Post #3 - What’s Cookin’?
Short answer: A LOT is cooking.
It’s insane how many things need to be decided about a story before even writing the first line. As much as I want to just start writing (and I’ve tried a few times already), I’m realizing how helpful it is to create an outline first. Like many aspiring authors, I’m sure, I made the initial mistake of trying to wing it. I quickly discovered that I was driving without a destination in mind. The initial enthusiasm and optimism invariably perished (rather quickly, I might add). Perhaps the hope is that a story will somehow organically develop once you get going. Unless you’re a literary genius (spoiler: I am not), I don’t think this is often the case.
I originally thought that outlining would stifle my creativity when it came time to write the manuscript, but I’m finding this to be far from true. See, crafting an outline is part of the creative process. I’m still delving deep into my imagination and transforming ethereal ideas into words. They’re just more in a factual form versus a nice narrative.
Once I begin writing for real, I’ll know what needs to happen in the present scene, and what needs to come next. It’s kind of like connect-the-dots, but with plot points instead of, well…dots. This allows my analytical left hemisphere to simmer down, while my imaginative right hemisphere gains access to more of my computing power. Now, instead of having to think about what happens next, I get to just let it flow from one dot to the next. Pretty neat, huh?
So, I’ve been working hard at outlining my story. I’ve followed examples and tips from multiple established authors regarding what can be included in an outline, which turns out to be largely determined by one’s individual style. Some authors spend months crafting supremely thorough outlines that could probably count for at least a novella, while others subsist on a few brief bullet points per section. I’m finding I’m closer to the latter category.
But here’s the thing: the outline is informed by much more than just the plot. Genre, character profiles, tone, POV (point of view) type, number of characters, locations, plot twists, character arcs, theme, symbolism, foreshadowing—these are just a few examples of what needs to be considered before outlining. Like I said, a lot is cooking.
Again, the outline is to be used as a road map. What’s also true is that once you start driving, the route, stops, and destination might all be modified along the way. When I have an entire outline before me, I can see if the pieces—er, dots—are even going to connect and make sense. And we know it’s much easier to alter an outline than a “finished” manuscript.
Anyway, that’s my soapbox about outlining. I discovered that authors refer to winging it without an outline as “pantsing" (flying by the seat of your pants). I think that’s funny.
Well, what have I got so far? All this talk about starting a novel, and I have yet to share much of anything about the actual story. One challenge with providing updates on my writing process is avoiding spoilers, so if it sounds vague…it’s on purpose.
Genre: a cocktail of psychological thriller, surrealism, and mystery
POV: 3rd-person limited
Protagonist: male (I warned you about vagueness)
Location(s): northeastern U.S.
Time Period: present day
That’s all I can safely share at the moment. Thank you for reading! You mean the world to me.
Toodles.
