Question for those working without outlines

The Rav · May 1, 2009

I don't have a technical question about the topic, but more one of curiosity. When you start a novel without an outline, do you often know quite a bit about it, or are you truly writing from the seat of your pants, so to speak? When I write short stories, I almost always just go in with a vague idea of the story--basically an opening and a neat idea--with no clue as to how I'm going to end the thing. I've never tried writing a novel this way, but I was thinking about giving it a go. So basically I'm wondering if you have an idea where you're going before you start, or if you just take your idea and run with it, figuring you'll know when you get there. Have a good one all!

Ol' Fashioned Girl · May 1, 2009

I take my idea and run with it... and hope like all getout that my characters wake up in time to run with me and tell me which way to go.

KTC · May 1, 2009

I sometimes begin with nothing more than a character name that comes to me. As I write I can see into the future and I guess as my fingers are tapping away they begin to chase the vision that is slightly ahead of them. I usually write my first drafts in marathons...48 hours...and then edit them later. I just keep in the stream of the story and hope that my fingers can keep up with the thought processes. Sometimes when I'm doing this the ending will pop into my head when I'm nowhere near the ending. I don't write it down, I just keep it in mind and continue down the path. It's extremely seat of my pants when I write first draft. Like jumping off the cliff.

scarletpeaches · May 1, 2009

I have one or two characters, an ending of which I'm 75% sure (sometimes the intervening events take me to a different one to that which I imagined) and perhaps some conversations or scenes in my mind I'd like to work into the novel.

Nothing written down; it's all in my head.

Once I start writing, scenes start popping up in my head thick and fast and when I'm just about at the end I might write a list in the style of "A happens - Character X does B - C happens, which leads to D - The End". This is because when I'm so close to the end I can taste it I get so excited my head doesn't work properly and this is just to remind myself of what I've still to write and to try to guesstimate how many words I've to go.

But even then, my imagined ending could end up being something else.

Mr Flibble · May 1, 2009

I start with a character or two, and a problem. The characters dictate how they deal with that problem, and presto! The plot begins. Then I keep making things worse until the end.

I often have a scene or two in mind, a vague glimmer of the sort of ending and that's about it.

Cybernaught · May 1, 2009

My first draft has always been my outline, pretty much. Just with a little more flesh.

ccv707 · May 1, 2009

I know most of the major events, including the very ending, beforehand, and as I start, I let the words flow. I employ stream of consciousness heavily, so I find outlining a horrible way to go about business. Plus, if I write out an outline, I feel as though I'm restricting the development of the story, as some things might unfold in their own time and at their own place. I have tried to outline before, but I can't stand it. Never will again.

DonnaDuck · May 1, 2009

I outline only after the first draft is written and that's just to make sure I have events, characters, and the like straight when I'm editing and for future reference.

But just starting out, I have an idea, some characters and a few points/places I want to hit in the storyline and I just go. I very much shoot from the hip when I write and fine tune it later. I was never one for outlining and I very much like being a slave to my own work. I follow it, not the other way around.

jodiodi · May 1, 2009

I just write what the voices in my head tell me to write.

For me, it's like I'm watching the story unfold in movie form and I just describe what I see. I never know how it's going to end or what will happen along the way until I get to that part.

I tried outlining, but just had no inspiration when it came to writing. It reminded me too much of a term-paper.

Besides, I like being surprised by the story and my characters grow organically.

ccarver30 · May 1, 2009

jodiodi said:
I just write what the voices in my head tell me to write.

For me, it's like I'm watching the story unfold in movie form and I just describe what I see. I never know how it's going to end or what will happen along the way until I get to that part.

I tried outlining, but just had no inspiration when it came to writing. It reminded me too much of a term-paper.

Besides, I like being surprised by the story and my characters grow organically.

Me too. I have a few key points I know of, but most of the time I sit down and see what happens. My characters surprise me all the time with sh^t I don't even know about until I am writing the scene!!

I can't outline. For me it just seems too dictating... If I have to, I will write down a few things as reminders, but that's it.

NeuroFizz · May 1, 2009

I have the story arc in my head, and a rough idea of what the characters will be like, but all of that is flexible. I do think through each scene before I sit down to write it, but just in terms of who is going to be in it, the basics of what is going to happen, and how it fits in the overall story arc. Does each scene turn out the way my mind thinks it through? Not always, and there have been some incredible surprises. But the kind of pre-thinking I do is like a horoscope passages--they are so general, just about anything that comes out in the writing fits within their limits.

KellyAssauer · May 1, 2009

For me it depends. If I have a particular story to tell, then there is a goal in sight and often I end up getting there to quick and have more to do in the middle. Other times I have no idea what is about to happen, and let the characters tell me their story! This way I get a little of both worlds, structure and chaos!

eveningstar · May 1, 2009

I start with a concept, usually a location, occasionally a character or two and sometimes a few specific scene ideas. Then I just pick a place to start and write.

Often I have to pull the story out of the rough draft and build it up in the second, but that's what works for me.

Mr. Anonymous · May 1, 2009

Sometimes I work with them, sometimes I don't, but I always have a good idea of where I'm starting, where I want to go, and how I'm going to get there. Either way I suppose I have an outline, it's just a matter of whether or not it's written.

Chauchat Butterfly · May 2, 2009

I come up with a premise first then tell the story out of order inside my head before separating the peices and putting them in the right place, changing things around and adding new ideas here and there before I'm mostly satisfied with the story and am ready to write.

Nothing goes on paper before the first draft. If I forget something, like a character's name, then it was unimportant to begin with.

sadron · May 2, 2009

When I start writing, I have some idea already to begin with. I have never used an outline.

Charlie Horse · May 2, 2009

Writing a first draft without an outline really isn't much different than writing an outline before you write the draft. The main thing that separates the two is narrative and dialogue. One has more than the other. In both cases, however, the writer needs to creatively find a way to tell a story. In the long run, it's simply a matter of how one chooses to go about it.

An no, I have no idea what's going to happen with my story from one day to the next. That's the fun part.

BlueLucario · May 2, 2009

Err...

I start out with a character name and run with it. A bit dangerous, but that's what I do.

SouthernFriedJulie · May 2, 2009

Depends. Sometimes the story will pop in my head nearly complete. Even with those the storyline evolves and there are a lot of "Ah hah!" moments.

I can't write with an outline. I feel to chained to it, even though it's just a suggestion. I know it's my story and that the outline is just a guide...but somehow it rubs me wrong.

barbilarry · May 2, 2009

Until my last wip I had never done an outline. I got really bogged down in the middle of this one. Someone on here suggested I try to outline. I did for the last seven chapters. Most were only a few lines of basic iseas for each chapter. I did not stick to the outline completely but it did help me focus and reach the the end. So I guess I use what it takes to get from point a to point b.
Jane

BravoYankee · May 2, 2009

When I started the first draft of my manuscript, all I had was an idea of a plot and the personality of a MC. Everything else just started to flow with the tapping of my keyboard. But, by the end of the first few chapters, I had the rest of my characters (most of them), plot details, and the ending.

motormind · May 2, 2009

I make a very extensive outline of my novel, then put it in the bottom drawer and just start writing. Since I have a pretty good memory most of what I outlined winds up in the end result--but not everything, which is usually for the best.

RJK · May 2, 2009

I start with my MC, a new character and antagonist, then come up with a plot. I start with the actions of the antagonist. This kicks off the MC's actions (he's a police detective). From that point, as each incident occurs, I ask myself "What would I do?" and that's what I write.
I'm having a problem right now because my antagonist is a terrorist and a religious fanatic. I would not do what a religious fanatic terrorist would do, so I'm having trouble thinking like he would. Once I'm able to get into his head (without getting into his head (I'm writing in 1st person)), I'll be able to move on.

Clair Dickson · May 2, 2009

I start with the main problem. I don't know how it's going to turn out, but I know the major point to be investigated in the book. (I write PI stories.) I'm pretty loose with the plot, working it out as I go along. Sometimes I jot down notes if I get an idea about something later in the boook... and sometimes I use those notes. It's all fluid and I write linearly. I kind of keep some sort of premise in my head, working over ideas as to what the overall premise will be, and how to sell it in a query. Nothing concrete, but I try to keep that in mind.

I can't say exactly how well it works. I've got one novel written, one recently begun, and none in the hands of lovely agents. Yet. =)

Ervin · May 2, 2009

To me what vaguely matters is a basic idea of a setting, the antagonist(Not even the conflict really), and what may be the final resolution. Everything else comes just shortly before I write it down.

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