statements, paragraphs, just your basic outline, etc.?
Do you have a

Comments

[laurenem6]

I sometimes outline. I don't really have a formula. I basically just write a sentence or two for each scene or major plot point. The whole thing for a novel might come to about 200-300 words. Very basic. Sometimes I stick to it, sometimes not. When I don't outline, I usually either forget what I wanted to happen or never think of what I wanted to happen and hit a dead end later. Or write 20k of nothing (yes, I have done that).

[goadingthepen]

I have actually attempted to do it this way and ended up over writing it so just jumped into the story.

[robinellen]

I'm not an outliner. I tried it a couple times, but it made my writing too rigid -- however, I do make sure to have the beginning, middle, and end of the basic plot in my head before starting (well, usually). Books where I don't have all those tend to not ever end...

[goadingthepen]

Hmmmm. Definitely been dealing with the never ending story because of not thinking it out.

[achinghope]

Everyone has always told me how important outlines are but they make me gag. I know. That's a really terrible thing to say, but it's true. I just start writing at the beginning and it usually all folds together. Of course I have issues that I have to go back and re-write, but it's not never too too terrible. (At least, not yet.) If I have a very complicated plot I go through each chapter and in a separate document write down what happens in which chapter, in case I'm writing the story out of order this helps me know who knows how much when.

But it really does depend on the writer and I haven't met many people who don't outline to some degree. But I hope you find a way that helps you!

[goadingthepen]

Thanks! I hope I do too. Have gotten some great ideas.

[goadingthepen]

I love the idea of loose structure to help figure out where the story is going.
Thanks!