Comments on: Writing My Novel: Outlining?

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:42:23 +0000

That’s exactly how I feel, Robert. I feel it has a great place academically, but creatively, it’s too rigid. I’m finding that as I do it, however, I like the structure it gives me because I’m still “creating,” which is something very important to me.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:41:20 +0000

I do hope to get back to the horror novel eventually. I have a few of the conventions in the horror novel that would actually work well in the YA SFF book because of the hybrid genres I’m working with.

I agree; I’m worrying too much. I’m going to stop that. Soon. I promise.

I’m a worrier.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:40:01 +0000

I would, but I know that a first-timer pitching a definite series is a quick way to not get represented by an agent. It’s too hard to sell. I prefer to leave it open ended but have a decent enough resolution that it //could// be the end.

Think the end of Star Wars: A New Hope.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:38:29 +0000

I think that’s great advice, Mary: the story wins either way. Either I’ve written a good character or I’ve written a good plot, and both ways enhance the final product more than my whining about how much detail to include ever could.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:55:42 +0000

Totally forgot to way good luck
.-= Robert´s last blog ..Glee 1×13 ‘Sectionals’ =-.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:55:24 +0000

I used to utterly and completely against outlining. I feel like it’s the way to write essays, not creative writing.

However, I’ve really come to appreciate jotting down notes here and there. The more I write, the more I feel the structure of things congeal into a viable format. Without outlines, I would not be able to see the clearer picture this early on.

Having said that, the end product is NEVER exact to the outline that I conceived in the beginning, so I don’t let my creative side get boggled down by earlier designs, which is my main fear towards outlining.
.-= Robert´s last blog ..Glee 1×13 ‘Sectionals’ =-.

By: TheInfoPreneur

TheInfoPreneur — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:46:02 +0000

This is really exciting stuff. I would love to write a book one day. I will be glued to this site for updates on your Horror novel, I love anything occult.

Will be tweating this right now.

It does sound like you are worrying too much though, Let loose and have fun with it, your passion is so-called becuase it’s not a chore!

great post make sure you update as often as you can!
.-= TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..I’m Going Back to School, For You! =-.

By: MaryLUE

MaryLUE — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:51:21 +0000

I really think (and remember my disclaimer on Twitter that I don’t REALLY know what I am talking about) that the combination of discipline and hard, hard work combines with that idea you mention in this reply of “realizing [your] character would never have acted that way to begin with.” I think when you are doing the type of detailed work you are doing here, it is because it is in you and wanting to get out. You are going to know these characters and what happens to them so much better by putting on the page what is in your head. (If you didn’t have that much detail trying to get out, I think your simple outline would be just fine.)

If and when one of your characters starts telling you something different, it is going to be one of those moments when your inspiration takes over… and that is good. You will have to argue with her (Aren’t muses always female?) about who is right. One of you will win. Either way the story wins. I don’t think your roadmap would be arbitrary but like every good story, the journey usually takes us to unexpected places. Your journey may not follow this map but I can’t believe that if you are serious about this, that either the planning or the detour wouldn’t be worth it.
.-= MaryLUE´s last blog ..Time Suckers =-.

By: Tesh

Tesh — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:52:31 +0000

So make it a series and call it the Wheel of Thyme or something like that…
.-= Tesh´s last blog ..Fighting Fire With Fire =-.

By: Naithin

Naithin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:17:46 +0000

Quick little tip I just came across while reading elsewhere about the ‘Show don’t tell’ stuff to refresh it in my mind and relearn the times when it’s ok to ignore this ‘rule’ (such as non critical moments or scenes where you just want time to pass rapidly.)

One of the suggestions as when to ignore the ‘Show don’t tell’ rule?

In yer outline. Tell to your hearts content, I saw a comment from a Tor editor that mentioned some of the outlines he’s seen say things like, ‘And then an exciting battle happens’.

The trick then becomes taking this ‘telling’ and turning it into a fantastic showing for the actual story.

Perhaps this is part of the issue you’re having with excessive length in yer outline?
.-= Naithin´s last blog ..Contemplation, Changes and Progress =-.