![]() In this post, I’ll share the key steps I've found most useful for outlining novels before writing the first draft.Īt the heart of almost every story is a main character who goes on a journey from Point A to Point B. So what’s a pre-drafting outline actually for? To get you started and give you a structure to hang your words on. Many working writers I know actually prefer to outline after they have a draft, and it will be just as useful - or even more so. So don’t judge them, or yourself, at this stage. You’re going to find out a lot more about your ideas as you write. Award-winning author Nicholson Baker’s novel The Mezzanine is literally about a man going out to buy shoelaces on his office lunch break. This will get you stuck before you start. Most of all, as you create your outline, don’t worry about things like whether your ideas are “good enough” to write about. To quote George Saunders, “An artist works outside the realm of strict logic.” A book has to change and grow as you move through the process of creation. There are things you can’t know until you’ve drafted your novel - and you’ll learn even more when you revise. This is because, whether you think of yourself as a plotter, pantser, or neither, your book is going to evolve as you write it. Here’s the most important thing about novel outlines: If you write one, it will change before your last draft is done - probably a lot. ![]() She’s an award-winning novelist with 25 years experience as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. ![]() This post is written by author and editor Kirsten Bakis. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |