by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I’m one of those writers who is an everyday kind of writer. Creating habits isn’t easy for me—once I’veformed one, I have to repeat it every single day to keep it. And writing is like using a muscle…I’ve found
my writing gets flabby if it’s not regularly exercised. I make the time. It’s
way too hard for me to pick up a train of thought, the voice, that story rhythm
if I don’t write daily. It’s tough to get back into the story.
I’ve squeezed writing into completely
impossible days. I write at 5 a.m. I write in carpool lines. I write in doctor’s
office waiting rooms. I come up with dialogue while doing yard work. I’ve written while eating lunch. I’ve sacrificed sleep to write. I’ve written
while traveling. I always make my deadlines. Whatever I need to do to hit those 3.5 pages a day, I’ll do it. If life goes to hell, I’m flexible–I’ll write when it’s not my favorite time of the day.
impossible days. I write at 5 a.m. I write in carpool lines. I write in doctor’s
office waiting rooms. I come up with dialogue while doing yard work. I’ve written while eating lunch. I’ve sacrificed sleep to write. I’ve written
while traveling. I always make my deadlines. Whatever I need to do to hit those 3.5 pages a day, I’ll do it. If life goes to hell, I’m flexible–I’ll write when it’s not my favorite time of the day.
But sometimes, you can’t write. I’ve been fortunate not to have
many of those days. If I can’t write, I’ve likely been stricken with some
ghastly virus. Even then, I’ve frequently been able to mull over my story,
think up dialogue, or add to character description.
many of those days. If I can’t write, I’ve likely been stricken with some
ghastly virus. Even then, I’ve frequently been able to mull over my story,
think up dialogue, or add to character description.
The last week, though, I really haven’t been able to write. My daughter had her tonsils out and
unfortunately the recovery didn’t go well. She’s fine now, but there was a
point where we thought we’d have to check her into the hospital. We Craigs do illness in a spectacular fashion.
:) With an ailing child and
mentally drained… I found it impossible to write. I could write blog posts or
emails with the nervous energy I felt while I hung out in the room with my
daughter. But creative writing wasn’t possible.
unfortunately the recovery didn’t go well. She’s fine now, but there was a
point where we thought we’d have to check her into the hospital. We Craigs do illness in a spectacular fashion.
:) With an ailing child and
mentally drained… I found it impossible to write. I could write blog posts or
emails with the nervous energy I felt while I hung out in the room with my
daughter. But creative writing wasn’t possible.
A couple of days ago, I finally opened my
manuscript on Word again. Usually, this would be a tough assignment with my
head out of the story for so long.
Instead, I looked at my outline, found the point where I’d left off, and
picked right back up with the book again.
No problem.
manuscript on Word again. Usually, this would be a tough assignment with my
head out of the story for so long.
Instead, I looked at my outline, found the point where I’d left off, and
picked right back up with the book again.
No problem.
No problem at all. It was as if I’d
only left off writing a few hours before.
only left off writing a few hours before.
I had a complete plan. The outline said,
“Here’s what you write today.” No questions asked or needed.
“Here’s what you write today.” No questions asked or needed.
It annoys me that outlining is working so
well for me. I despise outlining and I
hate following outlines. But I can’t
argue with the success I’ve had so far with it.
well for me. I despise outlining and I
hate following outlines. But I can’t
argue with the success I’ve had so far with it.
So…if you have an erratic life where it’s
very, very tough to fit your writing in on a regular basis, I really have to
reluctantly recommend outlining. It seems to work well in those circumstances.
very, very tough to fit your writing in on a regular basis, I really have to
reluctantly recommend outlining. It seems to work well in those circumstances.
Other things you can do with your story
if you have no time to write (and you seriously don’t want to outline):
if you have no time to write (and you seriously don’t want to outline):
List title ideas.
Come up with character profiles or
background.
background.
Brainstorm character arc and growth for
the course of the book
the course of the book
List names of characters, names of
settings.
settings.
Lists of things that puts you more in
touch with your character’s personality: 5 things your character is afraid of,
5 things your character wants, 5 types of neighbors your character would hate
to move in next door.
touch with your character’s personality: 5 things your character is afraid of,
5 things your character wants, 5 types of neighbors your character would hate
to move in next door.
Since writing description is drudgery for
me, I’ll sometimes sketch out description (for characters and setting) and
layer them in later.
me, I’ll sometimes sketch out description (for characters and setting) and
layer them in later.
Brainstorm for subplots.
Brainstorm for endings.
So there are non-outlining-related
methods of moving forward with your story on no-good, really bad days. But…and I wince as I write this…when it
comes to reacquainting yourself with a cold story…
methods of moving forward with your story on no-good, really bad days. But…and I wince as I write this…when it
comes to reacquainting yourself with a cold story…
outlining appears to work better.
Yep. I’ve always said that a writer should develop the skills to be both a plotter and a pantser. You never know when you’re going to need the other one.
And the great thing about an outline is that you can ditch it or change it.
Hi Elizabeth – this makes perfect sense and you’ve described it so well .. the human really doesn’t like doing some things, but they make life easier once ‘mastered’ … and this applies to many things – something I need to bear in mind now – so I shall take your ‘outlining’ to heart and outline my coming weeks to get myself on track.
However glad your daughter is better – tonsils can be tricky .. have an easier week – cheers Hilary
I do outline from time to time. It helps me dream up ways to stray from it, and then I change the outline again.
This is funny since I KNOW you have disliked outlining in the past. I like outlining, but when it gets to the writing part, I don’t always follow it and then I think, why did I outline in the first place.
I hope your sweet daughter is feeling better. I hate when the kids in my family are ill. I don’t handle it well.
Hilary–It’s an unpleasant task, but really does seem to work well. Wish I could say the opposite! Good luck to you with it.
Thanks…we’re much better here now. Who’d have thought tonsils could create such havoc on a week?
The Daring Novelist–Useful, although it’s not fun!
Damyanti–I like the way you treat it! :)
Your logic is hard to beat. I may have to rethink my anti-outlining policy on busy days. I’ve even toyed around with the idea of using voice memos on my iPhone, but the thought of standing near other people and saying things like, “Have the killer dispose of the body in a swamp” could get me some unwanted attention.
J.J. Hensley — RESOLVE
http://www.hensley-books.com
J.J. Hensley
www.
I’m not anti-outline, I just always thought I was too good for that stuff. (Authors can be SO arrogant.)
What matters to me now is that I’ve got the whole story laid out in advance, all the waypoints identified, and then I can pants each scene, making sure it does its job, but having the freedom to engage serendipity.
I go back and re-read some of what I’ve already written. Sometimes I edit and sometimes it just gives me new ideas for moving forward.
You’re hooked now!!
That’s why I spend months on an outline and the details.
This is an awesome post, Elizabeth! :) I’m more of a go-with-the-flow writer also, so I have to admit I’m not fond of outlining either. But if you had to offer some, what would your tips be for outlining? I want to give it a try with my new novel.
-Amanda @ Writing Cozy Mysteries
http://www.writingcozymysteries.blogspot.com
I’m a natural outliner (I think it may be in my DNA). Sometimes I find myself outlining my to-do lists. Is that sad, or what?
My writer “at-risk behavior” is too much outlining, and not enough filling in the story. That part scares me. :)
One of the things I love about using Scrivener, though, is that it allows me (us) to add as little or as much to a story as the mood strikes. Or, as things like tonsil surgeries pull us away.
Thanks for the testimony, Elizabeth!
Outlining CAN be fun if you make a game out of it.
J.J. –Well, just mull it over. I’ve not been an outline believer at all for the last 5 years I’ve been writing….but now…I don’t know. For some reason, I seem to need one now.
My children tune me out on long car trips as I talk about murder to myself on my cell phone voice recorder. :) I’m more worried that the government is keeping a file on me with all the murderous website searches I make on Google….
Teresa–Ha! Yes, I tend to go off mine, too. But I’ve religiously followed this one. Maybe because I’m so far behind!
She is SO much better. She got dehydrated through the process….and that was the worst. Now we’re nearly back to normal. They’d said a 10 day recovery…and they meant a 10 day recovery!
Joel–I know just what you mean! That may have been my pitfall, too.
Serendipity–exactly! Otherwise…won’t the writing get stale? That’s what I’m afraid of…but I’ll admit I haven’t noticed any mustiness as I’ve followed my outline. But I’m highly suspicious of it.
Diane–That’s something else I can’t do–edit while I draft!
Alex–Ack! Months on an outline! No, I gave myself a week and thought I was being generous. :)
Diane–Oh my goodness. I’m a total list-a-holic! I make lists for almost every aspect of my day (I’m beginning to suspect I’m rather neurotic.) But my lists don’t resemble outlines in any way…ha! In fact, I think my outlines look more like synopses than outlines.
That’s interesting! I completely understand what you mean, too. I write my stories in layers, so I guess I’ve not worried about it for that reason. So after I’m done with the first draft, I’ve probably got 60,000 or 65,000 words…something like that. Then I layer in description for characters and settings (which is like gulping down bad medicine for me…I don’t enjoy description as a writer or reader), add subplots, insert chapter breaks, etc.
Amanda–You know, I’d write the outline sort of like the story. It’s in a conversation tone, in paragraph style. Sometimes I get carried away with it and include dialogue but without quotation marks. In fact, that’s a snippet of the outline that I’m using right now in the image at the top of the post. Not grammatically correct, probably has spelling errors. I started at the beginning of my story where my sleuth was getting hints that the future suspects disliked the future victim. Then I had the sleuth discover the body, talk to the suspects–with about 5 sentences giving the big picture of each scene with each suspect. Second body’s discovery, same interview process with the suspects. My outline is 12 pages long, which is probably ridiculous, but it basically tells the whole story. I’ve written outlines (for one editor, who likes me to write them for her), that have been as long as 24 pages. But I won’t take longer than a week on an outline. I just don’t have the time.
When I’ve been away from the WIP (although I’m never really “away” because it’s always rolling around in my head) I backtrack and start reading the previous scene/chapter(s)–how far back I go depends on how long I’ve been away. If I really can’t write, I go back and fill in blanks–find names for those XXXs I’ve left along the way because I didn’t want to stop to find a perfect character name, or the right metaphor.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Camille–Well, I wouldn’t go that far! Ha! Actually, I’d love to hear some tips on making it more fun. I always feel as if I’m facing a very boring school assignment.
Terry–I’m like you there…I put ### or Char.A instead of a name if I’m not sure what I want to name the character yet.
I love outlines! (Put away those tomatoes) Let me explain. If I don’t have an outline I tend to hit a brick wall I can’t move past and get distracted by a shiny new story. Not good!
Outlining helps me stay forcused and work out plot holes that would’ve otherwise been road blocks.
Hooray for outlines and synopsis. (I’m done, no need for tomatoes) LOL!
Elke–Ha! Well, no tomatoes, but I’m always in awe of you natural outliners. That’s interesting that they help keep you focused on the story at hand and not get distracted by other ideas. I didn’t think of that as a possible advantage…that’s great it works that way.