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one of J. K. Rowling's very complicated plot
outline pages |
Outlining and You
I
know what you’re thinking about the title of this post. Outlining, the evil
scourge of the writer, nasty holdover from high school English class that sucks
all the fun and creativity out of opening up your muse and letting her flow from
your fingertips unfettered, free.
Please,
allow me to elaborate before you brush off the one tool that could take you
from the choppy sea of book writing to the hallowed shores of book written.
When
I outline, it’s one of the most creative things I’ve ever been privileged to
undertake. From core idea through one-sheet delight into conflict building and
to a full, chapter-by-chapter breakdown, the outlining process is, in every
step, joyful and full of sparkle I can’t get enough of.
Consider
the following as a peek inside what could easily be the most fun you’ve had as
a writer. Now, don’t get me wrong. Outlining isn’t for everyone. I do know a
small few writers who can manage to follow the thread of their story from
beginning to end with all subplots firmly in place in their first pass. I’m in
awe of such talent and have only accomplished it in short story form, not full
novel. Nor would I want to attempt it, to be honest, when the format I use
makes my writing life so easy it’s a delight.
First
benefit: attachment. When I’m outlining, I’m slowly building from the seed of
the idea into layers of information and plotting, rather than sitting down and
writing out a giant scene (or scenes), making it 10 or 20K into the work before
realizing I’ve painted myself into a corner and am now forced to delete the
bulk of the job and start again. Horrifying. By building the story, plot point
by conflict by character trait, I allow myself the clear and concise vision of
what is coming before committing whole heartedly to the thing. It’s awesome and
liberating and leaves me with goosebumpy shivers I can’t wait to feel every
time I sit down to outline.
Second
benefit: editing. My content editor loves me. LOVES. I love me, too. Imagine
being able to follow a plan, to write a book from a template of your own
creation (no unoriginality or formulas here!) in a way you can see exactly
where plot holes might lurk in wait to swallow your story whole. Or having
a—dare I say—easy time with your edits because, lo and behold, the story is
actually complete. Finally, the delighted response from your editor when he or
she discovers you’ve done a large majority of their work for them. Priceless.
Third
benefit: time. No more waiting for the muse to strike. No need. The entire
story is written, you just need to sit down and fill in the blanks
(Procrastination is, however, up to you to deal with). Using my method, I’m
able to outline and write two books a month when I’m feeling ambitious (my
record is three). And yes, according to my readers, they are good, thank you.
As
writers, there are times (more often than not) when we’re taught what we do is
hard. Painful, angst-filled, a struggle, and that we suck at it so much, why do
we bother? I choose to change that way of thinking, starting with what I can do
to make my life as a writer easier. Not only loving what I write, but embracing
everything to do with the process, including outlining and editing. This job
has enough pitfalls. Why not grasp every advantage?
That
doesn’t mean you have to do what I do. Exploring method is half the fun.
Sometimes something as simple as a beat sheet (taken from screenwriting) that
breaks the story down into the three acts of a complete story is enough. Or, if
you’re like me, a detailed paragraph per chapter might be your cup of tea. No
matter your skill set or level of accomplishment, an outline can be a valuable tool
for your writer’s box of tricks.
Now,
if only there were more hours in the day…
About Patti Larson
Patti Larsen is an award-winning author with a passion for the paranormal, now with many books
in happy publication and her best-selling Hayle Coven Novels re-releasing in
book stores everywhere. She lives in beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, with a patient husband, six demanding cats and a Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.
You
can find Patti in these places:
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Giveaway
Patti has generously offered a signed copy of Girl Incredible as a prize for one commenter. All you need to do to be entered is comment on this post. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator on March 31st. (Only one entry is allowed per person, and you must be a signed-up member of the challenge in order to qualify.)
Terry Pratchett, author of more than 70 books, including the Discworld series, died today. He had suffered from Alzheimer's since 2007. He once said, "The ideal death, I think, is what was the ideal Victorian death, you know, with your grandchildren around you, a bit of sobbing. And you say goodbye to your loved ones, making certain that one of them has been left behind to look after the shop," and, like his words, he managed to die at home, with his cat sleeping on his bed and with his family around him.
