How and Why I Outline

 

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.