Long-time readers of this blog will recall that while I now use an outline for my long-form fiction, I used to rebel against the very notion of outlining. When I was a teenager, especially, I preferred to think of the author's role as something like an archaeologist excavating the blank page to reveal the story. Sure, I'm in charge of the process, but that doesn't mean I know what's going to happen.
Over time, though, I realized that I needed an outline. Why? Essentially because as a working adult it helps me not forget what the heck I'm doing when I'm kept away from my writing for days or weeks at a time.
But I don't really outline in a traditional sense. To do so feels very forced and drums the creativity out of my process. Plus, for me there's no escaping it: as I flesh out details, I do change my mind about what's going to happen. A proper outline isn't very forgiving of that.
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| Puffin photo by Hanno |
Because of the way I write, I know how it's going to end, or at least, how I think I'm going to end it. Because I know that's not the case for many other writers, I'll assume I don't actually know this time.
The process always begins by identifying a starting and an ending point:
Start: Dr. Cavern builds a fish oil-powered time machine
End: Details uncertain, but there is a Roman Cult of the Puffin and the world has changed from that which we know.
Then I'll flesh it out into general chaptery bits, using completely arbitrary numbers:
1) Dr. Cavern builds a fish oil-powered time machine
2) Dr. Cavern travels back to the time of the Roman Republic -- brings along accidental puffin -- confused puffin flies into someone, interrupting an assassination
20) Details uncertain, but there is a Roman Cult of the Puffin and the world has changed from that which we know.
Then I figure out any major plot points and insert them, again with arbitrary numbers, based on roughly whereabouts in the story line I want them to happen. So, for instance, if I want this to happen around the middle, I will call it chapter ten:
10) The romans realize it was the puffin who stopped the assassination, not Dr. Cavern.
At that point it's a matter of running through connect-the-dots iterations, inserting the plot points that seem necessary to get from one point to another:
2) Dr. Cavern travels back to the time of the Roman Republic -- brings along accidental puffin -- confused puffin flies into someone, interrupting an assassination
3) The Romans assume it was Dr. Cavern who stopped the assassination.
6) Confused and on-the-run, Dr. Cavern seeks shelter near cliffs haunted by a single puffin.
10) The romans realize it was the puffin who stopped the assassination, not Dr. Cavern.
15) All the Romans unite against Dr. Cavern.
20) Details uncertain, but there is a Roman Cult of the Puffin and the world has changed from that which we know.
Rinse. Repeat.
6) Confused and on-the-run, Dr. Cavern seeks shelter near cliffs haunted by a single puffin.
8) Dr. Cavern bonds spiritually with the puffin
10) The romans realize it was the puffin who stopped the assassination, not Dr. Cavern.
13) Romans begin resented Dr. Cavern's special relationship with the puffin.
15) All the Romans unite against Dr. Cavern.
16) Dr. Cavern appeals to the puffin for mercy.
And so so on, until I have what feels roughly like a plot.
1) Dr. Cavern builds a fish oil-powered time machine
2) Dr. Cavern travels back to the time of the Roman Republic -- brings along accidental puffin -- confused puffin flies into someone, interrupting an assassination
3) The Romans assume it was Dr. Cavern who stopped the assassination.
4) Factions develop, one idolizing Dr. Cavern and the other resenting her.
5) While being honored by one faction, Dr. Cavern's life is threatened by the other.
6) Confused and on-the-run, Dr. Cavern seeks shelter near cliffs haunted by a single puffin.
7) Dr. Cavern tries to secure fish oil for a return time travel trip, but fails.
8) Dr. Cavern bonds spiritually with the puffin
9) Dr. Cavern takes to walking with and dwelling beside the puffin.
10) The romans realize it was the puffin who stopped the assassination, not Dr. Cavern.
11) The cult of the puffin begins to develop.
12) Dr. Cavern becomes inconsequential to both factions.
13) Romans begin resented Dr. Cavern's special relationship with the puffin.
14) Dr. Cavern tries to take advantage of the puffin's persuasive aura to secure her own safety and prestige.
15) All the Romans unite against Dr. Cavern.
16) Dr. Cavern appeals to the puffin for mercy.
17) Two groups of Romans encircle Dr. Cavern to kill her, but the puffin tried to intervene
18) Details uncertain, but there is a Roman Cult of the Puffin and the world has changed from that which we know
You'll notice that I'm not concerned about details of action, character, setting, or historical research. I'm just laying out the foundation for my story so that I have a coherent vision -- a foundation from which to attack those details, and a guideline to which I can appeal when I get lost or confused.
.Nevets.
Soundtrack for writing the post provided by Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, Yngwie Malmsteen, TV on the Radio.
And now you must write this novel. I know *I'd* read it. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd my method for longer-form fiction is now to roughly outline, then to write a pre-synopsis. Both acts are creative, and brainstormy, and help immeasurably when it comes to the full draft.
Also, there's still plenty of room for improvisational magic. Win.
@Simon - Yeah, I've almost talked myself into this one. hahaha
ReplyDeleteAnd the pre-synopsis... I've done something like that before, too, and called it a treatment. Immensely helpful while not too constraining. For some reason, I didn't do that with my current novel, except that it started as a piece of flash fiction, so maybe in my mind that did the same thing.
Good point, by the way that part of what's helpful about doing things like this is that it's brain stormy.
I honestly went through the puffin story using the legit process. I had no idea what the middle bits were going to be when I started. I think it gives me an inkling of the end now... lol
I always think I know exactly where the story will go and then one of the characters does something totally unexpected and I have to rethink my course. But, that's what I love about writing.
ReplyDeleteI think I work in a similar way, haha. I start with the beginning and the end, then I flesh out a certain number of 'key scenes' that I feel are important for various reasons. This is the basic framework - it's not arbitrary but it is a great start. From there I basically fill in the gaps.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think everyone has their own method. It's one of those things without a set answer, whatever works for you is great.
Sure, as Clarissa says above, things happen unexpectedly as you write that take things in weird and exciting directions, but then you just reset the goalposts and go again!
I love the way that we all get to the same point in different ways. It's the beauty of the craft!
I can't do outlines no matter what kind of writing it is. Ironically I did make a ton of power points which is essentially outlines only and I was good at it.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's because I don't write professionally so I just go about it every which way I feel like.
Well, isn't that special.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, if it works, good on you. I figure we'll all get to Rome, though roads vary wildly.
The pre-synopsis or treatment or whatever you want to label it has been the most helpful for me. Outlines inflame my need to do tangential in-depth research, which we all know is a time-sink-of-great-proportions. Though it does help while playing Jeopardy!
I warn you, no good comes of a puffin novel, well-plotted or not.
ReplyDeleteActually, I'd read this one. Your method sounds similar to my own: I have key points along the way but plenty of room for surprise. Unfortunately, most professionals in publishing seem to want a blow by blow description before writing begins, which doesn't suit me at all.
My method is fairly similar, although I never have 20 points before I start. I'm more likely to have 1-6, 12, 16, 20.
ReplyDeleteI find my process is often confused (as with current WIP) by having a non-linear narrative. I'm writing an "opening scene" at the moment, but I have no idea where it will fall in the final arrangement - although I know it's somewhere in Act 2 on a chronological timeline.
You gave me these tips before, when I was struggling with the Doorways plan...
ReplyDeleteWorked wonders.
:-)
Yup. I'm an anti-outliner myself, but intend to try and have a vague sort of plan for my next novel. If I outline too rigidly the work lies dead on the page by the time I'm finished the story.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that cute little Puffin has a happy ending.
Judy (South Africa)
I so want to be an outliner. My next book will be outlined in detail so that all plot holes will be plugged from the beginning, and everything will be nicely structured before I even start writing. Or at least this is what I'm promising myself.
ReplyDelete(You can probably guess that revisions for the current book are SUCKING right now!)
That is essentially what goes on in my head, but I really must commit to writing that stuff down, because I tend to jump around with projects and forget...Nice outline...
ReplyDelete@Clarissa - I love having to think on my feet!
ReplyDelete@Luke - Totally agree. Notice me not telling everyone else to do it this way. hahaha I think there's value sometimes in seeing what other people are doing to see if it helps get you out of some jams, but I am all for each writer being comfortable with his or her own method.
@Sh'girl - Nothing wrong with that approach. It's what I used to do, too. It was completely disorganized in my own approach until I decided (a) to get hard core about pursuing publication and (b) that I was balancing too my plates in the hair. And it used to work great for me!
@B - Puffins are always special. Also, nice Rome tie-in. Also, I do know the time-trap that research becomes.
@Aliya - I intend to avoid the curse of the puffin, but I will admit that going through this exercise sort of got me interested in this book. haha Curses.
ReplyDeleteAs for the expectation for the point-by-point pound-out, I'll admit that's one of the things I find a little intimidating.
@Tim - I know what you mean. In Sublimation I'm managing two POV's, each of which has two time-lines. For each character, one of those timelines is pretty jumbled up. That's why when I'm writing, the outline often becomes more of a reference document for plot-points I want to be sure I hit by the time I'm done.
@Misha - I'm so glad it was helpful with your beast!
ReplyDelete@Judy - My inclination tells me that the puffin has a happier ending than Dr. Cavern.
@Jennifer - Ugh, I hope your revisions go okay. Plot holes was one of the main reasons I started doing this. I'm sure there still are a few, but not as many as there would have been otherwise.
@Bridget - Yeah, I think I've always done something like this in my head. Once I got over the initial gut reaction I had against anything that resembled it an outline, I did find it insanely helpful for avoiding confusion.
I usually end up writing the outline after I start writing the book itself--most of the time I jump into a new story and then hash out the details once I've gotten the first chapter or so written down.
ReplyDeleteConfused, time-traveling puffin shapes the course of Roman history. I'd buy like 10,000 copies of that book.
ReplyDeleteAlso, your outlining strategy actually makes sense. Whoa.
@G'Eagle - Cool! Sounds like the first chapter works for you kind of in the same way, to get your brain engaged and to start getting a feel for the story.
ReplyDelete@LT - haha Yeah, I'm not sure what I've gotten myself into, but by going through that exercise I kind of started to get interested in this book. I may end up writing the thing....
And -- Woohoo! Glad the strategy makes sense to you!
Its the seat of my pants for me. I start on line one and have no clue where I'm going. I figure if I don't know then the reader sure as hell won't
ReplyDelete@Michael - Nothing like an old-fashioned free-for-all to get the blood pumping!
ReplyDelete