Emma, this is insightful. I'm very much a numbers guy - I easily handle them with fluidity like one of those elaborate cocktail bartenders, but words not so much. Hopefully I will improve with practice and by applying good technique. I will be writing mostly to inform and to help clarify my thoughts, so it should be a win either way.
Thanks so much for checking it out! As a person also diagnosed with OCPD (I took a look at your previous post), I understand some of the struggles you probably face and writing truly has helped me sort out my thinking/put my energy into something useful. Outlining definitely satisfies my need for order as well! 🤣😊
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.
Thank you for reading! 😊 You hit the nail on the head - the key is to have a loose plan, but to still allow your characters to lead the story. Honestly, this ends up creating a more believable host of characters and, often, a more relatable plot.
Ha! I realized in working on my novel how crucial it is to at least have some major plot points to hit. Otherwise, I just get lost or things don't make sense all of a sudden (well, they might make sense in my head, but they very likely don't make sense to my reader!).
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
I love the concept of a story arc! I'd like to try that in my "shorter short story" writing. Thanks for checking out my post today and for your thoughtful comment. :)
Yes, if you're a person who appreciates visuals, drawn objects and presentations the arc is almost fun to build and draw out. I liken it to a side view of roller coaster, the slow, tense, building crawl up a steep, steep incline, etc. I make notes along the way up and on the way down. Games we play right? But it is a serious tool in writing for sure. Thanks again - Jim
Emma, this is insightful. I'm very much a numbers guy - I easily handle them with fluidity like one of those elaborate cocktail bartenders, but words not so much. Hopefully I will improve with practice and by applying good technique. I will be writing mostly to inform and to help clarify my thoughts, so it should be a win either way.
Thanks so much for checking it out! As a person also diagnosed with OCPD (I took a look at your previous post), I understand some of the struggles you probably face and writing truly has helped me sort out my thinking/put my energy into something useful. Outlining definitely satisfies my need for order as well! 🤣😊
Hi to a fellow OCPD-er! I don't think I've ever said that before.
Hi!! :)
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.
Thank you for reading! 😊 You hit the nail on the head - the key is to have a loose plan, but to still allow your characters to lead the story. Honestly, this ends up creating a more believable host of characters and, often, a more relatable plot.
Yes, and it helps alleviate the occasional ‘my characters are stuck in this alley — now what?’ moments.
Ha! I realized in working on my novel how crucial it is to at least have some major plot points to hit. Otherwise, I just get lost or things don't make sense all of a sudden (well, they might make sense in my head, but they very likely don't make sense to my reader!).
“Wow, Georgina and Liam just spent five pages arguing over the color of his sweater. Is that what I meant to write?” 😃
😂😂
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
I love the concept of a story arc! I'd like to try that in my "shorter short story" writing. Thanks for checking out my post today and for your thoughtful comment. :)
Yes, if you're a person who appreciates visuals, drawn objects and presentations the arc is almost fun to build and draw out. I liken it to a side view of roller coaster, the slow, tense, building crawl up a steep, steep incline, etc. I make notes along the way up and on the way down. Games we play right? But it is a serious tool in writing for sure. Thanks again - Jim
Such a fun way to look at it! I'll have to draw it out like that, too. Thanks for the tip!!!