The Case for Outlining 💼
Why you should outline your long-form pieces before you write them! ✏️
Okay, hear me out. I’m by no means declaring myself the authority on how to write a book, but in my own writing journey, I’ve developed a passion for the topic of outlining.
Here’s why.
I tried to write my debut fiction book about ten times in late 2023 and early 2024. I had a concept, an ending, and a detailed list of characters. And the passion was there: In fact, I was so excited to get started on the writing process that I ignored a vital step in novel writing - outlining.
With every book I started, I ended up scrapping about ten hours of drafting work. I kept chugging away at manuscripts only to realize that I had no clue how to get from Point A (the beginning of the manuscript or a notable point in the manuscript) to Point B (the punchy ending in my head). Sometimes I had a general idea of how to bridge the gap, but I couldn’t figure out how to break it down into buildable (writeable) chunks. I’d over-explain or under-develop in my writing, get frustrated with my work, and confuse myself into oblivion, wondering whether or not I already covered something in a previous section.
I was so accustomed to writing short stories, one-topic blog/article posts, and research papers that I never stopped to consider the obvious: writing a full-length novel is different, just like poetry is different from a lab report and writing a song is different from posting on social media. While I’ve outlined before, especially for longer research papers and more complex short stories, these projects were always very simple and general. For example, I could list out the topics I need to cover as topic A, topic B, and topic C, prepare 3 supporting details/citations for each topic, draft an introduction and slap on a conclusion and - BAM! - my pesky 5-paragraph essay on parrots in the Amazon was complete!
I couldn’t stick with a single storyline for my fiction novel until I outlined the book first. My initial outline was super general; basically, it was just a list of main plot points that could get me from the beginning to the end of the novel. Then I created a second, more detailed outline; I spent hours tweaking some of my early plot points/ideas so that they made more sense in my storyline, foreshadowed future events, added important details, made my characters more relatable… I added all kinds of extra details that I didn’t get caught up on with my first outline.
I learned during the book outlining process that (1) my outlines don’t have to be perfect the first time around and (2) they certainly don’t have to be rigid. I have the indiscriminate power to change the direction or details of my novel as I draft it. What’s great about having an outline, though, is that it keeps me on track; I’ve successfully stuck with the first novel that I outlined for the past four months, and I’m now about a third of the way through my manuscript (that third having already gone through a round of editing as well!).
This consistent progress is only doable because I outlined my book before I wrote it. I typically remember what I need to be writing, but sometimes I completely blank on whether I already covered something, where I need to include a detail, or what’s supposed to occur at a certain juncture in the plot. I can now refer back to my outline, where I find that either (A) I have a plan for what I’m confused about, (B) I’m missing a plan for that piece and I need to come up with one, or (C) I don’t like the direction that my outline is taking that detail and I need to recalibrate/edit my outline to enhance my novel.
Super important disclaimer here: Sometimes you may think of a scene or a plot point that you’re itching to write immediately! That’s okay. Whether it’s outlined or not, it’s okay to write your scene and get your thoughts on the page so that you don’t lose them. But if you want to transform your little stream-of-consciousness into a full-length novel, just don’t forget to go back and outline the rest of your book before you take off into the abyss with no direction.
Think of a book outline like the train set you probably had as a child. You designed and put the track together before you started moving the train. Otherwise, the car didn’t have anywhere to go and tumbled aimlessly off-track. When you pushed the train along, it may have come to a junction in the track. You had to decide whether to take an unexpected detour or to add some twists and turns to your design. Remember, your outline doesn’t have to be perfect from the start, but having some guardrails will help you avoid getting lost along the way. 🚃
What has your experience been with outlining? In what types of writing have you found the practice to be helpful? Do you outline everything you write, or just certain pieces, like yours truly? 😉
Finally, what are some specific outlining tips/techniques that you find most beneficial for long-form writing, such as book writing? Let me know in the comments below. ✨
Emma, well written. When I first conceived of Tranith Argan, I knew it would be a massive story. So the first thing I did was sit down and write out 100 chapters of outlining. “In this chapter Felanar does this, but then this happens.”
Then I started writing, and while it helped to know where the story was going (and could thus use foreshadowing and leaves clues for later, and knew what flaws to give my characters they could grow out of), I never let the outline be a prison cell. If my story wanted to go left when the outline said right, left I went. The characters drove the show, not the outline.
It was like handing my characters a road trip map from Boston to San Francisco, but if they decided to divert to the Grand Canyon one day, they could do that as much as they want. Just get to SF in the end.
Emma, no doubt about it. They are crucial. For shorter works I've always used a story arc - which to me, is basically the same tool. But whether it's an outline or an arc, it's a very much needed roadmap to help you stay on course and not get lost. To know how, where and when you'll reach the final destination. Great instructional post for writers. - Jim