You have a story in your head. You have written out your initial ideas but, soon enough, you began to plan the plot further than just the end of this scene. You have ideas for the next scene, and the next, and the one after that.
I need to write this stuff down! you say. And I need to organize it so I can find it later.
Sounds like you need an outline, my friend. But just what is and outline? If you put down just one line, is that an outline? Don't worry, you have a couple of options here.
I need to write this stuff down! you say. And I need to organize it so I can find it later.
Sounds like you need an outline, my friend. But just what is and outline? If you put down just one line, is that an outline? Don't worry, you have a couple of options here.
The point of the outline is to provide you with as much information on the scene you will be writing as you feel you will need. Some are brief, one liners or a couple of sentences for each chapter or scene. Others are heavily detailed. creating a step by step process that you will follow as you write the actual story.
One Liner
They can be as much as
Chapter 6: Tom goes to the hardware store to pick-up supplies to build his rocket. He sees Wendy along the way, they go for coffee. There's a storm and Tom doesn't get his parts.
The benefit of an outline such as this is that you keep some of what people like about pantsing. Your story is not carved in stone before you've even begun. There is lots of leeway for development of story, character, everything.
Detailed Outline
This may look more like
Chapter 6: Tom goes to the hardware store to pick-up supplies to build his rocket. He needs a scrap metal, a saw, copper wiring, screws, hammer. He runs into Wendy along the way, she was shopping and is wearing a blue dress. Tom thinks she looks beautiful and, before he knows it, asks her to coffee. He is delighted when she agrees. They go for coffee at Starbucks and sit at a table. They talk about what they are each doing that day. Tom confesses he's had an eye on her for a while. Wendy smiles and says she's noticed. Window is streaked with rain and, when they leave, it is to go out into a heavy downpour. Wendy's house is nearby, they run there as fast as they can.
A lot more detail there, right? The benefit of an outline such as this is that you have your scene planned out when you go to write the actual thing. The whole conversation between Tom and Wendy is not there--this is the outline, not the actual story--but there is enough to keep you from having to stop when you write the actual story and figure out just what it is they talk about. Because, really, does Tom get his courage up in Chapter 6, or is he going to wait until he's at Wendy's house in Chapter 7 to tell her he likes her?
I would find it difficult to write from a one liner type of outline. I am much more the detailed kind of guy. I want a starting point to conversations, a note on the important statements in that conversation and just who says them and why. Because, otherwise, I will be stopped every other line, trying to figure out what happens next. And I would much rather just keep going.
Which kind of outliner are you? Do the outlines you create serve you well, or do they bog you down in the actual writing, leaving you feeling trapped or with no idea of where to go? Perhaps you need to change it up a bit.
Stay tuned, next in this series will be on Methods of outlining.
One Liner
They can be as much as
Chapter 6: Tom goes to the hardware store to pick-up supplies to build his rocket. He sees Wendy along the way, they go for coffee. There's a storm and Tom doesn't get his parts.
The benefit of an outline such as this is that you keep some of what people like about pantsing. Your story is not carved in stone before you've even begun. There is lots of leeway for development of story, character, everything.
Detailed Outline
This may look more like
Chapter 6: Tom goes to the hardware store to pick-up supplies to build his rocket. He needs a scrap metal, a saw, copper wiring, screws, hammer. He runs into Wendy along the way, she was shopping and is wearing a blue dress. Tom thinks she looks beautiful and, before he knows it, asks her to coffee. He is delighted when she agrees. They go for coffee at Starbucks and sit at a table. They talk about what they are each doing that day. Tom confesses he's had an eye on her for a while. Wendy smiles and says she's noticed. Window is streaked with rain and, when they leave, it is to go out into a heavy downpour. Wendy's house is nearby, they run there as fast as they can.
A lot more detail there, right? The benefit of an outline such as this is that you have your scene planned out when you go to write the actual thing. The whole conversation between Tom and Wendy is not there--this is the outline, not the actual story--but there is enough to keep you from having to stop when you write the actual story and figure out just what it is they talk about. Because, really, does Tom get his courage up in Chapter 6, or is he going to wait until he's at Wendy's house in Chapter 7 to tell her he likes her?
I would find it difficult to write from a one liner type of outline. I am much more the detailed kind of guy. I want a starting point to conversations, a note on the important statements in that conversation and just who says them and why. Because, otherwise, I will be stopped every other line, trying to figure out what happens next. And I would much rather just keep going.
Which kind of outliner are you? Do the outlines you create serve you well, or do they bog you down in the actual writing, leaving you feeling trapped or with no idea of where to go? Perhaps you need to change it up a bit.
Stay tuned, next in this series will be on Methods of outlining.