tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post9072332014737948752..comments2024-03-28T04:07:58.140-07:00Comments on Fiction and Film: And here we go again...Kate Larkindalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-58709372333204008552012-02-14T22:06:53.708-08:002012-02-14T22:06:53.708-08:00I agree that you can only outline so much. Sooner ...I agree that you can only outline so much. Sooner or later your characters decide their own direction. Actually, I find outlines much more helpful when writing screenplays than books.<br /><br />Good luck!Adam Gaylordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10776176053095754224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-82853532681085109372012-02-14T22:05:18.599-08:002012-02-14T22:05:18.599-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Adam Gaylordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10776176053095754224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-19293134845910259302012-02-13T18:05:36.586-08:002012-02-13T18:05:36.586-08:00Given it's my first time doing one, I think I&...Given it's my first time doing one, I think I'll start small... They kind of terrify me because the one time I did outline (and it was only a page of notes) I was so bored with writing the book because I knew what was happening next.<br /><br />Plus, I don't write beginning to end. Ever. I like to start in the middle somewhere, with a big moment.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-61078504009458148872012-02-13T14:34:30.143-08:002012-02-13T14:34:30.143-08:00LOL I am OBSESSIVE about outlines! I feel totally ...LOL I am OBSESSIVE about outlines! I feel totally lost without them.Kristin Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112300139571487439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-27815438299538457512012-02-13T09:18:20.181-08:002012-02-13T09:18:20.181-08:00Wow! That's a lot more detailed than I would ...Wow! That's a lot more detailed than I would go. I just wrote 3 pages of paragraphs outlining what I think each chapter will be... I think that's enough for me to see the shape of the book and keep me on track.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-84097184076020739862012-02-12T16:31:34.764-08:002012-02-12T16:31:34.764-08:00I'm an obsessive list and outline person, in e...I'm an obsessive list and outline person, in everyday life as well as writing! LOL<br /><br />I always outline a new book with Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method. A google search brings that right up. It's VERY detailed, to the point of freaking some people out. But that's okay, you can customize it and cut out some of the steps.<br /><br />If the Snowflake Method still doesn't work, there's another technique I learned from doing another internet search. Basically, you break down your plot into the following:<br /><br />The inciting incident (the Big Problem): Get that going within the first few chapters of the book.<br /><br />Plot Point 1 (first obstacle): Usually caused by a situation out of the MC's control<br /><br />Plot Point 2 (second obstacle): Usually caused as a result of the MC trying to fix things<br /><br />Plot Point 3 (third obstacle; situation is as bad as it can get): precursor to the climax<br /><br />Climax A (lighting the fuse)<br /><br />Climax B (watching it burn)<br /><br />Climax C (BOOM!)<br /><br />Denoument: what happens next?<br /><br />Resolution: tying up loose ends.<br /><br />I use a combination of both methods when I outline a book. And then I make sure I have enough to fill in each of those steps. I'm constantly changing my outline though, because like Angeline says, the characters always end up going in different directions than you've planned. But I think it's sooo much easier knowing where the book is going, and when you do make changes they're usually pretty minor and it's easier to keep track of them when you have an outline.Kristin Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112300139571487439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-843319440403102242012-02-12T14:47:42.698-08:002012-02-12T14:47:42.698-08:00One day I'll figure out what works best for me...One day I'll figure out what works best for me... I've always been a complete pantser and usually start writing somewhere near the middle of the book, then work my way toward both the ending and the beginning at the same time. It's worked for me, but I think it's time to try something else to see if it might make me more efficient.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-68970800736292153342012-02-12T12:43:54.295-08:002012-02-12T12:43:54.295-08:00Good luck! I never outline. When I do, I spend wee...Good luck! I never outline. When I do, I spend weeks carefully plotting and then end up throwing it all out of the window by about 15,000 words because my characters decide they want to do something else. I just let them do their thing these days!Spanjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13893837904669368614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363187649278189370.post-1761856424943287582012-02-12T10:13:28.310-08:002012-02-12T10:13:28.310-08:00For me the big thing about outlining is writing do...For me the big thing about outlining is writing down the major plot points and how they fall in the story. My outlines rarely contain more detail than that because I do like to see how characters respond as I actually start writing. <br /><br />It sounds like an interesting new plan, I'm excited to see the results ^_^Loralie Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134452749240292803noreply@blogger.com