Planning your novels?
- Thread starter MKayHavoc
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Since I was learning as I went, I didn't plan at first. Now I know how to, though, through trial and error. I figured out that there is no wrong way to do an outline, that it is whatever works for the writer. Mine is in prose form, and even has some chunks added verbatim to the WIP. I went through it, numbered the sections, and then arranged them in the order I thought they should be. Then I didn't look at it much while I was writing. Now I am going through what I wrote and numbering the scenes and making notes on changes that need to be made. I will then rearrange those scenes based on the notes and integrate the changes/ cuts/ additions.
Uncle Jim's thread has helped a lot.
Uncle Jim's thread has helped a lot.
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I use a really loose plan - for each scene I'll outline a starting hook, a turning point and an ending hook. I let the rest play out as it comes.
I'm with the Ferret (we use an xtra large parachute 
)
I'll have a strong idea of general plot, then before I start anything I'll have ruminated the rest of the story in a general sense, in my brain pan (more of a shallow fry pan, really). Before I start anything, I'll have the basic details figured out, but I leave it open so the characters can direct me as they develop.
Occasionally I'll jot down notes, but I don't hold myself to them. You never know where a story might go, and as long as it's traveling at a fast, good clip - you don't want to hinder the motion!
But detailed, follow-them-or-perish notes DO work for some people. It's all in what you like.
)I'll have a strong idea of general plot, then before I start anything I'll have ruminated the rest of the story in a general sense, in my brain pan (more of a shallow fry pan, really). Before I start anything, I'll have the basic details figured out, but I leave it open so the characters can direct me as they develop.
Occasionally I'll jot down notes, but I don't hold myself to them. You never know where a story might go, and as long as it's traveling at a fast, good clip - you don't want to hinder the motion!
But detailed, follow-them-or-perish notes DO work for some people. It's all in what you like.
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I've usually just planned out the hook, the character, and how it ends. I plan very little of how to get from one point to the next. This has been difficult for my WIP, so I'm going to try out the chapter outline thing with my next book.
It's true that things can happen that you don't expect. All of a sudden, my character was hiding in a locker from a guy she is trying to ignore. Then some random passerby, just for fun, locks her in. She has to resort to calling him for help, even though she knows he's furious with her. If I would've had a lot of strict notes, that would've never happened.
It's true that things can happen that you don't expect. All of a sudden, my character was hiding in a locker from a guy she is trying to ignore. Then some random passerby, just for fun, locks her in. She has to resort to calling him for help, even though she knows he's furious with her. If I would've had a lot of strict notes, that would've never happened.
For the most part I write the first few lines and the ending scene... I'll also write down, point form, a few milestones along the way and go from there until I'm 3/4 of the way done... and then I go back and do some editing and outline the final 1/4 to get me to the ending...
I think it's more fun to be loose in the writing and wander where you want to - that might not be the most professional, productive approach... but I'm a big proponent of fun.
I think it's more fun to be loose in the writing and wander where you want to - that might not be the most professional, productive approach... but I'm a big proponent of fun.
I create a bulleted outline for each event in the story and create chapters from there. it works well for me and provides me direction. Most of the time, despite the outline the actual story changes as I progress, but at least it gives me a starting point.
For example I write a fiction book about a nurse in a war situation so it went something like this...
1. introduce char (ie what setting, whats she like.)
2. the war starts (what starts the war etc etc.
3. Nurse meets first patient
and so on...
its real basic stuff, I dont get into details but i do write the questions that need to be answered next to each bulleted comment.
Hope that helps
For example I write a fiction book about a nurse in a war situation so it went something like this...
1. introduce char (ie what setting, whats she like.)
2. the war starts (what starts the war etc etc.
3. Nurse meets first patient
and so on...
its real basic stuff, I dont get into details but i do write the questions that need to be answered next to each bulleted comment.
Hope that helps
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I'd be lost without a plan. I don't go into great detail though, usually just a few lines for each chapter. I make some notes on the characters, but no more than a page each and I find I very rarely refer to them later. I do write quite a bit about each character's history, as I think knowing their past goes along way toward understanding how they'll react in the future. I write Sci-Fi, but I very rarely do any world building, because I think most political/economic systems can be based on real world models (all you have to do is change the names).
I write a treatment. The treatment for my current novel was about 22 single-spaced pages. It's very informal, though, as I have to let it grow and contract as the first draft takes shape.
1. Get idea.
2. Start writing.
3. Get to 2,000 words and realise I need to think on this more.
4. After a lot of thought, make a list of research that needs to be done.
5. Search local Library/Amazon for books to aid research.
6. Work out how many books I can afford to buy and which I will have to settle for ordering from the library.
7. Do endless Google searches with regards to research.
8. Cross reference internet information with book.
9. Read and cherry pick the information I will need to both inform and colour my work.
10. During this time I have been mulling over the original idea.
11. Produce an outline based on the mulling over.
12. Begin writing again, get first chapter in first draft, then realise I have to revise outline and do more reseach. Usually this consists of visiting places and meeting people with regards to topics I wish to study.
13. Alter/re-write outline.
14. Write second chapter, then realise I have to revise outline and do more research. At this stage the research is really dumb questions, like what did medieval underwear look like if it did exist?
15. Repeat process until idea is in story form.
16. Forget about the draft for at least three months.
17. Begin the hard work; editing.
18. Repeat editing at various times until a suitable submission is produced.
19. Prepare synopsis from final outline.
20 Send out submission.
21. Get an idea.
2. Start writing.
3. Get to 2,000 words and realise I need to think on this more.
4. After a lot of thought, make a list of research that needs to be done.
5. Search local Library/Amazon for books to aid research.
6. Work out how many books I can afford to buy and which I will have to settle for ordering from the library.
7. Do endless Google searches with regards to research.
8. Cross reference internet information with book.
9. Read and cherry pick the information I will need to both inform and colour my work.
10. During this time I have been mulling over the original idea.
11. Produce an outline based on the mulling over.
12. Begin writing again, get first chapter in first draft, then realise I have to revise outline and do more reseach. Usually this consists of visiting places and meeting people with regards to topics I wish to study.
13. Alter/re-write outline.
14. Write second chapter, then realise I have to revise outline and do more research. At this stage the research is really dumb questions, like what did medieval underwear look like if it did exist?
15. Repeat process until idea is in story form.
16. Forget about the draft for at least three months.
17. Begin the hard work; editing.
18. Repeat editing at various times until a suitable submission is produced.
19. Prepare synopsis from final outline.
20 Send out submission.
21. Get an idea.
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I just jot down who the people involved are, why they are where they are, why they're doing what they're doing, and a general arc of big things that happen. Though, when I write the big events, it's still very vague.
I end up writing way past the notes I made at the start. No matter how much I try to plan, it always ends up straying from the outline, so I don't bother trying to work everything out anymore.
I end up writing way past the notes I made at the start. No matter how much I try to plan, it always ends up straying from the outline, so I don't bother trying to work everything out anymore.
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I sat down and wrote the story, characters, issues, etc. Some people use outlines, but I knew what was happening and wanted it down on paper. Of course, the story has changed through edits and revisions, yet as a whole, it remains the same with additional layers. I cannot offer you any methods. Good Luck.MKayHavoc said:
I'm with Muse and Ferret (except for the parachute because I don't do heights).
I let the story marinate in my brain juices and then just sit down and write. I make notes on index cards and stick them all over the wall.
I let the story marinate in my brain juices and then just sit down and write. I make notes on index cards and stick them all over the wall.
I don't have a method. I usually start with the first word and end with the last...but not always in order.
I used to just write with the basics in mind: main characters, basic plot ideas and general ending. I would jump right in and write a brilliant chapter one then continue the momentum until about chapter five and then go: what next? Then I would completely shut down.
I've since learned that outlining is the key. The middle part of a novel takes up the most space and if you have no idea what is going to happen, it makes it very tough to write. So for me, it's all about outlining. It doesn't have to be a scene by scene thing, but I have to at least know what is going to happen during the bulk of the novel.
I've since learned that outlining is the key. The middle part of a novel takes up the most space and if you have no idea what is going to happen, it makes it very tough to write. So for me, it's all about outlining. It doesn't have to be a scene by scene thing, but I have to at least know what is going to happen during the bulk of the novel.
What I do is this: I think up an idea. I let it sit until it seems like something I want to write (this can vary between thirty seconds, and several years). Then, I write it.
Generally, I know where my stuff is going. I know many of the major points and many of the minor points, and I just type along happily. I can't really call it seat-of-the-pants, because I know where I'm going and what I'm doing. I may be wandering lost in the wilderness, but I can see clearly for miles, if you get what I mean.
I tried outlining once or twice, mostly as an exercise in curiosity to see if it was useful for anything. For me, it was mostly a waste of writing time.
Generally, I know where my stuff is going. I know many of the major points and many of the minor points, and I just type along happily. I can't really call it seat-of-the-pants, because I know where I'm going and what I'm doing. I may be wandering lost in the wilderness, but I can see clearly for miles, if you get what I mean.
I tried outlining once or twice, mostly as an exercise in curiosity to see if it was useful for anything. For me, it was mostly a waste of writing time.
For my first novel attempt, I jumped around a lot writing scenes, then I outlined it to death. Literally. It's dead now, and I have no inclination to ever write the actual prose based on the outline. I'll eventually come back to the story, but not right now. It's all right, though. That was my first creative writing effort and I learned a lot.
My second novel attempt was last year's NaNoWriMo. I took my characters and threw them into a new adventure. I had a beginning and a tentative ending. Learned a lot, too. I learned I didn't have to have everything fully planned in order to write. Once I wrote a scene, the events of the next scene became clear, and once I wrote the next scene, the scene after that crystallized, and so on. Very freeing.
My third novel attempt is the one I'm working on right now. I came up with the main character last year before NaNoWriMo and spent some time trying to figure out what to do with her. Wrote some scenes, played with some ideas, then set it aside to do NaNoWriMo. I came back to the story earlier this year, and started rewriting it from the beginning. So, once again I've got a solid beginning and an idea of where I want the characters to end up emotionally, but as I'm writing I'm figuring out the events. So far, so good.
My second novel attempt was last year's NaNoWriMo. I took my characters and threw them into a new adventure. I had a beginning and a tentative ending. Learned a lot, too. I learned I didn't have to have everything fully planned in order to write. Once I wrote a scene, the events of the next scene became clear, and once I wrote the next scene, the scene after that crystallized, and so on. Very freeing.
My third novel attempt is the one I'm working on right now. I came up with the main character last year before NaNoWriMo and spent some time trying to figure out what to do with her. Wrote some scenes, played with some ideas, then set it aside to do NaNoWriMo. I came back to the story earlier this year, and started rewriting it from the beginning. So, once again I've got a solid beginning and an idea of where I want the characters to end up emotionally, but as I'm writing I'm figuring out the events. So far, so good.
I don't outline at all. I start with a general idea and a few characters, and go from there. I want the narrative to look spontaneous, and I'm afraid--given my usually meticulous planning--that I won't get that with an outline. So far, the method seems to work. But I have to be careful that on revise I drop the minor character I fell in love with in chapter 2 who really didn't add anything, and that I don't treat that part as bedrock that has to stay. Sometimes I can read something so often it just seems natural, but maybe it isn't.
The last three manuscripts, I didn't know how they were going to end until I got there. I liked that. With a thriller I just finished, I made it a point not to resolve anything the way I'd expected, so that nothing would seem obvious.
The last three manuscripts, I didn't know how they were going to end until I got there. I liked that. With a thriller I just finished, I made it a point not to resolve anything the way I'd expected, so that nothing would seem obvious.
My current project is a bit of a departure for me. I've always written by the seat of my pants before now, and I always ended up with a rambling mass of prose that had very little plot and needed extensive rewriting before it was ready to be sent out anywhere.
For this project, I've had a definite idea of where I want each scene to go, and a list of things I want to happen. I may begin any writing sessio by writing, in plain prose, how the current scene will end. If Daphne needs to hit Bob with a hammer, I type, at the top of the scene, "Daphne hits Bob with a hammer." And then I get to writing. How does this scene end? Oh, yeah; Daphne hits Bob with a hammer. It's right up there.
For this project, I've had a definite idea of where I want each scene to go, and a list of things I want to happen. I may begin any writing sessio by writing, in plain prose, how the current scene will end. If Daphne needs to hit Bob with a hammer, I type, at the top of the scene, "Daphne hits Bob with a hammer." And then I get to writing. How does this scene end? Oh, yeah; Daphne hits Bob with a hammer. It's right up there.
I scribble down in a notebook anything my muse flicks at me. It's a lot more random than outlining. Sometimes it's bits of plot or characterisation, but it can also be a scene, or dialogue. I usually (but not always) know the ending. It's what works for me. Kinda.
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I used to not do much planning, but then I found I do a LOT of rewriting. Yet I know if I do very detailed novel flow planning, I'll end up changing it anyway. My current strategy (and I'll let you know if it works): write a few paragraphs for each chapter in the book.
I do a lot of detailed notes for characters and story background.
I agree with sassandgroove that there is no wrong way to do an outline...it depends on what works for the writer.
Debbie
I do a lot of detailed notes for characters and story background.
I agree with sassandgroove that there is no wrong way to do an outline...it depends on what works for the writer.
Debbie
Here's what I did in prep for the story I just completed :
First I simply mused on the general ideas until I had a few story germs to pursue.
Then I sat with a big piece of paper and just brainstormed all the things I wanted to do with the book, all the points I wanted to hit, all the characters. Where I could I drew lines of connection. Form didn't matter. This was just jotting things down on unlined paper as they came to mind. Eventually, several pages later, I had a good idea of what I wanted to do, an idea of a beginning, middle, and end.
Next I sketched it out, not entirely, but about the first third. I wrote very rough dialog in places where the dialog drove the scene, wrote sketchy, low description action where action drove things (Example - "He hits the dude - hard. Dude resists but is out" became two paragraphs of action), and hit the decisive turning points. I figured with that much decided I could start my draft. By the time I got to end of the sketched out part, I hoped to have enough inertia to keep going.
I expected things would change, and they did - a lot. New characters demanded invitation, new twists demanded inclusion, established characters demanded radical change. In the end it worked well for me.
First I simply mused on the general ideas until I had a few story germs to pursue.
Then I sat with a big piece of paper and just brainstormed all the things I wanted to do with the book, all the points I wanted to hit, all the characters. Where I could I drew lines of connection. Form didn't matter. This was just jotting things down on unlined paper as they came to mind. Eventually, several pages later, I had a good idea of what I wanted to do, an idea of a beginning, middle, and end.
Next I sketched it out, not entirely, but about the first third. I wrote very rough dialog in places where the dialog drove the scene, wrote sketchy, low description action where action drove things (Example - "He hits the dude - hard. Dude resists but is out" became two paragraphs of action), and hit the decisive turning points. I figured with that much decided I could start my draft. By the time I got to end of the sketched out part, I hoped to have enough inertia to keep going.
I expected things would change, and they did - a lot. New characters demanded invitation, new twists demanded inclusion, established characters demanded radical change. In the end it worked well for me.
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