I'm new to the "biz."
Well, I'm new to the business side of writing, that is, the support groups, critiquing partners, publishers, query letters, ahem, finishing my novel. I've been crafting love stories in my brain since I could figure out how to get Barbie to catch Ken's attention. But, in all of those years, in all of seemingly endless hours I've spent pouring my words into story form, I can honestly say that I've never completed anything.
Each one of my stories ended mid-way. I'm gangbusters on beginnings. I love to start projects. I'm a habitual list maker. The more grandious and complex the list, the happier I get. Of course, nine times out of ten, I don't get past number two, but hey, I had fun creating the list.
When I first joined RWA, a scant eleven months ago, I began hearing different writers talk about the use of outlines. I'd come to realize that there are two schools of thought on the subject: the "fly by the seaters" who just sit down and go and the "planners" who map everything from eye color to the minutie of plot.
Oh, how I wanted to be one of those '"fly by the seaters." In fact, I had been one for my entire writing career, such as it was. I have a manuscript (my first official novel) that is still unfinished. It's approximately 650 pages long and I've still got a quarter left to write. This is what happens when I try to be spontaneous.
When I started the second official novel, mind you, I had actually decided to take the plunge, so to speak, and try the novelty of an outline on for size (oh, how I love my clichés). My outline was thirty-five pages of narrative, but it went from start to (gasp) finish. And, while my story line changed slightly, I found I was able to move from Point A to Point B and eventually to Point C.
Now, I am a big advocate of The Outline.
Of course, this doesn't work for everyone. Some say that it takes away from the creative process, which I can respect. Thankfully, this isn't the case for me. It works like a roadmap, a veritable guide, that helps me actually complete what I set out to do.
When I started the third official novel, I decided that I wanted a more concise outline, a bare bones roadmap. I recently purchased "Your First Novel" by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb. In Chapter Two, there is a section devoted to creating an outline. I'm sure that this isn't an original idea, but it seemed damned clever to me.
The gist of it is that you have all of these ideas worked out in your head, whether they're just bits and pieces or a full-blown scene. Taking a stack of index cards, you write down each scene or idea in your story. Then, take the cards and place them in chronological order. There you have your barebones. If something seems amiss, you can switch it around or figure out another scene to tie it together.
I have to admit, I hemmed and hawed for the better part of a month on this outline. Finally, I sat my butt down and performed the exercise. To my astonishment, I pumped out the entire outline to my third official novel in less than thirty minutes. It flows better than the second and everything makes damned good sense.
So, how many of you ladies use outlines? How many are "fly by the seaters?"
7 comments:
Great post, Jen!
I would like to say I'm a pantster, but the more I write, the more I find myself plotting (GASP!). My CPs tell me I'm a closet plotter, that I claim not to be, but in reality plot more than I let on. The truth is, I'm a lister. I have a rolling plot list at the end of my wip which I look at each time I move ahead to another scene. I know what has to happen, where I'm going, it's the "getting there" that's the fun part for me, and what I consider the "pantstering" (is that a word?!).
With the book I'm working on now, I wrote out a 14 pg synopsis for my agent. I had to know some of the plot points ahead of time instead of just letting them come to me as I write. I'm only about six chapters into the book, so I have no idea if I'll stick to it or not, but the main plot, the main turning points will probably stay the same. It's all the other "stuff" I filled into the fourteen pages that might change.
Hey, Jen, what a surprise to find a blog post on a Saturday! Just what I needed to drag me away from my WIP.
I'm a combo plotter/pantser, kind of like what Eli described. What happens is that I get so detailed in my character charts that I've pretty much plotted the story by the time I have my people figured out. It is their story, after all.
I also do a rough synopsis of 3 to 4 pages that covers the 4 major turning points. I fill in the rest as I write the story. If I were to get any more detailed than that, I'd just end up changing things as I wrote. For me, the story evolves as it goes along so it's futile for me to make intricate plot outlines. We each have our own way of getting the words down.
I'm always open to change, too. I try new methods with each book I write. One time I did one paragraph synopses for each chapter. That was interesting. Another time I did it totally by the seat of my pants, or tried to, and ended up pre-plotting a few chapters at a time in advance. That's the fun part about writing: experimenting. I cook the same way. 8^)
Karen
Hi Jen! Good post!
I'm a plantster! LOL Like Elisabeth I swear I'm a panster, but as I put together my characters and figure out my story I know my beginning scene, my climax scene, and several plot points along the way. I don't sit down and make an outline. I have my notes jotted down and that's what I use to keep me on track. Unless of course the characters have other ideas!
I've tried the storyboard approach and my beautiful graphed black foamcore board sits there with some stickies on it, but alas they pertain to a book I story magiced almost a year ago and haven't written due to other things happening. And I have since moved on to another book which I may use the index card method for because it will have some secrets that I need to keep hid and slowly reveal.
So, yeah, I sort of plot (but don't tell Elisabeth that). But I'm a panster! Really I am!! LOL
Good to hear from you, Jen.
I'm a little of each. Now that I sell on proposal, I've had to adopt the synopsis way of life--writing a whole book on spec doesn't make a lot of sense, time wise. I don't feel duty bound to it, however, and stray when necessary and as of yet, have suffered no complaints from the powers that be.
I loved writing without one and did so for years and would do it again in a heartbeat if I could make it work for me. On the other hand, I like knowing approx. where I'm going and as the book get longer and more complicated, it helps to have a road map.
Of course, as you pointed out, Jen, there is no right or wrong way.
I like Eli ideas of a rolling list. I do the same with my synopsis, paste it on the end of the WIP and keep it where I can't see it unless I want to see it. Then as I go through the scenes, I bold face what I've covered so I can see at a glance where I'm at next. It keeps me from painting myself into a corner--well, most of time it does.
I am stuck on my current book and read your comments, Karen, about character analysis and realized I'd ascribed many far out emotions to my heroine without fleshing in to myself how she got where she was. Eli pointed this out to me last week, but I'm a slow study. I stayed up late last night investigating her past and how that could have led to her present--In the thrust of moving between book so quickly, I'd forgotten to do that, and now feel more comfortable with her motivations.
So thanks, Jen. Good thoughts sounds like you're learning all the time. As are we all.
Alice
I write from an outline and can't really imagine doing it otherwise--I need direction. Which isn't to say that things don't change and adapt as I go forward, but I need that structure to start from--the pleasant surprises along the way are kinda like roadside attractions--I know we're taking I-5 to Eugene and need to get there by 4:30, but that doesn't mean we can't suddenly decide to swing by Albany :P :P :P Great post!
I wrote my first, and only, novel without an outline. I will definitely outline my next novel. Right now I'm looking for a good editing system.
I really like your index card system but I think I might add color with either highlighters or colored index cards to help identify elements of the story such as conflict, romance, etc. to help pace the story. What do you think?
Like you, Bethany, I need structure and a plan. I'm not so stuck on my lists that I can't see when something needs to change (although for me, this is an evolving and painstaking process). Donna, I like the idea about coloring it up with the index cards...might have to steal that one myself!
Jen
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