How do you write? Is the question a bit too general? I agree.
If you are currently writing, or have ever written a book, what does the process look like for you? More specifically, do you just write or do you use an outline?
On my first manuscript I just wrote as the story unfolded in my head. I had a rough, simple outline, but nothing more than a long paragraph written about the plot. While I was finishing that first manuscript, I ran across a well known author's website where she'd said she always used outlines when writing. So, from what I gathered, she'd create a chapter by chapter outline and then write the book. That sounded very intriguing and I decided to try that in a future manuscript.
I started writing my second manuscript without an outline, and about 10,000 words into it, I am beginning to entertain the whole outline idea again.
So Here's the Question:
Do you, or have you used an outline? And if so, what does it look like? How in depth do you go?
I've never done an outline.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I've put a few necessary scenes down, and tried to flow to and from them...
But I still end up doing different things.
Rough Outline - then build with my thoughts from there. But the edting process is a nightmare for me. I hate trimming down the words, but I also know not everything I have to say should be in there. Editing kills me, lol, so an outline might save the day but I just don't *like* them that much. It feels too rigid to me for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteI think every author has his or her own way that works for him. Even each book might require something different.
ReplyDeleteMy first novel attempt I wrote without anything more than a basic idea of what it was about. It ended up a mess. Since then, I've used a general percentage breakdown I saw in a book. I wrote about it here:
http://heidiwillis.blogspot.com/2009/05/methodology.html
It's worked really well for me... given me a general direction as well as a lot of freedom to change and grow as I need to.
What's most important is finding something that works for you.