Lots of great comments on the "Writers About Town" post from a week or so ago. Dan and I have been discussing the age-old question of outlining. Some authors swear by it, while others vehemently reject the practice. Personally, I'm an outliner, but I'm a planner by nature. So whether you like to outline your short stories, novels, children's books, etc., probably depends on your own personal style.
As you can see, Dan's comments really got me thinking about this topic, so I'm going to keep going...I'd love to hear your own preferences about outlining vs. not outlining.
I definitely see his point about outlining seeming restrictive, but it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. Remember that, since you're the author, you are the "master" of the outline, so you can stray from it as much as you like and then go back and rework or adjust it to match what you've done and where the story's going. I would suggest that the happy medium is a "loose" outline. That's how I tend to approach it. That way, I know what's coming up (and, as I'm writing, what's already happened). It provides a guide, a structure for the story so that I don't get "lost" or feel like the story's not going anywhere, but it doesn't hem me in. Plus, it can help you to see the "arc" of the story -- that kind of thing. Outlines can also be motivating the closer you get to THE END.
May I also suggest: if you're planning to attend the Writers Workshop Author Series on 2/27 (I know, I know -- that's ALL I talk about!), you could pose a question about outlining and plotting to our featured author...it's always interesting to hear the different approaches out there.
See you next week (2/16)!
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I'm with you Jen. As a navigator who plots courses, dead reckoning, ETAs, etc., I find I am approaching this writing project the same way. The outline is my GPS that tells me where I am in respect to where I want to go. But I am the one who sets the course and I can just as easily change it at any time.
ReplyDeleteTo continue the metaphors, one could say the outline is the spine of the body of work. Without it, all the other elements become a big blob.
Every writer is different and tends to stick with what works. I can see an outline getting in the way of a character driven story where plot may not matter much, if the character is interesting enough to hold the interest of the reader.
I personally need an outline, subject to changes at any time.
Buck
Hi wanted to come to yr. writer's workshop but the weather is keeping me in as i'm running late and not entirely sure that y;ou're meeting. Not entirely sure of the format re: critiques but i was just going to come and see/join.
ReplyDeleteTHanks and see u next month.
Rona
Thanks for the comments!
ReplyDeleteRona: A few of us brave souls did meet. I hope you'll join us at the March 16th meeting. We usually start off with a little "update" from each writer on how their work is going and then move on to a writing exercise. We have a short refreshments break just before 8 and then start the critiques (two for 30 minutes each).