tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post2303835441542602473..comments2023-10-15T04:48:05.528-04:00Comments on Free the Princess: The Saucy Minx Called OutliningMatthew Delmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-19938325215207145032009-11-09T23:03:51.279-05:002009-11-09T23:03:51.279-05:00I love planning. For all the reasons you said, plu...I <a href="http://adamheine.blogspot.com/2009/08/planning-ahead.html" rel="nofollow">love</a> <a href="http://adamheine.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-plan-novel.html" rel="nofollow">planning</a>. For all the reasons you said, plus:<br /><br />* It minimizes the amount of major rewriting I have to do (which always feels like wasted work to me).<br />* It shortens the amount of drafting time I spend staring out the window going, "So what happens now?"<br /><br />Also, I love algebra and geometry. I pretty much loved math up until advanced calculus (which, by the way, is where stats lead) when I lost track of what the purpose was.<br /><br />If you're getting too detailed, maybe you can try this. Start with an overview, like 1-2 sentences per chapter. Once you have the main plotline laid out, you can go back and add detail or fill holes.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-65025783522085518712009-11-09T21:38:09.485-05:002009-11-09T21:38:09.485-05:00You know, I've always been a pantster, but rec...You know, I've always been a pantster, but recently, I've decided it might be better to outline. My next go around, I will try an outline. Yes, the mighty have fallen.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-78966169219777574152009-11-09T18:36:59.430-05:002009-11-09T18:36:59.430-05:00Algebra sucks!
Sorry, just had to get that out of...Algebra sucks!<br /><br />Sorry, just had to get that out of my system. Geometry's okay and so are stats. <br /><br />My outline is just basic scene sequencing. It's there when I finish a scene and go, "What the heck now?"Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-29866628235044882242009-11-09T16:31:49.770-05:002009-11-09T16:31:49.770-05:00Haha; to be fair, V is the first book I've wri...Haha; to be fair, V is the first book I've written that quickly. <br /><br />Speaking of, did you get my email?L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-35728610264586444442009-11-09T15:24:10.160-05:002009-11-09T15:24:10.160-05:00I try to outline, but I generally lack the discipl...I try to outline, but I generally lack the discipline required to follow it all the way through to the end. My characters have a way of surprising me and meandering down their own damn path. Kind of frustrating, really.Renee Pinnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04790041428775629226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-42075489535451706042009-11-09T12:30:08.697-05:002009-11-09T12:30:08.697-05:00L.T. --
With the pace you write at, I'd be sh...L.T. --<br /><br />With the pace you write at, I'd be shocked if you took the time to outline. ;)Matthew Delmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-7029440704183180072009-11-09T12:20:09.525-05:002009-11-09T12:20:09.525-05:00I can't outline; I can't. This is what hap...I can't outline; I can't. This is what happens when I outline:<br /><br />I start with one or two short sentences per scene. Then I add more detail. Then I add some sample dialogue.<br /><br />Next thing you know, I've freakin' written it, only without any style or voice. <br /><br />Ugh. If I outline, I end up with a very short book. I'd rather just write it through as it comes and then add a little later, instead of having to add a ton now. But that is why different things work for different people. I can-- and do-- respect outliners, I'm just not one of them.L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-47437234562305365642009-11-09T12:16:49.372-05:002009-11-09T12:16:49.372-05:00Davin --
Its main benefit, I think, lies in the a...Davin --<br /><br />Its main benefit, I think, lies in the ability to show you the entire breadth of your story within a few short pages. <br /><br />Outlining has certainly helped me notice plot holes better. I'm probably going to do this all the time now.Matthew Delmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-38070214825600761302009-11-09T12:05:06.741-05:002009-11-09T12:05:06.741-05:00I've been outlining my latest book after heari...I've been outlining my latest book after hearing Scott and Michelle talk about it so much. It has been fun and, as you say, addicting. I'm not sure if the method will work for me, but so far so good.Davin Malasarnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385823575081492949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-4665745687362768362009-11-09T12:03:25.286-05:002009-11-09T12:03:25.286-05:00Hmmmm... interesting... I hated geometry (proofs),...Hmmmm... interesting... I hated geometry (proofs), but rocked at trig (and, of any of the advanced maths, it's the one I've used far more than any other).Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-41720380213447753642009-11-09T11:34:09.977-05:002009-11-09T11:34:09.977-05:00Funny you should say that, Bane. My other half and...Funny you should say that, Bane. My other half and I were talking about how math skills traditionally split between science folks and creative folks. <br /><br />According to her, creatives tend to be better at geometry and rationals usually kill at algebra. I'm skilled at algebra, but suck at geometry, so by that thought process I should've gone into a science field instead of a creative one. <br /><br />Ain't contradictions grand?Matthew Delmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-10419745593818943072009-11-09T11:30:40.587-05:002009-11-09T11:30:40.587-05:00I'm thinking you should have been an engineer ...I'm thinking you should have been an engineer ;)... outlining is way above my patience (well, I'll outline in my head, and then write it down a few pages for an entire novel on paper, and promptly not use the written pages b/c I've already got it mapped in my head).Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-28309865843445772422009-11-09T11:30:39.686-05:002009-11-09T11:30:39.686-05:00It's roughly half a page to a page per chapter...It's roughly half a page to a page per chapter. And remember this is my version of an outline -- my detail-oriented brain won't let me get away with just listing scenes -- no, I have get into crazy detail with it. <br /><br />... Stupid outline.Matthew Delmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-10699378830300783412009-11-09T11:27:07.010-05:002009-11-09T11:27:07.010-05:0013 pages?! Holy cow!
I have an outline for RELUC...13 pages?! Holy cow!<br /><br />I have an outline for RELUCTANT QUEEN, but it's bare bones- one page. But I have a whole notebook of notes on the Old Kingdom. Yesterday I spent hours researching and wrote a page. <br /><br />Sigh. <br /><br />And all that historical detail will probably get cut down to a couple sentences. Such is life.Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.com