Thread: Do you always start with an outline?

For a new story, do you start with an outline? If so, what do you include in the outline? For characters, is it more effective to start with a character sketch or do you use the first draft to discover the main characters? I'm in the habit of jumping into the story with a first draft. This appears to give me more ownership of the story and seems to act as a catalyst that compels me back into the narrative. I'm wondering if I need to discipline myself to complete some type of outline before I begin.

I always start with an outline although it is not always a written one. Sometimes it is just in my head.

I drew a sketch of one of the characters in my project "Dark Moon" because her race did not look like one would typically think of in fantasy settings. I refer to it often when writing. If I am experiencing some down time and not inspired to write on a given project I outline backstories of either existing characters or just random people that might turn into an idea for another story.

Lots of time though I just write. If I have the story well in hand what I write seems, more often than not to be relevant to the project at hand.

What works for one author however may not work for another. You have to find what works for you. And importantly you have to realize that different things might work on different days depending on the challenges you face.

I outline everything. I even outline my outlines. Other people wing it. And there's everything in between. I think people arrive at their own working methods, mostly by trial and error -- what other people do doesn't really make a lot of difference.

I keep my ideas inside my head for a long time before I start writing, so by the time I get there I already have a good idea of everything that will happen. Sometimes, if the story is very complex, I keep notes of my thoughts, but not much else. I find character sheets to get in the way since I don't really think of the characters themselves but the events that give them shape.

For chapters, I kind of both do and do not. What I like to do is try to write a miserable draft of a scene in order to get my brain on-topic, and then write the a correct version from scratch, keeping whatever ideas worked in the bad draft. So sort of a not-outline outline, if you will.

For grand plots, I just keep it in my head. If it's good enough to be worth putting to paper or typing into a Word doc, it'll stick up there.

I start with a sentence. That's it, no outlines, no planning. Outlines always felt rather mechanical for me.

I used to just start with an ending I liked, then create the story to meet the end.

But now I'm currently taking a writing course for novelists, and it involves HEAVY, HEAVY pre-planning (writing biographies of each of your characters, creating extensive plot maps, creating alternate story lines).. The idea is to have an overabundance of ideas to draw upon when the actual writing process begins, so that when it comes time for the first draft, you know your characters and story so well that it's like just describing something that has already happened.

I am feeling on the fence about this process, because while it does help generate ideas, it also feels very much like work. And I slightly miss the freedom of expression without planning. Though, with something like a novel, I can agree that outlines are definately helpful, if not required.

I have taken members advice and just jumped right in to the writing part, i have it all in my head and trying to sort it out just takes a long time and wastes my time that i could spend writing and editing. I say jump in head first and just write

Originally Posted by KyleColorado

I used to just start with an ending I liked, then create the story to meet the end.

But now I'm currently taking a writing course for novelists, and it involves HEAVY, HEAVY pre-planning (writing biographies of each of your characters, creating extensive plot maps, creating alternate story lines).. The idea is to have an overabundance of ideas to draw upon when the actual writing process begins, so that when it comes time for the first draft, you know your characters and story so well that it's like just describing something that has already happened.

I am feeling on the fence about this process, because while it does help generate ideas, it also feels very much like work. And I slightly miss the freedom of expression without planning. Though, with something like a novel, I can agree that outlines are definately helpful, if not required.

What you've outlined above is my list of reasons why I don't ever use outlines. I've read that it takes some authors eight months to outline a novel. That's a lot of work and time spent doing an outline. I could have the novel finished in those eight months.

And no, outlines are not required to write novels. I've never done one in my life and I'm approaching a dozen finished novels. Now, you ask if these novels are riddled with plot holes and inconsistent time-lines. No. The beauty of no outline is freedom. When your story starts veering one direction you hadn't planned on, go with it. I've found there's always a reason, and the story is usually better for it.

Sure, I have a vague picture of things that would happen in succession, but never have I actually written an outline before beginning a novel. The development of the plot, for me, comes right along as I write. That's just weird me, I guess.

I even outline my short stories. If I’m writing a bit of flash, I map it out too. It doesn’t have to be some constraining thing carved in stone. Making an outline is a creative endeavor – just like any other aspect of writing. It can be flexible and organic. It can be changed. There’s no lack of freedom unless you make the mistake of mindlessly sticking to it.

I just like to have an idea of where I’m going. It also allows me to jump around if I get stuck on something. I’ve even outlined alternative plots and endings. I’d say if you get stuck a lot, or you find yourself hitting dead ends -- try it. But don’t let it inhibit you -- and keep in mind that there’s nothing sacred about it.

I don't outline. Sometimes I start writing a short story and have no clue what so ever as to where it is going.
With novels I have vague ideas but I don't write them down. I found it easier to keep track of things when I wrote down a bit of a timeline and a few notes on things like names and that is the closest I've gotten to an outline.

I don't like outlines because they take the fun out of it for me, if I already know whats going to happen, why should I write it? It becomes boring, I know what's going to happen, it's like writing out a shopping list. Ok I can do it and there will be benefits, but it's a boring process.

It's only boring to me if my ideas are boring. Outlining is just another form of conceptualization or internal brainstorming. You’re thinking ahead of what might happen or could happen -- so your only limit is how far your imagination can take you. To me that’s like saying writing a sentence is boring, because I have an idea of how it’s going end before I finish typing it.

It is if I have to write out a 75,000 word sentence and I know exactly what is going to happen.

Part of what I love about writing is those sudden massive flashes and OMG your fingers don't move fast enough because this is amazing and your shaking because there's so much adreneline going through your system.

I don't like brainstorming either, never got into it for essays and the like. It just seems to suck out the creativity for me because I feel that it restricts me too much.

Originally Posted by ProcrastinationStation

It is if I have to write out a 75,000 word sentence and I know exactly what is going to happen.

Part of what I love about writing is those sudden massive flashes and OMG your fingers don't move fast enough because this is amazing and your shaking because there's so much adreneline going through your system.

I don't like brainstorming either, never got into it for essays and the like. It just seems to suck out the creativity for me because I feel that it restricts me too much.

This is my line of thinking right here. I love those moments where the story starts to take a life of its own and you go with it. A first you might be rather reticent about it, but you learn to trust the story. I've said this enough times that it's probably redundant at this point, but it bears repeating: I can't remember how many times I've written something in chapter eight, which seemed irrelevant, only for it to make perfect sense fifty chapters on.

That's not to say there's anything wrong with outlines, but I tend to agree with PS that I find it boring if I know everything that is going to happen before I set fingers on keyboard.