To Outline or Not to Outline
To outline or not to outline...
That is now the surprising question.
Although I'm still learning when it comes to writing (and, in fact, aren't we always learning?), I'd always done things the same way up till now: outline outline outline!
Perhaps it's the need to have control over a process (namely, writing) that in itself is quite creative. Perhaps it's my background as a lawyer that means I like to know what to expect. Or perhaps it's the problem solver in me that likes to think "hey...how exactly do they get from meet-cute to HEA?"
Anyway, up until now, I've always been about the outline. Even if it wasn't a completely detailed outline, it always took me along the main events from Point A to HEA. With every story I've written, there has been some kind of outline.
Well, no longer.
As an update on the kickboxing boys , I turned that in last week. (yay!) So keep an eye out for Punch-Drunk Love when the M/M Romance Group releases it this summer alongside a bunch of other nifty freebie stories. Like my other M/M Romance Group freebies BTW I Love You and Man-to-Man Coverage , it's around 15-20K words of fluff. On a separate note, the 15-20K words mark appears to be my sweet spot when writing, but maybe that's a subject for another blog post. :)
Anyway, I completed the kickboxing boys' story and immediately turned to a new one that had been waving its arms at me for attention. This story has taken up my writing time the last few days, and it's basically giving the finger and sticking its tongue out to my other WIPs.
I had a general idea that I wrote down in a quick paragraph of story direction.
But here's the thing...after that, I just sat down and began to write it.
No outline, no other notes, nada.
It's been so much fun.
The story is about a werewolf (yes, watching Teen Wolf has definitely provided some paranormal writing inspiration), and it's pretty much fluffy lycan fun. :) Let's just say surprise shifting, bad dates, some porn mags, and a charming new office assistant are involved.
The process of not having a process has been eye-opening. It's quite freeing, and I can definitely see the appeal of how writers favor this approach. That isn't to say that I don't have a rough outline in my head, but it's almost like not putting it down on paper has some kind of psychological effect of feeling no pressure to take things one way or another.
It might be that extra step of writing it down that has made me feel more locked into an idea. While my outlines in the past have themselves been fluid, my decision (or reluctance?) to change major points possibly was influenced by the fact that they were already down on paper in the first place. So maybe having it in writing already felt like a commitment, whereas doing it from the inspirational paragraph and whatever thoughts are in my head instead permit a lot more straying.
I have no idea, but it's making me question how I approach my other WIPs. Which could be a good thing. Or a bad thing. >__>
We'll see, right? As it is, I'm working on my werewolf boy for now and will take the others one day at a time. I've had a lot of fun trying out this new approach, so who knows? Maybe that'll be my new MO when it comes to getting my stories onto the page.
I've heard so many things about how people plan their stories one way or the other. If you have any opinions on how to organize and put together your tale, please share. I'm curious to hear what you guys think. =)
Now...back to my werewolf!
♥,
NJ
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You do what works - I sit down and start, and never know what's coming on the next page when I write, with very rare and vague exceptions. But there are excellent writers who are meticulous planners. And others who work differently for different stories or genres. Try out the more freeform process, see if it clicks, or do you write yourself enthusiastically in to dead ends? There is no single right way to write (or even dozen right ways to write.) What inspires your best final story is what works for you. Good luck!
Lori wrote: "Organisation had run out by the time I'd got to the front of that queue - I'm sure I only got a dribble of it...Oh I wish I could be a planner Nico, but even if I do have plans my characters tend..."
Lori, I think I've been doing the same thing for this story! I like to have an idea of body type and physical characteristics, as well as personality. So I might jot a few notes down, but structure-wise, I'm kinda free-writing it off of the general ideas in my head.
I could never blog about writing itself. Who am I to talk about do-this-and-not-that, after all? But the process? That definitely intrigues me. It's so cool how things work for everyone. :)
Kaje wrote: "You do what works - I sit down and start, and never know what's coming on the next page when I write, with very rare and vague exceptions. But there are excellent writers who are meticulous planner..."That is such great advice. :) Yes, I think I'll try out this new approach for now. I just found myself so flabbergasted to have deviated from my norm! Then again, it could also be that some stories require one thing while others want another. Hearing about the different ways people write is awesome and gives such a great perspective.
Oh I wish I could be a planner Nico, but even if I do have plans my characters tend not to stick to them. That's not to say I don't ever write anything down, I have notebooks for each WIP and write down physical characteristics and personalities of my MC's. I keep notes of who is in the stories (for continuity)I brainstorm plot problems or if a scene is one of those that feels like wading through mud I write what I need from that scene. I just don't have a full outline of the story. I usually know in my head the start and the end - but the journey, not so much.
Great blog post - I'm always fascinated by others writing process (and it always feels like everyone else is doing it right & I'm doing it wrong!!)
ETA - however you do it, it totally works for you because I love your stories!!