Eiji Tunsinagi

Do you plot your novel out (and I'm talking about those actually serious about writing) or do you just start writing down once you get an idea---because I'm pretty sure your gonna be screwed at some point for not preparing. Am I right? Or am I-----not?

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"nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished."

"how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?"

DawnMorningStar

I have used both approaches, actually. But even when I just sit down and write without plotting out the entire story, I do have an idea of where the story is going, who the characters are, and some of the plot points I want to cover. As I write, I find that new ideas come to me. I make note of all of these ideas and try to incorporate them as well.

In the long run, I do think it's a better idea to have your story outlined before you attempt to write a novel that you hope to have published. There are many plot elements and details that must go into a published work.

I am currently writing a book, and this is the first time that I've actually sat down and considered everything carefully, plotting out what will happen in each chapter and how those events will affect the story overall. Of course, this is also the first time I've been really serious about wanting to get something published. It's been a very rewarding experience (even though I'm still only writing chapter two so far).

Of course, I suppose you can always take an idea and run with it, and once you've finished writing, go back through it and add all of the necessary plot elements to truly make it a publish-worthy story. I have done that with shorter stories and fanfics. Still, it seems like it would be quite a bit more work to approach it that way. But I say, whatever works for you, go for it!

sully474

I always have a general idea as to what each part of my novel will be about, and how the evnts are going to take place, but that is all in my head, and I never actually write up names of chapters or anything like that. I get a general idea and just write, than I add everything else.

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Airborneguy

I just start writing, but I have a seperate file for the highlights of each chapter so that I don't forget what I said, especially the little things. It is amzing how easy it is to mess something up that a certain reader might remember (Was it 3am that they ate dinner or 3pm?), stuff like that.

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DL Ferguson

For me, trying to write by using an outline is on the level of dificulty equal to trying to swim while wearing a straitjacket. When I start out, I know the highlights I want to hit and I have a vague idea of what the ending will be so I just jump in and start writing.

The part that gives me the most trouble is the beginning because I usually start too soon and end up having to scrap 10 to 30 pages of work or else I incorporate it into the work later on.

When I'm writing the story I'm essentially telling it to myself for the first time and so I really DON'T want to know too much about it. Writing an outline feels like I've told the story and so I have no incentive to write it.

Ozmandius

As a working professional, I won't even think about taking on a major project without both an outline and synopsis. And that goes for both fiction and screenplays.

Invariably, when I'm handed a script that needs doctoring I find that the writer just went off the cuff with only a vague idea of how they wanted it to turn out. And, as expected, their work is filled with plotholes and flat characters. It's like trying to drive cross-country without a road map. Sure you may stumble on some interesting spots on the way, but your passengers are eventually going to get bored and irritated when you never reach the destination.

Also I would like to point out that, rather than see an outline as restraining, I find that it frees my work and allows me to work more effortlessly. By having the map in front of me, telling me what needs to be accomplished in that scene, I can focus on the art of writing and move towards my goal with speed and efficiency instead of floundering around, wondering whether or not it ties into the rest or if I left out some important plot-point or characterization.

Freewriting and naked creativity are great and all, but without a solid form to give it structure it can never reach its full potential and will almost always languish as just another flawed idea.

gabriella

Outlines are far from restraining. As somebody who's had to trash well over two thousand pages in total because of all the attemps I made to start the novel (with only an idea about the beginning, middle, end and important scenes) I've finally taken to fleshing out the entire story.

Sure, I can say that I've already told the story to myself, but then all the time I've spent thinking of the story in my head amounts to so much more than a little outline.

Furthermore, when I make my outlines I'm always sure to leave lots of open room. My problem with getting into too many details in an outline (chapter outlines) is that the way I see it, it's already been said, and when I write it I find myself just padding it to get my point across. So instead of getting into details my chapter summaries are "brandon meets eric", "queen is accused of witchcraft", "nicco dies" etc etc etc. That way, not only is there so much more that needs to be said, I still have room to add a few more scenes that don't relate to my "summary," which are at most phrases that tell the main point of the chapter, but not the actual chapter.

It's helped considerably because it's also alot easier to glance over and make sure that that's really how I want the novel to take place, instead of reading the entire novel countless times. Outlines are two pages, at most, for me, easy to change and alter, and easy to redo if I make a mistake.

My problem isn't endings - I always know how my novels are going to end, and some highlights, like DL said. But the problem is starting the novel. I always started much later into the book, and I always realized that there was something else that had to come before it. It was only when I sat down and made the outline when I truly started at the very beginning, which has, honestly, been the greatest accomplishment for me so far.

Because I have many sub plots and many characters, outlines also help me figure out what time certain chapters took place, so that they all follow along chronologically, more or less. Each chapter is a different color, which tells me what character that chapter is about at first glance, so I can look at all her chapters and see if they flow nicely.

In short, outlines are my life.

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You write by sitting down and writing - Bernard Malamud.

Eiji Tunsinagi

Ah hah! Thats it. Dont use too much description in your chapter summaries of the outline or else you will be bored with the story when you get to writing. Leve things open to elaborate upon. Thats what I need to do.

__________________
"nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished."

"how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?"

JSneddon

I wouldn't dare to advise you the only way you can approach novel writing. You need to find an approach that feels natural and works for you. The current posts confirm what I've heard from many others.

Everybody's different.

I didn't use an outline for my first novel. I had a clear idea of the conflict and knew what would happen in the end, but I didn't know how it would happen. The first time was scarey. I remember starting a new chapter not knowing what was going to transpire. However, when I just started writing it the novel took on a life of its own and plot twists developed that I don't think I could have ever planned.

I also found myself throwing things in without understanding why. What happened was I continually built on those things or used them somehow later. My first novel went through no plot reworking. I had no gaps to fill, and my editor didn't want me to change or add anything. I'm not sure how it works, but I know if I had to spend all that time planning, I wouldn't be a writer.

In most writing circles I hesitate to even share how I write. Most writers plot and plan and outline, and I'm usually scoffed at because I don't. The best advice I can give is try the outline approach first. The people who posted here know what they're talking about. BUT....

If it doesn't work, don't be afraid to just start writing. It's possible you just may suprise yourself.

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desired_destiny

Plotting a novel is very helpful. Before I realized that, I would come up with an idea of the first chapter and write, not knowing much. Never was I able to get far into the story. I would stop, trying to think up a whole plot for my first chapter, which is quite a difficult task.

Lately, I have been taking notes about my novel, deciding the characters' personalities, what chapters would contain what and etc. In my opinion, planning makes writing an interesting story much easier.