tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post5939071078741737596..comments2024-03-08T05:24:28.285-05:00Comments on Nevets.QST: When an Outline Isn't an Outline: Plotting From the Seat of Your PantsC. N. Nevetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-8748651796581441392011-02-23T08:44:14.814-05:002011-02-23T08:44:14.814-05:00@Michael - Nothing like an old-fashioned free-for-...@Michael - Nothing like an old-fashioned free-for-all to get the blood pumping!C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-42130249452842169302011-02-23T03:32:14.685-05:002011-02-23T03:32:14.685-05:00Its the seat of my pants for me. I start on line o...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'tAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316263425112020638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-46380071423518148362011-02-22T21:55:43.278-05:002011-02-22T21:55:43.278-05:00@G'Eagle - Cool! Sounds like the first chapte...@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.<br /><br />@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....<br /><br />And -- Woohoo! Glad the strategy makes sense to you!C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-33165841568317888602011-02-22T20:19:45.084-05:002011-02-22T20:19:45.084-05:00Confused, time-traveling puffin shapes the course ...Confused, time-traveling puffin shapes the course of Roman history. I'd buy like 10,000 copies of that book. <br /><br />Also, your outlining strategy actually makes sense. Whoa.L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-17032903332787732502011-02-22T16:21:31.238-05:002011-02-22T16:21:31.238-05:00I usually end up writing the outline after I start...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.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-88412582541440908312011-02-22T10:07:31.021-05:002011-02-22T10:07:31.021-05:00@Misha - I'm so glad it was helpful with your ...@Misha - I'm so glad it was helpful with your beast!<br /><br />@Judy - My inclination tells me that the puffin has a happier ending than Dr. Cavern. <br /><br />@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.<br /><br />@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.C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-10851794938885801872011-02-22T10:01:35.414-05:002011-02-22T10:01:35.414-05:00@Aliya - I intend to avoid the curse of the puffin...@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.<br /><br />As for the expectation for the point-by-point pound-out, I'll admit that's one of the things I find a little intimidating.<br /><br />@Tim - I know what you mean. In <i>Sublimation</i> 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.C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-50696428994891210192011-02-22T09:56:25.134-05:002011-02-22T09:56:25.134-05:00@Clarissa - I love having to think on my feet!
@L...@Clarissa - I love having to think on my feet!<br /><br />@Luke - Totally agree. Notice me <i>not</i> 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.<br /><br />@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!<br /><br />@B - Puffins are always special. Also, nice Rome tie-in. Also, I do know the time-trap that research becomes.C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-30356343055277868942011-02-22T08:44:34.627-05:002011-02-22T08:44:34.627-05:00That is essentially what goes on in my head, but I...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...J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-15136496238535758702011-02-22T04:58:19.260-05:002011-02-22T04:58:19.260-05:00I so want to be an outliner. My next book will be ...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.<br /><br />(You can probably guess that revisions for the current book are SUCKING right now!)Jennifer Hillierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783975547643539868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-30973293659966345352011-02-22T04:28:15.133-05:002011-02-22T04:28:15.133-05:00Yup. I'm an anti-outliner myself, but intend t...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. <br /><br />I sincerely hope that cute little Puffin has a happy ending. <br /><a href="http://judycroome.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Judy (South Africa)</a>Judy Croome | @judy_croomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455755011354905278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-56123332935330529242011-02-22T03:43:03.090-05:002011-02-22T03:43:03.090-05:00You gave me these tips before, when I was struggli...You gave me these tips before, when I was struggling with the Doorways plan... <br /><br />Worked wonders. <br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-15464348698797050712011-02-22T03:12:15.463-05:002011-02-22T03:12:15.463-05:00My method is fairly similar, although I never have...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.<br /><br />I 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.Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-78198850610763385012011-02-22T02:57:08.107-05:002011-02-22T02:57:08.107-05:00I warn you, no good comes of a puffin novel, well-...I warn you, no good comes of a puffin novel, well-plotted or not.<br /><br />Actually, 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.nohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00398443646324855212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-4778059690270335552011-02-21T23:11:12.777-05:002011-02-21T23:11:12.777-05:00Well, isn't that special.
Honestly, if it wo...Well, isn't that special. <br /><br />Honestly, if it works, good on you. I figure we'll all get to Rome, though roads vary wildly. <br /><br />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!B. Nagelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07620736939701035617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-58068160449043993922011-02-21T22:47:31.345-05:002011-02-21T22:47:31.345-05:00I can't do outlines no matter what kind of wri...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. <br /><br />I guess it's because I don't write professionally so I just go about it every which way I feel like.Shopgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435291786820680344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-22088783295800550142011-02-21T22:21:17.453-05:002011-02-21T22:21:17.453-05:00I think I work in a similar way, haha. I start wit...I 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.<br /><br />Personally I think everyone has their own method. It's one of those things without a set answer, whatever works for you is great. <br /><br />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!<br /><br />I love the way that we all get to the same point in different ways. It's the beauty of the craft!Luke Raftlhttp://www.allyourstarsareout.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-39444379290237135562011-02-21T22:02:16.472-05:002011-02-21T22:02:16.472-05:00I always think I know exactly where the story will...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.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-5784507414771965902011-02-21T22:00:23.842-05:002011-02-21T22:00:23.842-05:00@Simon - Yeah, I've almost talked myself into ...@Simon - Yeah, I've almost talked myself into this one. hahaha<br /><br />And 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.<br /><br />Good point, by the way that part of what's helpful about doing things like this is that it's brain stormy.<br /><br />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... lolC. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681522276752048718.post-40573441161053205432011-02-21T21:55:48.021-05:002011-02-21T21:55:48.021-05:00And now you must write this novel. I know *I'd...And now you must write this novel. I know *I'd* read it. :)<br /><br />And 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.<br /><br />Also, there's still plenty of room for improvisational magic. Win.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com