Wednesday, July 31, 2013

To Outline or Not To Outline


Do you create an outline before drafting a novel? How about for non-fiction or a short-story? How detailed do you get?

I’ve always been a pretty heavy outline user when it comes to prepping for my next work-in-progress. But for kicks lately I’ve been liberating myself and just flying blind, so to speak. I’ve been surprised at the results, and have actually liked some of the pieces I produced with little or no outlining. But I’m not sure if this is just a passing fad for me, or if I should really explore writing with a looser plan.

Do you find that an outline provides a path for you or restrictions? Do you find that an outline works better for you when writing in the third-person versus writing in the first-person? How do you strike a balance between inspiration and well-laid plans? 

15 comments:

  1. I tried to outline my second book (because I pantsed the first one). Yeah, didn't work. I'm a pantser through and through. I love discovering my characters that way.

    But I do have an idea of what my story is about and how it should end. If I didn't I'd probably ramble off forever.

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  2. I'm an avid outliner. I need a plan before I can begin. Otherwise my stories would wander into the desert and never come back...

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  3. I guess I'm a panster. I've tried to be a plotter. In fact I plotted out one novel and one novella, deciding I wouldn't write them until I knew the story arc and how it would turn out. Well, once I finished the outlines, my muse was finished with the books. Couldn't get back into the inspiration. Maybe one day I'll go back and take a look at both.

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  4. Nope, no outline for me. I have a general idea of the story, and I do sort of know the fixed outcome I want to achieve, but I love the causality of an organic story that propels itself forward based on character action and reaction. I love to be surprised at the end of the day. :)

    The only thing I have to watch out for is the temptation to go down all the different rabbit holes. Knowing the ending ahead of time keeps me on track most of the time. Usually. Sort of. :P

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  5. Totally an outliner. Excessive research and outlining.

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  6. I can't see to make an outline that works. I just start writing and see what unfolds.

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  7. Mark - I;m just getting ready to start my first fiction project after years of writing nonfiction...I think I will be an outliner for sure (have already started) because of my experience in nf and also because I'vebeen influenced by writing craft books by folks such as James Frey and Larry Brooks who lean more towards story planning

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  8. I've always been a pantser which surprised me since I'm usually so organized. However, for me, I've had to just start typing to get the story down. It was only lately I've realized I really do outline. It's just a 50,000 word first draft. I think that's why I love NaNo so much.

    But I'm trying a new system I learned at the iWriteNetwork Summer Workshop. I'm going to do a hybrid version. Hopefully, it will work, since I've got this SciFi trilogy that just has to be outlined.

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  9. I would say the majority of the time, I'm a panster; however, outlining my next story line, hoping it will help with that particular story. I do deviate from my outlines quite a bit when I do that.

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  10. Because I'm a heavy on the plot side of my writing, I always write an outline. But this time I'm writing a more character driven novel, so my outline has changed countless times.

    Best of luck with your new WIP!

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  11. I'm good at outlining my work, but I find the endings can be difficult if I follow the outline too strictly. I want the storyline to evolve naturally, but admittedly outlining does help collect my thoughts and chapters.

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  12. I absolute must plan. Partially because it's easier for me to focus and write when I see the next checkpoint ahead. What happens between checkpoints has some room for imagination. :)

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  13. I tend to vacillate between pantsing and plotting/outlining. When I get frustrated, I'll outline; otherwise, I try to fly free. Everything gets cleaned up during the revision phase anyway, right?

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  14. I'm actually surprised at how many folks out there prefer to shoot form the hip rather than outline. Before I would always have strictly outlined, but I'm much more open now to more free wieldign alternatives:)

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  15. I keep TRYING to outline!!!!!! But it doesn't work. I don't know why I keep fighting it. I swear it would save me so much time if I could just get the story out first! I envy those who can plot each scene down to every little arc ;-)

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