Peter Gunder
asked
David Dalglish:
Do you create an outline when you start a new book? And if so how in depth are they? I've read about authors who have outlines that involve specific dialogue and descriptions for each paragraph.
David Dalglish
I used to completely wing it, making drastic changes to storylines and introduce characters far earlier than planned, etc. The more I've written, and the more I've published, the less I do that now. What used to be single-page outlines have slowly become a chapter by chapter summary, usually fairly simple, and never longer than a paragraph, detailing what I expect to happen in that chapter.
Speaking solely for myself, this feels to help a bit more in keeping me on track. I'll still deviate, and sometimes what I expected to be a chapter ends up less than 1k, and I'll merge it with another chapter. But when I do make significant changes based on gut instinct of how the story is flowing, it's easier now to go through the pre-planned chapters and tweak around things, put in reminders to address certain changes, flip some around to keep the chronological stuff right, etc.
As for specific dialog/descriptions: I'll write a line of dialog down if it's in my head, and sounds awesome. Those lines, however, have about a 50% chance of actually making it into the book. What sounds awesome out of context doesn't always fit when I get the characters in the chapter talking...
Speaking solely for myself, this feels to help a bit more in keeping me on track. I'll still deviate, and sometimes what I expected to be a chapter ends up less than 1k, and I'll merge it with another chapter. But when I do make significant changes based on gut instinct of how the story is flowing, it's easier now to go through the pre-planned chapters and tweak around things, put in reminders to address certain changes, flip some around to keep the chronological stuff right, etc.
As for specific dialog/descriptions: I'll write a line of dialog down if it's in my head, and sounds awesome. Those lines, however, have about a 50% chance of actually making it into the book. What sounds awesome out of context doesn't always fit when I get the characters in the chapter talking...
More Answered Questions
Matt
asked
David Dalglish:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[
Hey, love your books. Read the whole shadowdance series and at the end of the last one Zusa says she is pregnant with The Watchers baby. Will there be another book to build on that? or can i find out what happens between them in another book?
(hide spoiler)]
Brandon Daniels
asked
David Dalglish:
Hey Mr. Dalglish, i just read the paladins series through the text adventure available on Google play stores, and i am absolutely in love with your writing. I am just curious as to which novels are about Dezrel, as well as which order would be best to read them in? Thanks in advance, a new fan.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more