https://www.cherryh.com/WaveWithoutAShore/?page_id=376
I talk about outlining a book, and it immediately conjures images of Mr. Smith’s English 101. Not so. A book outline is ‘more like guidelines,’ and in response to a question, I actually created an outline for the Great American SF Novel. Sorta. At least you can see the process, if you’re interested. I don’t even mind if you steal the plot. Just deny you got it from me. 😆
NOTE: LINK NOW CORRECTED To lead to “Writing for Fun and Profit”.
THat link goes to the very long and very spoiler-laden post I’ve been avoiding to read front to back for that reason. Can you pinpoint the location more closely? I’m always interested in other people’s process. (And I can’t outline at all.)
It’s the last thing on page 2. It should go to the Writing for Fun and Profit thing, not the Book Spoiler link. Hmmn. I’ll test it.
Now pointing to the right place, thanks.
As outlines go, this is one of the saner methods I’ve seen. (I’m at the far end of the spectrum – I can’t outline at all. Any outline I try to create ends up clicheed and boring, and I always get to the point where the characters are looking at me, rolling their eyes, and shaking their heads. Next thing, they do whatever they want to do. (My protagonist just got stranded deep inside Faerie. Not part of her game plan. Nor mine, because I have *no idea* what she’ll face. Well, _some_ ideas…)
Outlining is a good way to see whether that spot has an exit, or whether you’d better fish her out of that place and try another route.
Until I know what she faces, I can’t think how I would possibly solve it. She’s only walked a short bit, and I’ve already learnt a lot about the nature of Faerie. I need to observe the character interacting with the world. And since I know what has to happen next, failing is not an option.
This is, if I’m honest, my favorite part of writing – putting down a story that nobody can possibly know and that I need to write before I can read it. I am desperate to know what will happen, because right now, it’s not looking good…
I end up having the same issues as green_knight. When I try to write, I can’t get the characters to do what I want. They seem to take over and write the story themselves.
Why that is, I have no idea. I’m just glad that I’m not alone 🙂
That’s actually good. Just change your outline. Better characters who take over than characters that lie there.
There is one sort of character to beware of, or at least know him when he shows up. “The Man in Black.” Rides into town, is far more interesting than your hero, has a mysterious past, and is very sexy. Aragorn is a good example. Han Solo is another. When they try to hijack your book, either give them a good part to play, or make them wait for their own book.
So far, sexy strangers have not graced my books. Grump. It took me a while to realise that neither Han Solo nor Aragorn were supposed to be the main characters in their respective epics. (The shining elven knight in my current WIP does not like horses much and misses tinkering with the car he used to have in university days. I don’t think he counts.)
Goodness! It’s been a while since I’ve checked out either of those threads. CJ, with all the interaction going on on those posts, have you thought of setting up a forum on this site? There’s a couple of them available as WP plug ins.
Are there? What are they called, exactly?