outlines: helpful or harmful?
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Wow this woman is annoying. It's like she's a teenager trying to convince her mother that every young woman needs $300 jeans.
And she's pushy. Not suggestive, just pushy!
I outline. And as I write, that outline can be changed. 90%, the original outline doesn't match the first draft.
What she seem to not understand is that when you write, you're just detailing an outline. When you're free writing, you're just creating a very thick, rough outline. Outlines are like maps, but any map can be wrong.
The revision process is when you alter what you have written. You take what you have and sort through it, making it organized. This is just working backwards (for some people, this works. I have to work backwards with each draft, even thought I outline).
So I disagree.
And she's pushy. Not suggestive, just pushy!
I outline. And as I write, that outline can be changed. 90%, the original outline doesn't match the first draft.
What she seem to not understand is that when you write, you're just detailing an outline. When you're free writing, you're just creating a very thick, rough outline. Outlines are like maps, but any map can be wrong.
The revision process is when you alter what you have written. You take what you have and sort through it, making it organized. This is just working backwards (for some people, this works. I have to work backwards with each draft, even thought I outline).
So I disagree.
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I have done it both ways, and prefer a rough outline. It isn't stifling, but gives me a direction for my creativity to flow. Otherwise I stare at a blank page and wonder what my goal is. Outlines give me a short term goal.
They also lessen the number of rewrites necessary to have a decent draft. I was astounded by this. I saved myself dozens of read throughs by doing an outline first.
They also lessen the number of rewrites necessary to have a decent draft. I was astounded by this. I saved myself dozens of read throughs by doing an outline first.
Disagree with just about every point in that article. All that may be true for her; it certainly isn't for me.
In summary - I do it this way therefore everybody who does it differently is wrong.
Utter tripe and not worth wasting a thread on or directing traffic to her site.
Utter tripe and not worth wasting a thread on or directing traffic to her site.
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Wow...she really is annoying. Mind mapping? WTF?
After lurking in the "questions about writing" thread and re-reading my WIP, I have to outline. It's clunky and disorganized, so instead of "mind mapping" and "free writing", I outlined my characters--who they are, what their goals are, what obstacles they face, etc.
Great advice from the QAW thread for a shiny newbie's WIP. Maybe once I have more experience, I won't need to outline, but what I've learned here has been a godsend. And I'm learning to ignore nutballs like that one.
So what eminently readable treasures has this woman written using her own advice?
If, by their fruits ye shall know them has any truth, she must have at least a few absolute page-turners to her credit, no?
It surely couldn't be just an ad for "mind-mapping" software could it?
If, by their fruits ye shall know them has any truth, she must have at least a few absolute page-turners to her credit, no?
It surely couldn't be just an ad for "mind-mapping" software could it?
This is something that each and every writer must discover for themselves. When I was new to writing I thought I had to do everything that everybody told me. I had a HELL of a time with outlines. As soon as I got my confidence up and realized I had to find my own path---outlines were OUT THE WINDOW! I hate them. They do not work in the least FOR ME.
Try everything. Discard what doesn't work for you. <--- the basic rules of writing.
Try everything. Discard what doesn't work for you. <--- the basic rules of writing.
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It depends on the person. Some people are outliners and need the structure; other people are pantsers, and outlines won't work for them; some are in between. I'm an extreme pantser, and yes, I've had an outline destroy the fun of a project and kill the creativity before I even got started.
But I also don't like the way she wrote the post -- it's just as bad as an outliner trying to lecture me on the values of doing an outline. If I could do an outline to keep from having the novel messes I get, I would.
But I also don't like the way she wrote the post -- it's just as bad as an outliner trying to lecture me on the values of doing an outline. If I could do an outline to keep from having the novel messes I get, I would.
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As a (note)card-carrying, dyed-in-the-wool militant outliner, I come to state the obvious:
My outline is my rough draft. This article acts like outlines are all bullet-point with a, b, c and that they are somehow by definition inimical to "creative work." My outlines are creative works. I illustrate them. I put them in nifty little notecard binders. I play with them as I work. This does not "mute" my desire to tell the story, it gives it focus. This does not make my work "cold and logical,*" it gives me the security to really let my voice rip without stumbling over my characters' lack of goals.
I get that it isn't like that for everybody. I merely ask my fellow authors not begrudge me the messes I make because they're different than the messes they make.
*EDIT: And if I may rant further, I hate seeing "logical" used as a pejorative.
My outline is my rough draft. This article acts like outlines are all bullet-point with a, b, c and that they are somehow by definition inimical to "creative work." My outlines are creative works. I illustrate them. I put them in nifty little notecard binders. I play with them as I work. This does not "mute" my desire to tell the story, it gives it focus. This does not make my work "cold and logical,*" it gives me the security to really let my voice rip without stumbling over my characters' lack of goals.
I get that it isn't like that for everybody. I merely ask my fellow authors not begrudge me the messes I make because they're different than the messes they make.
*EDIT: And if I may rant further, I hate seeing "logical" used as a pejorative.
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As a manic outliner, I am rather offended. I can't write without one. It doesn't kill my creativity, but rather enhances it, as I've got kind of a bird's eye view of what's going on and can see all the paths I might diverge upon. And it definitely doesn't kill my urge to tell the story or make my writing dull or stale. My outline keeps me excited. It's a roadmap showing me where I need to go to reach my destination. There are stops along the way I'm practically bursting out of my skin to write. 
I wrote my first WIP sans outline (except for a super basic, 'this is what I want the end to be'). It took me forever to finish, and it was like pulling teeth. Every time I sat down, I had to waste about an hour trying to figure out what was about to happen. Then I outlined for the next one. And I mean I outlined. It took me less than half the time to produce a longer manuscript. One that requires much less editing.
I shall climb off my soapbox now.
I wrote my first WIP sans outline (except for a super basic, 'this is what I want the end to be'). It took me forever to finish, and it was like pulling teeth. Every time I sat down, I had to waste about an hour trying to figure out what was about to happen. Then I outlined for the next one. And I mean I outlined. It took me less than half the time to produce a longer manuscript. One that requires much less editing.I shall climb off my soapbox now.
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ahyup
There's a whole lot of crap in there that simply isn't true across the board. Maybe it is for her and therefore outlining may be harmful to her creativity.
She certainly doesn't speak for me.
I may have to turn that into a sigline quote.
For me personally, all but the 'organize' reason are true. They are exactly why I don't outline. But to state that no writer should outline is ludicrous.
I don't care if the woman is wildly successful or mildly so. Anyone who promotes a "my way or the highway" type of generalization on the paths to writing quality is a bit too full of her/himself. A good exercise for this type of person is to grab her ears...then pull her head out of her a$$. I know she intends to help new and developing writers with her essay, but it will only aid the choir, not the entire congregation. And it could discourage a new writer who is wonderfully creative with his/her outlines, and it could totally undermine his/her productivity or confidence in his/her approach to writing.
I don't give a darn if someone outlines every little detail or does absolutely no advance planning before sitting to write. I just want to read good stories, and I challenge anyone to pick up ten books (without knowing the authors) and accurately predict how these authors approach their writing based on the perceived creativity of the works.
I don't give a darn if someone outlines every little detail or does absolutely no advance planning before sitting to write. I just want to read good stories, and I challenge anyone to pick up ten books (without knowing the authors) and accurately predict how these authors approach their writing based on the perceived creativity of the works.
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I'm always very impressed by people who can turn their personal experiences into universal principles. *sarcasm*
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sigh.
Whatevs. I will happily write my outlines and fully plot my books before I write them.
Sometimes, creativity needs a good squashing to turn into a readable book.
Whatevs. I will happily write my outlines and fully plot my books before I write them.
Sometimes, creativity needs a good squashing to turn into a readable book.
Pffft. She's talking out of her bunghole, and I'm not even an outliner.
This. Which is why I ever finish my current pantsed novel I am outlining the next one.
This is probably the most headdesk-worthy aspect of this entire article.
Logic and creativity are not mutually incompatible. In fact, logic is a must when you're trying to write something. All the creativity in the world just doesn't work when what you're writing doesn't make any sense. You need to apply logic to whatever you're writing, whether it is an article, essay, story, script, or whatever—especially if you're writing something that is meant to express an opinion or share information. Stating that "logic is the last thing you want" when you're writing is completely illogical.
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