Story treatments.I'm curious for those who believe outlining is valid work but not actual "writing," are you folks the "write every single day" type? And if so, if you're in an outlining phase on something new, what do you write on those days to get your daily word count? Side project? Journal? Stream of consciousness? How-to manuals?
I'm curious for those who believe outlining is valid work but not actual "writing," are you folks the "write every single day" type? And if so, if you're in an outlining phase on something new, what do you write on those days to get your daily word count? Side project? Journal? Stream of consciousness? How-to manuals?
I consider a lot of things to be a part of the writing process: brainstorming, outlining, researching, writing a query, critting other peoples' work, reading about other people's experiences with writing, etc.
The "writing process" isn't the same thing as "writing", to me. Actually doing the hard grunt work of getting words arranged in a coherent fashion that makes a narrative requires a particular kind of focus and energy that differs from what goes into brainstorming, outlining, researching, etc. And generates its own unique new energies that don't follow on the other parts of the "process".
caw
Many writers will tell you that you need to WRITE EVERY DAY in order to be successful. Personally, I don't agree with this staunch position. I think you need to write A LOT, but if you miss a day - even two or three in a row from time to time - I think you're fine as long as you continue to write regularly. But really it depends on what kind of person and writer you are.
But for the sake of my question let's just say you do write every day.
Suppose you are in the outlining phase on a new project. You dedicate, oh let's say three hours sitting at your desk in front of your laptop or at a coffee shop with a notebook or whatever your process is. You spend most of that time brainstorming. Thinking. Maybe doing a bit of research online. Occasionally jotting down a note or a potential plot detail or character quirk or bit of dialogue. Technically you're putting a few words down, but you're not really WRITING writing.
So, if you're a "write every day" person do you consider this brainstorming session to be writing? Or would you still set aside some time to bang out 1000 words of prose (or whatever you've mandated for yourself) on some unrelated project?
I'm probably the only one, but I find the question kind of silly, and dripping in semantics.
Does it really matter how a "write every day" person views outlining?
If that's not how you go about your writing, then who cares what they think--it doesn't match the very foundation of what works for you.
Write your novel the way that works best for you. If you can't manage to finish a novel, then considering changing up how you do it, thus finding what works best for you.
I'm curious for those who believe outlining is valid work but not actual "writing," are you folks the "write every single day" type? And if so, if you're in an outlining phase on something new, what do you write on those days to get your daily word count? Side project? Journal? Stream of consciousness? How-to manuals?
I guess you could say that I think that outlining is "working" on the book, but not "writing" the book. (Just like composing a query letter or a pitch is also "working" on the book, but doesn't involve the actual crafting of the story.)
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I guess you could say that I think that outlining is "working" on the book, but not "writing" the book. (Just like composing a query letter or a pitch is also "working" on the book, but doesn't involve the actual crafting of the story.)
It matters to me. There's always something to be learned from the process of others.
Splitting hairs regarding vocabulary is kinda what a lot of us do - SO... I suggest that making an outline of the plot is crafting the story.
No. It's crafting the plot. Which is not the same thing as crafting the story. (Because different forms of storytelling. I've written screenplays, graphic novel scripts and novels. How I apply the outline (summary of the plot and character arcs) to the storytelling in each case is different. Because the telling of the story is a craft that is separate from plot. And the format you are telling the story in dictates what sort of craft you employ.) And, I've seen plenty of folks in the SYW who a solid plot idea but still couldn't actually tell a story because the craft was severely lacking. And plenty of folks too who write well, but can't plot their way out of a paper bag.
Outlining and writing the book are certainly related, but they are not the same skill. (And I point this out because I've met folks who spend years on the pre-writing - outlining, character sketches and interviews, drawing maps and researching, etc - only to start to write the book and immediately get stuck because actually writing the damned thing is not the same as what they've spent all their time doing. Or they write something that no one wants to read because the craft of telling a story is a hell of a lot more than just figuring out the various points in a quest.)