Than change the way I write novels. Oh, that’s right, I haven’t completed one yet. Ship! (I have to watch the language around the little tikes.)
It’s been 5 years since I started writing, 3 years since I started my novels, and one month since I decided to create a Comprehensive Outline.
In my earlier attempts, I tried to be a panster, after that I tried a combination of seat-of-my-pants writing and Outlining. I failed. I did get further each time I planned my story. The more detailed the planning, the further I got.
I fell off the wagon this year, though. It was the fourth major surgery to a story, and again the patient died. A part of me wanted to die too (quit). I knew all along what I should have been doing (Outlining), but my impatient buttock didn’t want to commit. It would take too long.
It was after reading Paradox, a post from Donald Maass, that I decided to change my attitude. The main quote I remember was, “Your story matters more than anything, and your story matters not at all.” It spoke volumes- after I read the entire post 
.
The way I look at it is that outlining saves me time spent writing drafts that die. So far, it’s been working out for me (and even now, outlining is helping me get through a rough patch).
I’d initially tried to resist outlining myself, but then I remembered that old one about the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. What I was doing wasn’t working, so I bit the bullet and tried something else. Wonderfully, it worked.
So far it’s working for me. It’s nice to know others understand. I was trying not to be BOUND to the concept of outlining, but I knew it was BOUND to happen. Now I’m tackling many of my previous obstacles in leaps and BOUNDs. Thank you for relating Julie. Bahahaha
Thank you for stopping by. I feel privileged.
Any time, BK. We all need a little encouragement from time to time, after all. And creating an outline doesn’t mean you need to be shackled to everything in it, but it can be an important guide, keeping you moving forward and understanding what you’re building toward. Structure with a side of flexibility, really.
I’m a definite outliner. Learned that the hard way myself.
You are an excellent writer. All writers go through their own journey. Sometimes it is frustrating and painful. More often it is a great joy to put just the right words down. Someday I know I will see your books for sale and I will tell my friends “I knew BSA Brian B King when…”
Thank you BSA JL
There is nothing in the world like support.
Hey, when you see my book could you let me know.
I’ll be looking for it too.
I hear you BBK. I am naturally a pantser, that’s how I envision the story in my head and that’s how it gets written. As I get ready to rewrite my NaNo ’12 novel, I decided to do more of an outline first, but because that goes against my grain, I’m struggling.
I have not read Maass’ article. Looks like I need to.
His article was helpful to me, because I knew I should have been outlining in the first place. I thought skipping the outline would help me write my stories faster. It’s not really an article on panstering and outlining, it’s more related to taking the time to write a good story- truly focusing on writing a good story. It doesn’t matter if you’re a panster or not. I’m not naturally a panster. I was trying to take a shortcut. It didn’t work, and it cost me a few years of my story, not my life, but my story. My stories could have used that time.
I would really like to be a published author and have a career as a professional novelist, but the more I focus on that, instead of creating a good story, the longer it will take. I have to stop neglecting my stories- give them their time. The chances of me becoming a professional novelist are very slim, so if that’s really my ambition- write a damned good story Brian B. King. I MIGHT be able to become a novelist, if I write an awesome story. I know I won’t become shit, if I write shit, or don’t finish shit. Life would be kind of shitty then.
Thanks for commenting Coach KJ
Brian
I am a long-time pantser, with the result being that I never completed a story. But when I got the idea for my debut novel ending-first, it compelled me to finally outline this story (using an Excel spreadsheet, believe it or not) so that the beginning flowed smoothly towards the end over six, nailed-down days. It worked and I am now repeating the technique with the sequel novel. Other than that, I’m still a pantser, but it works for me.
Your comment is encouraging Andrew. Thank you
My pleasure. Much of what you said rang true with me.
I’ve tried outlining stories but have never met with success. While I certainly understand why some folks love outlines, I find they constrict me. I do better organizing the story as I write. To each their own!
I wish didn’t have to Outline, but we do what we do to get the story done- right.
Things take time, and outlining a novel definitely helps. I have completed three novels and am working on my fourth. If it is of any use to you, I will let you know how it typically works for me.
I make a mental outline of what I want to do and put all the important parts down on a document, like a comprehensive outline. In between paragraph form stuff I’ll use a lot of bullet points and color code them, like black for definitely, blue for maybe, and red for things I have to expound upon and further clarify (like ideas I get, but need to figure out how and when to implement).
The important thing to realize is that writing a novel could take years. Also, don’t be disheartened if you see that the story you create in an outline does NOT completely follow it. Often as you are writing, you may get ideas that never even dawned on you before or up until that minute, and that throws your outline completely off. No worries; run with it!
Have faith, above all else. Everyone’s style and methods are different, but you are definitely moving in the right direction.
Thanks Jake, your information is helpful and inspiring.
I just wrote a really long reply to this and somehow it deleted itself when I went to post it. Huh.
In the short of it, you are not dong anything wrong or going in the wrong direction by creating an outline. In fact, that helps a lot, at least for me. A tip that I use that may be of some use to you is also use color coded bullet points when outlining and jotting down ideas. For example, ideas in black font are one that are definitely going into the story at a set time, whereas ideas in blue are ones you want to throw in, just not sure when, and ideas in red font are those that are questionable and require you to revisit at a later time to see if they will still make the cut.
Above all else, remember that the outline you write may not be the finished product. Often as you are writing, you will see that you will get a sudden idea or something new and brilliant that was NOT in your outline. Just run with it!
Also, and probably most importantly, have faith. Everyone does things differently, but you are definitely moving in the right direction!
Buahaha, it was so beneficial to me, I decided to keep both comments. I guess it didn’t delete after all. Sorry, more for you work, but I’m glad to get a double dose of the Jake-ster. It’s like getting advice in STEREO…..
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Eh, I’m still learning that lesson, too
Hi Brian, loved the post. I find that fellow writers blogging about their journey helps those of us, like Inion and I to realize we’re not the only ones going thru this. We too had this same problem with the book we’re working on now. After writing close to four chapters, we had to scrap and start over and blueprint so that we could get a better handle on it. Also, love Donald Maass who is constantly putting great blogs out for writers to apply to their work. I just finished reading one of his posts we’re he has the rules to writing or really more like the “absolute-don’ts”.
Now, on another note, Inion and I have nominated you for the Versatile blogger award. It’s because of posts like this, that we felt you would make a perfect candidate. Just head on over to our blog for the details and congrats my friend!