Tuesday, January 31, 2012

On Outlining

I've always had a love/hate relationship with outlines. I understand their use in planning, staying on track, envisioning the entire story, and ensuring a build up to the climax. I've also felt that they constrain the creative process at times and leave little room for the characters to evolve as they must...must because as the writer I'm getting to know them even better and because sometimes they surprise me.

I suppose that's why I'll often compromise with a brief outline with major plot points that include A and B and C, but how certain characters achieve getting from A to B may be somewhat fluid in my mind.

Well, that's all about to change!

I recently received some very insightful--and helpful--advice about my WIP, particularly the middle of the story where the plot twists plateau before the big pick up. This wasn't achieving an even greater surprise for the audience at the end. It was slowly losing them because my writing from point to point wasn't as tension filled as they need to be.

And so I'm back to the editing drawing board, this time with the New Year's resolution to be much more detailed--and to study the plot twists of my fav novels and the education out there available. One amazing site recommended to me, and which I've already been devouring is The Plot Whisperer (http://plotwhisperer.blogspot.com/). If you haven't checked it out, well what are you waiting for?!

What's your writing or work weakness?

1 comment:

  1. That's a really helpful Website. Thanks for sharing! I'm trying to outline more for my WIP as well. Good luck!

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