New Novelists - Outline or not?

[ArizonaWriterBJ]

I'm sure this question has probably come up a zillion times...

But for those who have written a novel, on your first novel (assuming you're a newbie and not with years of experience) did you outline it or just wait to see what unfolded as you wrote? What did you learn from it no matter which method you chose?

Thanks.

Brenda 8-)

[AngelAzariah]

_____I never do when I'm starting any new work. I do however keep notes of cool ideas that I use only half the time when I get to that point in my work. That's the sum of it from my side.

[ellenjames]

Brenda,

I'm not a novelist, but I write children's stories.
I don't use an outline, but I always have the ending before I begin writing.
Then I go back and make everything in the story pertinent to and working
toward that end. I start with an idea -- maybe only a word. I started one
story for the word "Joy". :D

Just keep writing, read all you can about novel writing and grammar. It
will eventually come together for you.

Happy Writing! !thumbsup!

Ellenjames

[jacx1938]

I'm exactly the opposite of Ellenjames. I have a starting point and a general concept, then it's through the "process" of writing that many of the details are discovered. So far, this seems to work for me, even though it's probably twice the work--a ton more re-writes--but I just can't write in a what's for me, a "paint-by-number" fashion where the ending is predetermined. It takes all the excitment from the dicovery process away. My hat is off to Ellen and all those who can do it that way, as it would be much less work; or so it seems to me. I'm pretty new and am still learning.

Jim.

[AngelAzariah]

_____I forgot to say I've been writing for four years. My metheds haven't changed much still. Sit, write, keep notes for later times, maybe use, write, and I'm happy. :D

[Hisart]

I have an idea for a story and it usually includes the lead characters and the general direction with one or two events that burn bright. Then I just write, keeping in mind those events and it works it's way around to them, eventually. :D
God Bless!
Hisart :cool:

[paulchernoch]

I chose to outline my first (and so far only) novel. The nature of my project forced this upon me. My idea called for the design of a whole world, its legal system, a schema for the moral transformation of my main character and the solution of a theological problem before I could make any headway. The solution to the theological problem (communication between living and dead when that is proscribed by the bible) dictated much of the early plot.

My early attempts at plot were overly formulaic and wedded to using the beatitudes of Mt 5 as the schema for my main character's transformation. When my research disclosed that Dante used this very approach in his Purgatorio, instead of being disappointing, it was actually liberating. Someone else had already done that, so I didn't have to. I was going to use a series of court cases to reveal his past and challenge him to change. I decided to retain some of that, but not do it systematically. I settled on a simpler schema of justice, mercy and humility as set forth in Micah 6:8, combined with the tension between seeking wisdom through mourning as opposed to the folly of pleasure-seeking.

It was at this point that the decision to outline began to pay off. When building a whole world (in my case, part of the afterlife) a map and a world design are essential. But instead of the story being another travelogue adventure where the writer creates cool places and the main character's only real job is to visit them, the places were mostly born from a need to represent some aspect of the process of sanctification; they had a purpose.

Another benefit of the outline process was when I tallied the expected page count and discovered that I didn't have a long enough plot, and the stakes were not large enough to really interest a reader. That forced me to construct a larger conflict involving more than just my protagonist. What started as one man's adventure became a full scale war by the time I was done with it. Then I discovered the the connection to this world was too tenuous, and I realized I needed a frame story to finish it off.

One outlining technique I used was creating a grid to show which chapters each character would appear in. This helped me intercut the different plot lines more effectively, and make sure the secondary characters each had a chance to develop. (I still managed to forget to write endings for a few and had to add that in later!)

Every chapter in a book must be essential - something important to the story must occur in its pages. By sprinkling the important developments carefully I managed to ensure that each chapter had a point to it. This helped me come up with crisp chapter titles and head quotes.

Even so, when I got to certain parts of the book, I found that the story was thin. The final battle especially needed work. I ended up breaking it into three chapters, adding several new characters, some betrayals and setbacks, and a more surprising conclusion. Villains became heoes and vice versa until I was satisfied. But the important thing was that I resolved the problem by doing an intense outline of the section to be revised before resuming the writing.

It took six months to do the research and write the outline, during which time days and even weeks would pass while I wrestled with a plotting problem making no headway. But once completed, my blueprint would liberate me. With a full-time job and family responsibilities, the paint-by-numbers effect of writing by the outline made it possible for me to keep the writing moving along once the main outline was complete.

Another helpful thing about the outline was that it gave me a framework for structuring the random ideas that would occur to me. I wrote up pages of names for characters, court houses, places, etc. which I could draw on as needed. And when the inspiration for a chapter came to me, I could write it out of sequence. I wrote the second chapter, then the last three, then started at the beginning for the next nine or ten, then bounced around some more.

But despite all the outlining, as I wrote, I felt free to improvise as I went along. For one thing, I found it impossible to write dossiers on each character, though many recommend it. I didn't know my characters well, or how some of them might fit into the story beyond the few scenes some of them were scheduled to appear in. So while I constrained the plot and setting for the story, I left the characters free to change, sometimes in surprising ways. That has been the fun part for me. Other people may have their characters' personalities and backgrounds firmly in mind but no clear knowledge of plot.

- Paul

[Gumpngreen]

Terry Brooks has written a book on writing and one of the chapters discusses the 2 major types of writing methodologies. I'm like Paul and heavily rely on outlining. In fact, I sometimes write so many details into my outlines that they could almost be a short novels themselves.

[wgjones3]

Lots of people like this:

http://www.rsingermanson.com/html/the_snowflake.html

[ArizonaWriterBJ]

I appreciate the opportunity to hear the different takes on the process. One of the neat things about writing is the different ways people get where they're going with their characters.

For my first novel I'm doing more the freeform method - I know my main characters and how I want it to end. Though I suspect as a first time effort, no matter which way I choose, a lot of blundering will be necessary to come up with the final product.

Only time will tell for sure. Thanks again.

Brenda 8-)

[writegirl1949]

Brenda ... hey, you're from Arizona. !thumbsup! I'll be coming home from Germany soon. I need my desert fix. :cool:

As to outlining ... or not. I do, BUT I think the key is that if you outline, don't let it constrict your creativity. I found, when working on deadline for my suspense novel, that while adhering to the outline, I "wrote through." I just kept writing, allowing the characters some freedom to just be themselves . The outline kept me going in the direction I wanted but the writing through allowed for some "umlitungs" -- German for detours, lol.

This really allowed me to not only let those characters breathe, but I had the outline to refer to in order to make sure I'd been consistent in all the little things that can mess up your writing. I will say I did have to go back and make some minor changes, but I felt the combination of the two strengthened the characters and the plot.

And, I would highly recommend the site WG provided ... Randy is an awesome writer and his newsletter and snowflake formula are excellent. And, he does everything with humor.

Hopefully, I've helped and not muddied the waters.

Blessings, Francine

[TLHines]

I've done it both ways--and enjoyed it both ways. I outlined my first novel, then decided to do the freeform method for the second. Outlining, in general, kept me more focused and sped the process. The freeform method took much longer, and resulted in more edits/changed directions/revises--but somehow made me feel closer to my characters and story, if that makes sense.

I'm using a blend of the two now, and it seems to be working. First, I write the whole thing in a screenplay format--which ends up being about 100-ish pages. This becomes a great outline, with key scenes and dialogue in place. I think it offers the joy of story discovery (while you write the screenplay), along with the benefits of structure.

[ProfessorAlan]

I am an outliner -- as a part-time novelist, it is the only way that I can remember where the story is, was, and is going. Now, by "outline" I mean a scene list, very broad, of where things are generally heading -- I need these two characters to start falling in love in the first 10 chapters, or the bad guy to kidnap the hero at the halfway point -- that sort of thing. This might be 1-3 pages long. That leaves lots of room for growth/change, inspiration, etc . . . outlines are only good if they free you creatively, which mine have, not if they constrict you. I would jettison it immediately if I found an outline moving me and the story in a way I didn't like.

I teach management and finance, and I tell my students that plans (schedules, budgets, etc . . . ) are never set in stone. They can always change if the situation warrants it. I outline with that same thought in mind.

I also keep character sheets for the main/POV people, so I can get back into their heads, know who they are and what they are like, and most importantly, what change(s) they will undergo during the arc of the novel.

[David Meigs]

I have tried it both ways, and outlining seems best for me. I typically spend weeks working out every detail. By the time every issue is settled, it is already permanently etched in my brain. I am free to sit down and watch the movie playing in my mind. All I have to do is to hit the record button on my keyboard.

:cool: