"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

That's right, folks. I'm talking about outlining.

I have nothing against pantsing or discovery writing but there are many misconceptions regarding those of us who choose to outline our novels.

I'm going to address one of these misconceptions:

Outlines are too restrictive.

Some people think that by outlining or planning your story, you stifle the creative process. You keep yourself from discovering anything new and fail to surprise yourself.

Let me tell you right now, that is just plain wrong.

I'll say it again, outlining does NOT mean predictable.

OUTLINING DOES NOT STIFLE CREATIVITY. IT DOES NOT SILENCE YOUR MUSE.

But don't take it just from me, here are a few examples from some fellow bloggers and friends who outline their stories.

In their own words:

Teebore said:

In Fate Lost, two characters who, according to my outline, weren't going to become romantically involved (in fact, I made a point of noting they wouldn't) ending up getting romantically involved as I wrote the story, as it just made sense for the characters as I was writing them.

Summer said:

Well, actually yesterday I veered from my outline because what I'd planned for the chapter was fairly dull and I really wanted to move the story a great jump forward into the Act 2 climax, so I winged it by taking the final bit of the chapter's outline and starting there. Then I followed the logical conclusion and spent the rest of the chapter building up character conflicts and setting them up for the end-of-chapter reveal, plus another little peg in an anti-character corkboard (don't ask me to explain what that means). It turned out far, far better than the original would have, for sure.

Sarah said:

In Glimpse of Another Shore, I have a scene with Pier where I needed another character to make a comment to him regarding an important piece of his character/plot, to build believability.
So I made up a character on the spot, Captain Kinney. He had a conversation with Pier, and I got what I needed from him. I thought that was the last time I'd see Captain Kinney.
But nope, he showed up again to offer Pier a job. Then he showed up later when Pier confronted him about a secret. Later he has Pier's back in a fight.
By the end of the novel, We find out Captain Kinney is actually an important man and he helps hold the plot together.
He's an important, and entertaining, character, and the only reason he showed up at all was because I just needed a filler character. Not only was he not written into my outline, without him, the plot wouldn't function well.
It sure as hell surprised me when, not only did he stick around, he ends up being super important in this book, but also the plans I have for the sequel.


My most recent example is:

At one point, I created a completely new character. It wasn't planned, she just showed up in mid-type but she is now extremely important to the torturing of my main character.

Also, one of my main characters revealed a secret he knew about another. He had kept this secret even from me.

There are so many different types of outlining, as well.

Fiction matters boils it down to three types. They are not all extremely detailed and as long as books themselves.

I utilized the Snowflake Method for my last MS. I'll talk about that more on Wednesday.

ProWriting Tips gives 5 reasons why some of us choose to outline.

1. Establish clear motives.
2. Separate major plot from minor plot
3. Spot plot consistencies before they pop up
4. Enhance foreshadowing
5. Keep your story on track.

Of course, that doesn't mean if you outline, you will have none of these problems but like all things writing related, it takes practice.

Again this does not mean that discovery writing or pantsing is ineffective; always do what works for you.

But please, don't think that by choosing to outline, you're killing your Muse or stuffing him in a box and telling him what he can or cannot eat.

You can never force your story to do anything and if you are, shame on you. ;)

Wednesday, I'll talk about the Snowflake Method and how I utilized it.

I know you can't wait. ;)

So what about you? What are your feelings towards outlining? If you had negative feelings, does this open your eyes??