Outlining - how do U feel about it?

[robert walker]

It seems to me every creative imaginative mind has its own path to crafting story and novel. I know some people who outline the hell out of a story before setting down a word of the actual story and they do well to "live with" their characters for some time, but myself I choke on the idea of character cards and pages of Roman Numeral Outlines or a 70 page treatment of the story with details about eye color and favorite toothpaste used by each character. It's to me the equivalent of filing an IRS form. I write sometimes up to a hundred pages before I even begin to have any idea of where the hell I am going, and I have found that while at times I wish I could do better, I have decided that my totally "organic" approach, allowing the flower of the story to be nurtured and grown from a seed is an okay way to go. To explore where no one has gone before is just fine with me. Opening a first chapter on a What If premise without a single answer challenges me to craft a novel that does indeed answer what in chapter one appears Unanswerable. So how about you? HOW do you Outline or Organize your novel or story? Do you outline heavily with an ending in mind and plot points clearly set on certain pivotal pages? Or do you WING it and work without a net as I do?

[John McFetridge]

This comes up on CrimeSpace every so often.

I recently started a job as a writer on a TV show and everything is outlined - down to the smallest detail - before a script is written. There are a lot of reasons for that, everything has top be approved by the network, all the episodes have to be consistent with one another and, of course, they all have to be exactly the same length. As one of the more experienced writers on the show said, writing episodic TV is like writing haiku.

But none of these things apply to novels. When I write a novel I start with characters I find really interesting and then throw them into situations that I think will be interesting. I never have any idea where things are headed, exactly, or how they're going to end. It's working so far....

[J. F. Juzwik]

I don't outline with a short story. One of the novels I'm working on is being done with no outlining whatsoever and taking it wherever it goes is really working out very well. It's taking on a life of its own and going where I hadn't imagined. But, the other novel I'm working on, I'm doing an outline because it's turning out to be much more complex than I thought it would be. The thing is though, I'm only using the outline as a guide. It's not set in stone, and if I want to totally trash parts of it and go another way, I do. I use it mainly to help to keep things straight and consistent, not necessarily to dictate the story. In my opinion, writers who rigidly follow outlines and refuse to deviate from them have lost the element of creativity. Unless, of course, you are writing, as John does, for television or some other structured medium where time and approval of outsiders before acceptance is required. That's a whole different thing.

[B.R.Stateham]

For writers, it's like the old red-neck question; "Are you a Chevy or Ford man?' It's what you grew up with--or what makes you the most comfortable. Some writers outline the hell out of things and wouldn't think of doing it any other way. Others like John amd Robert (and I put myself in this arena) plow ahead with something that catches their eye , filling in the empty spaces as they go along.

[Dana King]

I used to work from detailed outlines, mainly because I'm actually more creative in the typing part of writing when I know what needs to happen at this time. In the current WIP, I'm using a less detailed outline, and only outlining several chapters ahead. I like it a lot. I still have the general direction of the story in my head, but it's easier to make a departure if I'm not worried about having to change the entire outline from this point forward.

I outline character traits only in the most general form. My characters tend to come to me as I write them, so I have a document that lists their traits and grows with the first draft. I can make sure there's consistency in subsequent drafts.

[B.R.Stateham]

Would you consider writing a synopsis of your main character's traits and personality as part of the outline? Or would it be just for reference only?

[minervaK]

I did this for the characters in my current book and really enjoyed the exercise.

[I. J. Parker]

Never do this. Too static. The action shapes and reveals the characters.

[Donna Carrick]

I never outline my characters. While I may not always know where my story will lead exactly, I always feel very close to my characters, even the less major ones. I just let them go about the business of developing their story.

[Andrew Kent]

My mysteries are based on the protagonist using metaphors (conceptual metaphors) to untangle crimes and turn criminals inside-out. So I start with three things -- first, a basic conceptual metaphor that will inform the story; second, a twist on this that will reward the reader; and third, a final scene from which I'll have to line things up to hit.

With the characters, I have written background sheets on the main ones. Since it's a planned series, I wanted to have narrative consistency and also ways to expand the stories that would be coherent.

Lastly, while this might all sound a bit rigid, I usually keep it all in my head and then start writing. The twist often emerges as I go, and the characters definitely take over for long stretches.

It's pretty fun!

[I. J. Parker]

Don't understand this. a metaphor that informs the story? A twist on this rewarding the reader? And a final scene to line up things?
I guess, since metaphors are comparisons, you'll have to give me some examples.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Even if I did make an outline, I wouldn't stick to it. For me, it's a waste of time. I know the beginning, ending and overall message. Everything else can change with a thought over cereal or during the lather phase in the shower.

[robert walker]

A synopsis should by all means include a line or two about the main character(s) driving traits and goals, and a good outline would also involve main traits of characters which are so often tested, which creates the tension and tension is the highwire on which fiction rests. Jerome Stern's phrase about highwire and tension. I love his book, Making Shapely Fiction. Great book. As to outlining and synopsis you can get a free sample of a bullet outline for my Dead On if you wan, just ask.
Hope all had a great Easer!