By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
What doesn’t matter about plotting? It doesn’t matter how you do it as long as it works for you.
If what you’re doing isn’t working, have you ever tried something else?
I’ve always been a very happy organic writer/pantster. I make up my mysteries as I went along. My agent, frankly, was rather horrified. I’ve also had an editor or two who were very surprised that I don’t outline. I have a feeling that many traditionally published, prolific writers outline their books and that I was the exception and not the rule.
I have one editor who requires an outline for approval. I had a tremendous problem delivering her an outline at first. The first outline was 24 pages long. My poor editor. But at first, that’s the only way I could do them. If I had to write an outline, I was going all the way with it…outlining every scene.
The second outline went a lot better. I gave her three page “big picture” of the story. I left out the minor details and just hit the high points, suspects, killer, and how my hook (it’s a quilting mystery series) featured into the book.
The third outline was much like the second for this editor. The difference was that I deviated from it nearly completely. Once I started writing the story, it took off into a different direction. Wrapped up in the story, I neglected to tell my editor about my deviation, which caused a bit of a problem for an editorial meeting she was in and a cover meeting. Ugh. I quickly filled her in and sent her the (unfinished) manuscript (which I usually hate doing because at that point I’ve done zero editing…but it was better than sending my long-suffering editor in blind to various conferences.)
So I’ve had some outlining background. And I always hated coming up with these outlines. But—I never ran into story issues when I’ve outlined. I might go off my outline, but I never end up with a huge plot hole, a mess of a beginning, or a poorly paced book.
On the other hand, when I haven’t outlined, I’ve run into a big problem about 30% of the time. Not all the time. But enough to slow me down (and I do hate being inefficient!)
I just had a terrible first draft experience on a book I made up as I went along. Bad enough that I’m outlining the novel I’m about to start writing. But I’m not excited about this—I’m simply thinking that maybe it’s become a necessary evil for me.
What I dislike about outlines:
I feel like the time spent writing them is better spent writing the story, promoting another book, or some other writing-related task. This almost embarrasses me to even admit…yes, I know outlines count as writing. But that’s how I feel about them.
I feel that outlines have a tendency to confine my creativity.
I don’t like picking the murderer until the end of the story.
I don’t like picking names until I get to know new characters better.
Outlines remind me of the more unpleasant assignments in my English classes.
Outlining doesn’t come particularly naturally to me.
I hate to admit this, too, but…I can get bored with what I’m writing when I outline because I’m skipping the process of discovery and brainstorming. Those are the most fun parts for me.
Pros of outlining
I always know what I’m going to write (I’ve always known what I was going to write the following day, even as an organic writer. But with an outline, I know what I’ll write even after that.
I can immediately tell if the story I intend to write will work or not. I can spot a bloated beginning, a saggy middle, and a bad ending right off the bat.
I can tell if my original pick for murderer will work or not.
I can keep better track of various subplots, red herrings, clues, suspects, and other elements.
Where I’ve made my peace with outlines:
I allow myself to deviate if the story will benefit.
I don’t force myself to pick character names for the outline if I don’t immediately have a name that I like. I put in AA or BB instead.
I brainstorm lots of possibilities on a separate document before I start my outline. I keep the brainstormed ideas and refer to them in case I start running dry when following my outline.
So…this is where I am now. Waffling back and forth between outlining and skipping it. Again, if you’ve got a method that works for you—keep it. I’m experimenting only because my method is suddenly letting me down a little.
Do you outline? Why or why not?
I tend to outline as part of a revision. I’ll write a fast, rough draft, having no idea where it’s going.
Once it’s finished, I’ll go through and make a list of scenes. Then I’ll move them around if necessary and add in extra things to fill in gaps or whatever. It’s easier to edit “on paper” that way, editing the outline first then fixing the actual story.
But if I try to outline before I even put down words on paper, forget it. I might *write* an outline, and it might seem like it’ll be good, but I can guarantee you the final story won’t resemble it at all. Once the characters hit the page, they make their own choices, and story develops from there.
Elizabeth – Thanks for such a frank and helpful discussion of outlines. I have come to find them really useful. First, as you say, they do keep one ‘on track’ and avoiding those messy plotholes and so on. They also provide a structure that helps me very much when I’m writing. But like you, I don’t stick strictly to my outline. If I get a good idea, I veer from the outline a little. I go back to it to be sure that my ‘oh so great idea’ won’t take away from another part of the story but I do veer off at times. I guess you could say I use a flexible outline.
Oh God oh God Oh God. I am such an organic writer, but this makes so much sense to me. I worry constantly whether there is enough plot in the story I am writing. Is enough happening. And because the story is emerging from the depths of my soul, if I use my head to outline and think it through, it doesn’t feel organic.
karen
Define “outline”. ^_^
I don’t make traditional outlines. They sabotage me. They always have, even when I was writing papers in school. I learned to write the paper first, in time to produce the outline from that to turn in. My grades always went up, when I did that.
I think it’s the numbers. Once I have an ordered list, I can’t really see it any other way. Even when I wrote papers “without an outline”, I would usually jot a bullet list of my major points or possible proof examples. (Not unusual scenario: Jot all possible supporting points. Pick the thesis and focus that has the best support.)
However, I do have a basic questionnaire that I frequently use when writing short stories (because I often have a scenario but no plot, and the questionnaire targets the points I tend to be missing). Some short stories get done completely off the top of my head, but I’ve come to recognize the signs for when I need that questionnaire.
In general, I work without an outline, but I do often have (or quickly develop) an idea of some major points, which go on index cards or Scrivener’s Outliner function. If I lose track of my focus, I draft the blurb/cover copy. If I get stuck, I pause and consider, “Okay, I’m headed to main point X. So what’s are the steps I have to hit to get from where I am to X, or does X need to change?”
So strictly speaking, you could say I don’t outline, or you could say I do. I usually just say I don’t, because I don’t ever really have a detailed numbered outline that I can hand to someone.
I’m one of those outlining is natural people. That’s how I plan out the story.
I’m the same way about outlines–it feels like they stifle my muse. So I write a loose outline with major plot pints, and give myself permission to deviate if I have to. I’ve been dabbling in mystery writing lately, and I find that those demand a tighter outline–it’s a puzzle and the pieces have to be laid out just so. But it’s fun.
I’m like you, waffling! I pantsed my first two manuscripts, but I pre-plotted the current one. I’m still planning to deviate where I feel like it, and I tried not to be overly specific. I do worry that it won’t be as creative or surprising as my pantsed novels…but I’ll find out!
T.L.–Now that’s interesting–I hadn’t thought about outlining as a revision tool. Very cool!
That’s been the way for me, too. At first it was just bitty little deviations….then it was a really massive deviation for that last book. The poor editor was calling me from her meeting saying “Hey, I thought this book had an outdoor murder and was asking the cover artist and copyeditor to reflect that…you’re saying it’s an inside murder now?” Gack. Not my most professional moment. I fit the crazy, absent-minded artist stereotype, I think….:)
Carradee–Ha! I’m like you–I can make a *gorgeous* outline….after I’ve written the thing. :) Sadly, that’s when it apparently becomes a synopsis..lol.
Interesting! A questionnaire could be very helpful, I’d imagine. And I *love* making lists. I make lists all day long. If I could convince myself that I’m actually only writing a list and not an outline, I could probably handle this well.
Now, I do like to write the back cover copy first. I know that makes no sense at all, considering how much I dislike outlines. But I like copywriting and I like having the Big Idea of what my story is about.
No numbers on my outline! I believe in segregation of numbers and letters. :) This is why I did so poorly in Algebra.
Margot–Ahh….flexible outline. I like that phrase!
Diane–You’re such an organized person that I can’t imagine your doing anything else!
Karen–Oh, I know just what you mean! It seems like such a clinical approach, doesn’t it? And in many ways…it is!
Kessie–I think outlines are definitely helpful for keeping track of the odds and ends in a mystery…timelines, clues, red herrings, etc. And I do like the idea of a loose outline, such as you’re using.
Maya–One time when I outlined (for one of the books for the editor who wants outlines), I found that the spark was gone from my voice. Vexing! I ended up having to change dialogue, etc., during the second draft in order to put my voice back in.
I am absolutely most comfortable with a middle ground–a timeline instead of an outline… or a diagram. I think it’s definitely important to keeping the creativity alive to allow deviation of ‘something better’ comes to you. I have pantsed and cleaning up is a MUCH bigger process for me. I am not sure I have the attention span, though, to follow a real outline… the rebel in me would… you know… rebel.
You may not like outlines but it sounds like they help you.
I can’t imagine writing without one. I’ll spend as much time (sometimes longer) on the outline than I do the actual first draft. Or maybe because I spend so much time on the outline my first drafts don’t take very long?
And I don’t select all of the names until I’m finished – makes it even more of an adventure!
I have yet to finish anything I’ve written aside from a few short stories. I’m a pantser. I’ve really tried to outline. When I read about the Save the Cat beat sheet (you can adapt it for novels) I was so excited about it because it seemed like a great way to have a sense of where your story would go without being overly detailed. But I kept finding myself doing full outlines for my stories, then getting bored and still quitting very early. So I’ve gone back to pantsing. I have the idea for the premise/main characters, some idea of how it should end and that’s it. I think about the story about 1-2 scenes ahead of what I’m writing, but no further.
You’ve expressed exactly what I feel about outlines–mostly they’re a huge waste of time. Plus they can stifle your story and make it come out lifeless. But I’ve run into trouble totally “pantsing” a book too, so I compromise by writing notes about key scenes and plot points. Luckily, I don’t have an editor who requires outlines. I’d be really frustrated by that.
For me, it’s all about knowing the characters and which beats I want to hit in a story. I write the roughest reminder you can imagine- “Main Character is with supporting character; meets Important Character; learn about Main Character’s past; fights with other character; commits action…” etc. But then I trust that my characters can get me from Point A to Point B or, if Point B doesn’t work, can make it on their own to Point C. Anything with numbers or Roman numerals would make me feel stifled :-)
I’m forcing myself to learn to outline too. It is SO unnatural but I want to try to stop leaving myself ridiculous plot holes and coincidence related problems that are nightmares to fix. I’m hoping I get faster as I get used to it.
Hart–You *would* rebel–ha! Your middle ground sounds like it works well and timelines can really be helpful with mysteries. Maybe it’s an attention span thing for me too. Goodness knows I have a hard time maintaining focus…
Alex–They do. They do help me. (Sigh.) I’m so stubborn!
Anne–That sounds like a good compromise to me! :)
Deb–Those notes look a lot like what I’d write at the end of each writing session to remind myself where I left off. That kind of stuff I can handle, for sure! And good to know we can deviate from it, too. Yes, those numbers and Roman numerals–bleh! I’ve never seen either of my children having to do those for school, so I guess it’s fallen out of fashion.
Momlarky–I think it’s interesting that you mention boredom here. I believe that can really be a culprit when it comes to finishing projects. And I *completely* understand what you mean about outlining taking out the fun factor. It does for me, too. Maybe, for you, just the bare bones of a direction will work better. I hope you can finish a project!
Elizabeth- you know what outlining is essential for? Non-fiction, where you really have to make sure you can “prove” your point, just as we did in those research papers we did in Middle School. I have a non-fiction piece I’m working on and if I had gone in with a more in-depth outline it would have been easier on me. Maybe that’s where all of these editors are getting their demands from?
Deb–I think you’re right. Then I’d feel *good* about doing an outline–I could use it for a table of contents for my non-fiction book or a proposal to a publisher. For fiction…it feels halfway useless. Although I know it helps me!
Jemi–That’s where I am. I’m giving myself a week for the outline…we’ll see how that goes. I still have this antsy feeling that I should be doing something else with my time…
I don’t outline at first. I just jump in. But I find that about 100 pages in or so, I start to lose focus and need help finishing. That’s when I draw up an outline, and it helps get the job done. But outlining right at the get-go I find frustrating. I’d much rather dive in headfirst. :)
Forget outlining in the traditional sense. (Though for a pantser like me, it’s a glorious REWRITE tool.)
Sure, let’s avoid the 30% of the time when we paint ourselves in the corner. But we can do that without a traditional outline.
What I’m doing these days is starting with a few paragraphs about how my story meets the 6 vital elements of storytelling as Larry Brooks teaches them in Story Engineering.
You can have those answers, and still have all the creative freedom of pantsing — including choosing your perpetrator late in the game.
I’m all about index cards.
As I develop the story and characters, I note scenes and clues. When I have enough to begin (meaning I’m sure of the beginning and ending and certain about several scenes in the middle), I lay them out in the order in which I think things will happen. Many of them get moved around. Several of them get tossed out. Dozens more new ones join the throng. Soon, by writing from card to card to card, I have a book.
Hi Elizabeth–great post!
Deb, I totally relate to what you’ve said– characters first. There’s no story without strong characters, in my opinion. So… I’m now into the 3rd of my “Mother and Me” mystery series. I know who the characters are, know who the bodies will be, have a more or less idea of what’s going to happen when. And I’ve already changed my plan as to who the killer will be. I know scenes will need to be put in the right order, there’ll need to be more connective tissue, etc. I constantly make notes. But an outline? Not unless you count jotting down the idea for the mystery before I started writing it….
Sandy Gardner
sgardner2@hvc.rr.com
Dina –You sound impatient–like me!
Joel–Love Larry Brook’s blog. Haven’t read StoryFix yet, but have heard fantastic things about it!
Carolyn–I *love* the idea of index cards. I might have to do virtual ones, though, since paper in my house tends to disappear. :) I like to blame the children for it, but I think I accidentally throw papers away when I clean house…
Sandra–This is why I love writing series–so much is already set for us at the start of the book! We have settings, regular characters, a sense of the voice of the series…it’s just wonderful.
I’m like Dina. I jump into the story finding out who my characters are, their voice, where they live, etc. Then after about two chapters I realize that I need to know more clearly where their story is going. I do a chapter list at that point, so I know the very basic events in each chapter to the end of the story. This is no longer than 2 pages, and that’s enough to keep me going. As I’m writing, I’ll sometimes get a very clear picture of an upcoming scene or piece of dialogue. I write those down right away, rather than wait to get to that chapter on my list, and then I plug them in later. Deviate from the outline? You bet!
When I don’t outline, I always run into problems. I’ve come to think you can pants your way through a straight plot (Agatha Christie, etc) but you have to outline a complex one (Bourne Identity). However, I was shocked to hear that Lee Child is a pantser. His One Shot and Hard Way are quite intricate.
I’ve started using a trick recommended by Alexandra Sokoloff: the story board. You take a tri-fold poster (the kind you might have used for the 6th grade science fair), mark off the 8 sequences (act 1, scene 1, etc) and put post-it notes for the major turning points. You can color code for sub-plots (pink for the romantic interests, yellow for danger, red for bad guys, etc).
Once you have 15-20 big ideas down, you can outline, or just write from glancing at the storyboard.
It is my kind of outline because it allows for instant flexibility. Just glancing at the finished storyboard, you instantly see problems and can move or replace them.
Peace, Seeley