Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Power of the Outline

I've blogged about my writing process before (see this blog post)and you can see that I'm part pantser and part plotter. Usually I start with a back cover blurb one page synopsis thingy, I fly through my beginning, get lost in the murky middle, stop for a while, go back, can see my ending and six months later I usually have a book. However, this wip has been nothing if not different.

Everything started off pretty normally. I had a great idea, started off running, as per usual got lost in the middle, stopped, went back but this time I re-wrote (and re-wrote) the beginning, continued to struggle through the middle but forced my way through (it still needs a serious re-write) and for whatever reason (maybe because I didn't want to struggle so much anymore) as I hit the last third of the book, I decided to write an outline that would get me to the end. But not a short, vague outline. I'm talking about a scene by scene, chapter by chapter outline. How did that work out you ask?

Holy Mary Mother of Writers. Why had I never done this before?

I had characters with a purpose, where an action led directly and purposefully toward another action. Things I'd brought in at the beginning were pulled into the lead up to the climax so I now knew why I'd put them in the beginning in the first place. Everytime I stumbled now, I didn't need to angst. I could just flip back to my outline and remind myself of where I was, what my characters were supposed to be doing and, most importantly, where they were supposed to be going and why. I could see my finish! Heck, I could count the number of steps to get me there! No wonder plotters love their system. It's a great system.

But what of my old process? Will I ever outline that murky middle? Well, of course, you say. Didn't you just prove that outlining solves all writers problems? Ummm. Maybe. But you see, I outlined the last third of my book. I was almost done. If I'd outlined the whole thing right from the get go, knowing me, I'd be sick of the book. My scene by scene outlines are detailed things, people. I think I could only do that for the last ten chapters because I was so close to finishing already. Outlining 30 chapters or more?? No.

However, maybe for the next wip I'll outline the murky middle and then stumble through to the end with no outline. I can't just stop being a part pantser just like that!

12 comments:

  1. It's interesting how the process for every book is different. I always think I'll learn something that can help make it more efficient, but it doesn't always happen that way.

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  2. LOL I sometimes think that if I outlined I'd solve a lot of problems. But in truth, I like that sense of surprise and excitement that keeps me going to the end. I guess at least for now, I'm a pantser all the way!

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  3. Hi Andrea: Until this book I was pretty sure of my process. Now, I realize that you do whatever you have to to get the words out. I guess I'm learning to be more flexible!

    Hi Lisa: Oh, aren't the surprises the best?? I had one in my murky middle (the one area I don't outline) that just changed/clarified the heroine for me. So thankful that happened (even if the rest of the murky middle sucked rocks).

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  4. Yep yep, I like doing the bit of both. Like you, I think I would lose momentum with the story, get bored with it. I think--I've never fully outlined, in detail, a book-so I guess I can't say for sure. Alrighty then I am rambling and on _your_ blog, lol. Thanks for the post and sharing part of your process!

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  5. Hi Deb: Yay! Another hybrid writer. Do you think it's cuz we just can't commit? LOL. Hey, whatever gets the words down, that's what I say.

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  6. I'm mostly a pantser, but am known to sketch simple outlines for the last third of a book, too, just to keep everything straight in my head. But I do it in pencil. ;)

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  7. Hi Linda: A pantser pencil plotter. Hmm. That may be a new category, Linda. :)

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  8. I went from being a pantser to being an obsessive planner. I usually have about 20 pages worth of chapter summaries before I start writing. Crazy, right? I love it though. When I sit down to write, it's so much easier. The words just flow, and that's worth all the planning time upfront.

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  9. Hi Kelly! Thanks for dropping by the blog. 20 pages of outline??? I genuflect at your feet. Wow. My only worry is that I'd get sick of the book after all that outlining. But obviously it's been the magic bean for you! That's great!

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  10. Personally I like a very loose outline. It's good to know where I'm going, but I find it changes as I go, so mine are only a page or two.

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  11. Hi TerryLynn: I'm with you - loose outlines are better for me at the start of a project. But, in this case, the detailed outline really helped me to focus and has helped me stay on track so I can finish this baby!

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  12. I do chapter by chapter outlines. I still get stuck, because they're not scene by scene, and I'll get stuck on certain scenes.

    I've never thought about only outlining the last part.

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