June is Outlining Month:
Outlining is one of the most contested issues in writing because it is a left-side-of-the-brain vs. the right-side-of-the-brain argument. Most teachers and editors tend to be right side, as do most writers. But there exists a third who despise those who plan. They want to delve into the story, shoot first and then sort it out. As a result, I will post once a week during June about different outlining methods, what works best for me, the pros and cons of outlining, and a rough description of the Snowflake Method.
Pros and Cons of Outlining:
Adversaries of outlining creative works claim that their writing is fluid and they don’t want to be constrained by an outline prepared months earlier. “Let the writing lead you where it wants to go,” they’ll say. Outliners cringe at the thought of diving into a long work of fiction without some sort of preparation. “How can you write without at least an idea of where you’re going? Would you drive somewhere new without directions?”
I fall somewhere in the middle of this argument, as I think most writers do. For short stories, and even longer works, I’ll come up with an idea or a character. Then, I’ll write to catch a voice and to see if this character is intriguing enough for me to battle with over the coming months. If I do, then I’ll sit down and outline. The road ahead is dangerous and difficult, and if I don’t have some kind of plan, the idea will crumble.
Pros:
1. Is the story good? One of the best reasons to outline is to decide before sitting down to write the dreaded (or awesome!) first draft is it gives the writer an opportunity to decide whether or not their idea is a good one and worth seeing all the way through.
2. Recognize foreshadowing opportunities. Once the story is outlined, the writer has the opportunity to see the journey as a whole
TS Eliot popularized the term objective correlative in his essay “Hamlet”
and foreshadowing opportunities will present themselves as will themes, objective correlatives, and character arcs. The outline, like writing, can be fluid and changed. Pre-work will only help the writer understand the story and characters as a whole, but new ideas will emerge during the course of a draft. Writers shouldn’t ignore these new revelations. Instead, they should embrace them and fit them into the working outline.
3. Know what to write next. In our busy lives filled with instantaneous gratifications, writing can be a difficult task, which makes writer’s block a real thing. And, even if you don’t own a television or are connected on social media sites, writing a novel, or even a short story, is a struggle and there will be bad days. Having an outline handy is one of the best ways to combat those hardships. Simply see what comes next and write it. One of my favorite tactics is to briefly bullet point a couple ideas at the end of the day for the next day’s writing. That way when I sit down, I know where I’m headed.
4. Save time on editing. Editing and revision are just as much a part of writing as the first draft. Those who don’t outline will spend more time editing because, though planned in their head during their writing, their first draft will be wordy as they explore different themes. Outliners will have most of the exploration completed and, though there will be many drafts ahead, the first draft will be cleaner and more organized.
Cons:
1. Outlining can kill the idea and ruin it. Sometimes, if I discuss an idea for a story before it is fully developed in my head, I can ruin my excitement. I’ve already discussed it and the idea seems complete. For some, this can happen during the outlining process. Too much time is spent outlining and analyzing different routes the story will take and then, suddenly, POOF! the idea has run its course. The key is to know what kind of writer you are and whether this is a legitimate pitfall for you.
2. Spoils the intrigue and spontaneity of writing. Writing organically, or without an outline, provides a thrill and a rush that is indescribable to those who haven’t experienced it. Where will this story lead? What is this character going to do next? Even the author doesn’t fully know and it seems as though the story is directing the pen. An outline, like number 1, can kill this rush. Some write better without knowing everything that’s around the corner. They explore different possibilities as they pop up.
3. Changes are difficult. Some authors feel that if they spent all this time on an outline, why would they want to go back and change it? This is the story they came up with, prepared for, and they will ignore all new directions because their outline is carved in stone. As mentioned earlier, I think this is a faulty way to look at an outline, but nonetheless, it is a real pitfall and one that has to be considered.
4. Finish the story. The most important aspect, the goal of all writing, especially fiction, is to finish the draft. Once the first draft is complete, changes can and will be made. But a novel consists of many words, none of which will find the page by themselves. Nonoutliners feel that they only have so much momentum when an idea appears and they need to get the first draft complete as soon as possible, and outlining will only delay that objective.
Conclusion:
No matter what advice I provide, or you come across during your journey, the main thing to remember is that what works for one author won’t work for another. The only way to learn which is your preference is to try as many as possible, especially the ones you don’t think you’d like. Exploring different techniques is as important as exploring different characters and settings in your writing. There is no magical formula. The only thing that matters is whether the draft is complete, or not. You’ve either written today, or you haven’t. No matter your technique, keep writing.
Helpful Resources:
These are some websites that I used to research before I wrote this article and they proved very helpful.
Outlining Your Novel: Why and How by Joanna Penn
SOLVED: The Outlining vs. Organic Writing Debate by Larry Brooks
The Top 12 Benefits of Outlining Your Novel by Suzannah Windsor Freeman
To Outline or Not to Outline, That is the Question by Idrees Patel
To Plan or to Plunge? A New Way of Looking at the Outlining Debate by Don Fry
