TECH: Outlining Your Novel (Part 4)

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting July 8, 2016

All right, here we are again with another thrilling episode based on Outlining Your Novel by K. M. Weiland, available ... Hum, on Amazon, I think? Anyway, on to chapter 4!

The title of Chapter 4 is General Sketches, Part 1: Connecting the Dots. Chapter 3 was about crafting a solid premise, now... Start doing "General Sketches." List ideas, fill in plot holes, and fill out your story arc. This is general outlining, not detail.

Basically, we're going to work on putting down all the ideas you already have. Exercise the "what if's" and "why's" to try to get a good solid start on your outline.

1. Make a scene list. What do you know already? Don't worry about when (is this backstory? Or part of the plot? Don't worry, get it down!). Don't fret too much about format, either. K. Gives examples of notes based around characters, and also about a list of scenes. Depends on what is lurking in your brain.
2. Highlight problem areas. Every time you hit something that isn't quite there, whether it doesn't make sense yet or needs to be fleshed out, just make a note and keep going.
3. Connect the dots. What have you got? What's missing? Look at your questions and try sketching out some possible answers. Free write a bit! Dream! Oh, and don't forget to get emotional. Make sure that you resonate with what you are writing. So ask questions, rephrase and try again, and push for a little extra.

Basically, we're going to list bits that we already know, highlight what needs development, fill in by asking questions, free write, get emotional... And then ask more questions, especially if you're stuck.

Now, you may be saying, "Wait a minute, this sounds a lot like pantsing, except instead of writing whole chunks, we're writing bits and pieces, notes, and short sketches." Yep. The scene list can be very skimpy, or it might be longer. But again, the idea is to try to get a grasp of the whole story.

Got it? The next chapter continues with General Sketches, so don't be surprised.

And it sure doesn't sound anything like the nasty formal outlines that your high school teacher insisted on, does it?

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