Read on Twitter
Who wants to talk Outlining? I do!
This thread is not a Thread to convince you to Outline, but just a musing on if you find yourself getting stuck while outlining.
First thing, I use a modified version of the Snowflake Method--modified because I ignore the times it says 1/?
This thread is not a Thread to convince you to Outline, but just a musing on if you find yourself getting stuck while outlining.
First thing, I use a modified version of the Snowflake Method--modified because I ignore the times it says 1/?
and also the synopsis step because ha ha Y I K E S. I do however start with the character profiles and get rough drafts of their wants, needs, goals. YES ROUGH DRAFT. This is important for later. 2/?
I then start thinking of the outline. Depending on the book each chapter either gets multiple paragraphs or just one. I usually start with just one paragraph and then fill in more as I go and start to figure things out. This is where the rough draft part comes in.
Sometimes I get stuck and am not sure what should happen, but know something extreme has to happen. Since this is the outline and way lower stakes than writing the draft I just go BALLS TO THE WALLS WILD on an idea. For example...
in the neon utopia I am outlining right now, there needs to be something to get the "enemy" on the "right side". I'm not sure what yet so for the rough draft Enemy threatens to shoot MC's best friend over an acting role.
Yes, this is wild and does not fit with the book, HOWEVER
Yes, this is wild and does not fit with the book, HOWEVER
It ends up really helping because I can plan out the rest of the book and then the gun is like a little rock in my brain. I roll it around while working, working out, playing games, and try to suss out what else it could be. Problems are easier to solve when they're broken out.
In creating a gun scene in your own book, you've isolated the problem. You know what happens before, and after, and as you fill in more details in those chapters the gun scene transforms into something that works for the book and ties the before and after together. PLUS
You got to have fun writing!! Outlining is the best stage to throw things at your book and see if they stick. It's so low stakes and so easy to change. SO ADD GUN SCENES. OR WHATEVER.
~fin
~fin
Also if you have questions I'm pretty much always available
