Are
you a plotter or a pantser? Do you outline? Do you think outlining is
important? Do you think every writer should outline? How you do outline? What
is the best way to outline? I’ve been asked all of these questions and more.
I
have an answer for all of them. Answers I will go over with you.
However,
besides the rudimentary questions, there are more craft questions that people
ask. More critical questions. Questions like, why can’t you write without an
outline? Is having an outline crippling? Does having an outline mean your
writing lacks creativity? Could you write the story the same way if someone
took away your outline?
For
these questions I still have answers.
I
began my writing venture as a pantser. I had never outlined anything in high
school or any other time, not if I didn’t have to. I didn’t see the point in
outlining if I knew where I was going with whatever I was writing, whether that
be a story or a paper. So I pansted. That is, until I tried to outline and fell
in love with the process. Or, many of them.
Yes,
I outline. I’ll get into that more later.
Yes,
I think outlining is important. More on that later.
No,
I do not believe every writer should outline. George R. R. Martin doesn’t
outline and his books are amazing. That man does not need an outline. Though
I’m not sure how he keeps everything straight. More power to him.
I
have tried several methods to outlining. I love to watch videos of other
authors. I love to learn how they write, or their inspirations, or how they
outline and so forth. I’ve learned many ways of outlining because of these
videos. I’ve even tried a lot of their methods. Some of the methods I’ve tried
using include using notecards, using post its on a giant marker board, an
actual outline and so forth.
The
notecard method is to write every scene you want to happen in the book on
notecards. One scene per notecard. Then you can mark up the notecard with ideas
and characters and dialogue and so forth. I really liked trying this method
out, however it didn’t stick with me. I gave it a good effort, it just wasn’t
the method for me. Then I tried writing scenes or chapters on post its and
putting them on a giant marker board. While I didn’t have a giant marker board,
I did use poster board. This method did not work for me, however, it is the
idea that stemmed my current method of outlining, which I will get into. I’ve
also tried the normal outline. As good as a normal outline it, it’s just not
for me. I’m not that organized. I would have to make too many changes to it at
a time and it would turn into a mess.
My
current method of outlining, which I am in love with, uses post its, a binder,
clear plastic paper protectors, printer paper, and a pen. I use one sheet of
printer paper for each chapter. On the piece of paper I write the chapter, the
narrator, and the approximate date the chapter takes place. The date is not
exactly necessary, unless it is. One of my books is about a pregnancy,
therefore I needed to know the date, or at least how many weeks into the
pregnancy the character was in. Then, I use three different colored post it
notes to make the outline. One color is for the overall plot of the chapter,
one color for any specific scenes I want in the chapter, and one color for any
specific dialogue I want in the chapter. Then I place the post it on the sheet
of printer paper and slip the paper into the paper protector. That way,
depending on what chapter I am writing, I can flip the pages in the binder to
the sheet I need. It may sound like a lot of work and a little complicated.
However, I love it, I find it super simple, and very easy to follow. It helps
me to know where I am in the story.
I
do not believe there is a best way to outline. I believe there is a best way to
outline for every different writer. But I do not believe there is one best way
for every writer.
Now,
on to the more difficult questions.
Can
you write without an outline? Or, why can’t you write with an outline? Now, I
wrote my entire first novel without an outline. I wrote the first draft of my
second novel without an outline. So yes, I can write without an outline. I just
wrote a novella without an outline. However, now that I have been writing with
an outline for so long, I feel like I can’t write as well or as quickly without
an outline. The novella I wrote without an outline, took me forever. Like, I
seriously didn’t think I was ever going to finish the darn thing. Here is how I
feel when I write without an outline; I know where I am going, just not how I’m
going to get there. I love having an outline. It helps me write more quickly,
more fluidly, more efficiently. I’m not sitting in front of my computer for a
long period of time trying to figure out what I’m going to write before I get
any actual writing done. No, with my outline, I can open my computer and get
write down to writing. So, yes, I can write without an outline, but I prefer
not to.
Is
having an outline crippling? NO. If you ask me, it’s freeing. For all the
reasons I just listed. I already know what I want to write. I have an overview
of where the story is going, I just need to fill in the gaps. My outline is my
best friend.
Is
having an outline a lack of creativity? There are some writers who believe that
if you are a writer and you use an outline it means you are stifling your
creativity and not opening your mind when you write. They are perfectly fine to
believe that. Everyone can believe what they want. And they can write how they
want. However, I do not personally believe that having an outline stifles
creativity. I mean, seriously, when you outline you are creating the story as
you write your outline. It is just larger bits of the story. Broader strokes of
the story. I happen to believe that an outline is creativity. You still have to
fill in the blanks as you write, which is being creative. So, no, I do not
believe that.
Could
I write my book without my outline? Short answer, yes. Long answer, yes. I
wrote the outline, I remember everything I wrote on the outline. I could write
the book without my outline, like I previously stated. I just find it is a
smoother writing process when I can flip through different pages of my outline
and use it as a reference. I don’t live by my outline. That’s why I use post it
notes. They can be removed and repositioned. And trust me, I’ve done that a
lot. And when I write, I don’t stare at my outline the whole time. I find where
I am in the story, then get to writing. It is merely a reference, a guide, not
a bible.
Now,
yes, I love having my outline. I wouldn’t go back to pantsing unless I was
forced to somehow. However, I am not telling you that you need to have an
outline. I am not telling you that outlines are the only way to write. I just
believe for me personally, I need an outline to write. I honestly don’t
understand why some writers get so up in arms about having or not having an
outline. If it helps you use one, if it doesn’t, then don’t. It is as simple as
that. There are authors who will tell you you need one or writers who will tell
you not to use one. Don’t listen to them. Listen to what you as a writer feels
then do what you need to do.