Outline or no outline?

What is your method to writing a novel?

  • Outline

    Votes: 29 40.8%

  • Wing It

    Votes: 28 39.4%

  • Depends

    Votes: 13 18.3%

  • Not Sure

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • Total voters
    71
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Chain of Memories

Chain of Memories

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Heh.:tongue I was just wondering how many writers out there prefer outlines, or winging it, in writing a novel. For me, I usually decide to wing it! ;)

-Jay

P.S. Just being curious! :hi:
 

scarletpeaches

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Just that this is a common topic on AW and it all usually kicks off by page two. ;)
 

Rolling Thunder

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I usually outline but have seriously considered Bungeeing.
 
Will Lavender

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I write without an outline.

One of the joys of novel writing, for me, is that sort of continuous invention that the writer has to rely on if he is going it without an outline.

I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and stumbled across a book of interviews with famous mystery writers. Most of the major players were there: Grafton, the Kellermans, Block, Rule, Westlake, Connelly, Scottline.

One of the questions that the interviewer posed was, "Do you write with an outline?"

I read 80% of the 12 or 14 interviews in the book, and NONE of these writers admitted to writing with an outline. Not one.

FWIW.
 

Rolling Thunder

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Which, of course, doesn't mean winging it works for everyone. As Scarlet said, this subject has been discussed before and there are different ways to approach writing. So, as Will said, for what it's worth, choose what works best for you.
 
Chain of Memories

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Will Lavender said:
I write without an outline.

One of the joys of novel writing, for me, is that sort of continuous invention that the writer has to rely on if he is going it without an outline.

I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and stumbled across a book of interviews with famous mystery writers. Most of the major players were there: Grafton, the Kellermans, Block, Rule, Westlake, Connelly, Scottline.

One of the questions that the interviewer posed was, "Do you write with an outline?"

I read 80% of the 12 or 14 interviews in the book, and NONE of these writers admitted to writing with an outline. Not one.

FWIW.
Click to expand...


That is interesting info. That's why I enjoy winging it more often. It makes the book more exciting to write! :)

-Jay
 
Chain of Memories

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Rllgthunder said:
Which, of course, doesn't mean winging it works for everyone. As Scarlet said, this subject has been discussed before and there are different ways to approach writing. So, as Will said, for what it's worth, choose what works best for you.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. I prefer winging it, but outlining is a more safer and easier approach.

-Jay
 

Tsu Dho Nimh

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Not an "outline" that plots out every move, but just a sequence of events.

I'm like totally not published, so maybe I'm not the best person to give this advice.
 
Chain of Memories

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Tsu Dho Nimh said:
Not an "outline" that plots out every move, but just a sequence of events.

I'm like totally not published, so maybe I'm not the best person to give this advice.
Click to expand...


No! I appreciate your opinion. I should try your method sometime!
 

akiwiguy

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Generally no outline. And just to drag up another bone of contention, I tend to start with fairly well-defined characters in my mind and they drive the plot rather than the other way around.

But... my WIP which is only just underway I have given a lot more thought than usual; I perhaps have more of a complete outline than is typically the case. Something about the nature of the story just gave me the uneasy feeling that if I didn't figure certain stuff earlier rather than later I could at some point end up with some major rewriting to do.

On another post I noticed something that I found interesting... it was a quote by Stephen King that basically said that in his opinion you can start writing your story without any clear plot, but you do need to have a pretty clear idea of the conflict. Food for thought.
 
Chain of Memories

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akiwiguy said:
Generally no outline. And just to drag up another bone of contention, I tend to start with fairly well-defined characters in my mind and they drive the plot rather than the other way around.

But... my WIP which is only just underway I have given a lot more thought than usual; I perhaps have more of a complete outline than is typically the case. Something about the nature of the story just gave me the uneasy feeling that if I didn't figure certain stuff earlier rather than later I could at some point end up with some major rewriting to do.

On another post I noticed something that I found interesting... it was a quote by Stephen King that basically said that in his opinion you can start writing your story without any clear plot, but you do need to have a pretty clear idea of the conflict. Food for thought.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I do find that without a clear outline you can encounter problems later on, but nothing like the thrill of just writing! Every good novel has to have a conflict. It's like feeding the reader food for thought!:D

-Jay
 
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