tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post6053929526166550697..comments2024-03-20T08:27:29.290+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: How to Outline a StoryLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-56915459406910014562012-08-20T12:12:02.172+10:002012-08-20T12:12:02.172+10:00Gotta say I'm not an architect when it comes t...Gotta say I'm not an architect when it comes to planning out stories. In the piece I just wrote I basically winged the story from the thoughts/ideas in my head. I may give a detailed outline a go for my next project however.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14072523267665090791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-5406317541781609692012-08-19T13:45:23.564+10:002012-08-19T13:45:23.564+10:00As usual, a great analogy. I'm at the sparky s...As usual, a great analogy. I'm at the sparky stage right now with my WIP. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-45580627336539400802012-08-18T09:47:03.050+10:002012-08-18T09:47:03.050+10:00Reading this post just demonstrates to me how ever...Reading this post just demonstrates to me how every writer has his or her own approach to the craft, and that's what makes it so awesome. Some people have a similar approach, and then others have completely different styles.<br /><br />I never outline. I get the spark, and then I see if I can write the entire story down in like two pages--sort of like a synopsis, but loose. Not set in stone. And if I can get a solid beginning, middle, end, I know I've got something. :D<br /><br />Good stuff~ :o) <3LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-64793785249791605832012-08-17T14:34:55.953+10:002012-08-17T14:34:55.953+10:00so interesting!! I definitely am not at the stage...so interesting!! I definitely am not at the stage of collecting sparks...would like to be though...now I have a goal!momto8https://www.blogger.com/profile/13964950285763339907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-10264630123716122712012-08-17T13:02:10.977+10:002012-08-17T13:02:10.977+10:00Interesting post! When I was in high school, I re...Interesting post! When I was in high school, I remember teachers telling me I should write an outline, and I would scribble something down, write half of my essay largely ignoring what I'd scribbled, write a fake after-the-fact outline, and then turn it all in. I feel bad about that sometimes...<br /><br />Now that I'm a writer, though, I find that outlining is essential, but the process varies for each novel. In one especially complex story, I had a family history, a list of sculptures made by the main character, a time chart of events, and a synopsis for each chapter. My latest novel, though, simply had a date and one line of text for each chapter. Both worked equally well. Based on those experiences, I try to fit my outlining process to the type of novel I'm writing, actually. I thought your method with sticky notes on a board was interesting though. I'll keep that in mind for future reference, so thank you for sharing!Clare Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275618718871589963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-58010128956649341732012-08-17T00:51:13.023+10:002012-08-17T00:51:13.023+10:00I love this post about outlining and plan on comin...I love this post about outlining and plan on coming back to it in the future! My own outlining isn't very detailed, but you have given me some great ideas. I especially like the kindling section where you said you wrote a novella just to get a clearer picture of your world building. Sherri Lackeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12574448009541412249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-40900162554418156452012-08-16T17:33:52.703+10:002012-08-16T17:33:52.703+10:00see! It works!! :)
Looking forward to reading your...see! It works!! :)<br />Looking forward to reading your story, by the way.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-54127345354212421702012-08-16T17:28:51.860+10:002012-08-16T17:28:51.860+10:00erm... I wasn't familiar with the snowflake me...erm... I wasn't familiar with the snowflake method until you mentioned it. I did a quick read up on it. It sounds like a very analytical approach. If that's your thing, the methodical expansion of ideas from the tagline to the scenes etc, then go for it. There is a danger of become too regimented with it, but again, if you love order and structure with your creative process, then give it a go.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-5220651004232638702012-08-16T17:20:50.913+10:002012-08-16T17:20:50.913+10:00yes, those logs are super important, especially fo...yes, those logs are super important, especially for consistency over a series.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-46666705525303848522012-08-16T17:19:30.990+10:002012-08-16T17:19:30.990+10:00good luck with #4. I hope using both methods works...good luck with #4. I hope using both methods works for you.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-15492079756171732802012-08-16T17:18:38.691+10:002012-08-16T17:18:38.691+10:00Oh interesting... I usually use pictures to help m...Oh interesting... I usually use pictures to help me with non-character descriptions. For example, if I want to describe a place of reverance, I'll look up pics of cathedrals and absorb the feel of them. (If that makes sense, lol)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-22269450373441286412012-08-16T17:15:05.740+10:002012-08-16T17:15:05.740+10:00yep, that's the way I used to do it, but the c...yep, that's the way I used to do it, but the cross-outs became a nightmare, not to mention all the holes I wrote myself into (I don't think I was skilled at winging it without an outline, lol)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-20884965785087605822012-08-16T17:12:43.920+10:002012-08-16T17:12:43.920+10:00I do understand that. Sometimes the characters tak...I do understand that. Sometimes the characters take a while to get to know.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-84868588045495928262012-08-16T17:11:07.860+10:002012-08-16T17:11:07.860+10:00yes, I'll sometimes write a first chapter, jus...yes, I'll sometimes write a first chapter, just to get a feel for the story too. Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-27153524914492791902012-08-16T12:56:02.420+10:002012-08-16T12:56:02.420+10:00Outlining is soooo important. I din't do this...Outlining is soooo important. I din't do this when I first started. I wrote for the fun of finding out what happens. I learned in a year's worth of editing what a big mistake this was.<br /><br />You know what happened the firt time I wrote out an outline before writing?<br /><br />I got published! Hey.... in the same anthology with you. What a coincidence!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-38525145621227537792012-08-16T12:46:08.047+10:002012-08-16T12:46:08.047+10:00Informative post. My first book - no plotting or o...Informative post. My first book - no plotting or outline. Second, WIP - plotting for sure. Done.Peaches Ledwidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13406881743264774589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-59255956796409793452012-08-16T10:41:33.723+10:002012-08-16T10:41:33.723+10:00Oh, I liked this post a lot. I am by nature, a pan...Oh, I liked this post a lot. I am by nature, a panster, but now I am working on Book two of a mystery series, and I'm turning into a plotter. But I like your way of approaching the outline. It's a good fit with what I'm calling an outline. :-)<br />Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-16090423382190960572012-08-16T07:45:09.878+10:002012-08-16T07:45:09.878+10:00Yes. I'm now terrified of outlining another st...Yes. I'm now terrified of outlining another story ever again . . . LOL.<br /><br />If I'm feeling really inspired by a story, I'll write down a couple chapters or so and then flesh out the rest of it with an outline.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-635076114187101272012-08-16T07:15:10.450+10:002012-08-16T07:15:10.450+10:00I think your process is rather more involved than ...I think your process is rather more involved than mine. But then, you probably get results quicker :/<br /><br />I tend to just start off writing (pantsing) and eventually have what amounts to a ~10,000-word short story. At this point, I have a grasp of the characters and the story and their interactions and motives. At this point, I will outline and try to build a pretty detailed outline. Then I start over again. (Yes, the first part is never going to see the light of day.) Then I have a longer, more-planned draft. But at this point, there's usually something that doesn't feel right. When I figure that out, it usually involves rewriting *again* -- this product is what I would consider my best effort.<br /><br />So I guess I'm a pantser and a plotter. Something about the first draft is what helps me get a handle on who the characters are that I've never been able to do any other way.Callie Leuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535505792102190920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-72334212271650031182012-08-16T06:40:17.289+10:002012-08-16T06:40:17.289+10:00Outlining is so important and so different for eac...Outlining is so important and so different for each writer.Stacy S. Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09646270238659432058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-40938035500057169582012-08-16T05:29:07.465+10:002012-08-16T05:29:07.465+10:00I didn't know this was my process, but I think...I didn't know this was my process, but I think we work in a similar manner. I enjoyed this post.Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-80832638764536022912012-08-16T03:58:39.345+10:002012-08-16T03:58:39.345+10:00i love this post! Definitely bookmarking it. I lov...i love this post! Definitely bookmarking it. I love the fire analogy--perfect for summer. :)<br />Nutschell<br />www.thewritingnut.comnutschellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967710710805174781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-43385434133116213752012-08-16T02:42:06.526+10:002012-08-16T02:42:06.526+10:00I like the idea of starting with a weakness when y...I like the idea of starting with a weakness when you develop your characters. It's always more interesting to read about a flawed character than a perfect one, and I have actually read stories where the characters seemed too good to be true. <br /> I haven't done a lot of plotting; I usually just write out first drafts with a lot of cross-outs, and then I go back and rewrite them. Sometimes I write character sketches beforehand, though.Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-76221511999210407242012-08-16T00:28:15.454+10:002012-08-16T00:28:15.454+10:00I think you've put some excitement back in out...I think you've put some excitement back in outlining, Lynda. I mean, writing is suppose to be fun. Some of us need to remember that. This was a great post, thanks!Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-46761044384379563252012-08-15T23:19:43.556+10:002012-08-15T23:19:43.556+10:00supercool analogy, or super hot!
yay for plotting ...supercool analogy, or super hot!<br />yay for plotting & notebooks! Tara Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07587802105993889515noreply@blogger.com