Would love to get a sense of how you guys feel about outlining (whether that's outlining the whole novel or just a chapter ... or even a paragraph), versus "freeform" writing. I'm a planner by nature, so my lean is toward the outline, but I'm worried all my planning might limit unexpected, but important, plot/story arc edits or resulting in a "formulaic" feel when translating the outline into longer prose.
Right now, I have a general blurb about the plot, a logline (such as they are), a few dramatic questions/themes to keep in mind throughout the story, and a broad outline of the whole plot. Now. With chapter one's outline in hand, I feel kind of daunted by all my outlines. Hellllpppp.
Do you have any practical examples of when one has worked better than the other or thoughts on this in general? Specifically, on turning outlines into chapters without just throwing a bunch of extra words around the outline? Or -- gasp -- tackling a chapter without an outline.
Right now, I have a general blurb about the plot, a logline (such as they are), a few dramatic questions/themes to keep in mind throughout the story, and a broad outline of the whole plot. Now. With chapter one's outline in hand, I feel kind of daunted by all my outlines. Hellllpppp.
Do you have any practical examples of when one has worked better than the other or thoughts on this in general? Specifically, on turning outlines into chapters without just throwing a bunch of extra words around the outline? Or -- gasp -- tackling a chapter without an outline.