The Outline
Hello Timmy, welcome back! It feels like it’s been quite a while since you were last here. Today, we’re diving into the outline of your story. Now, before we get started, let’s clarify that when I say “story,” I’m not necessarily talking about a novel. An outline is a versatile tool that works for anything, from research papers to high school essays to the longest and most complicated novels you can imagine.
Sure, if you’re obsessive enough, you could even outline your work scene by scene, but that might be taking it a bit too far in my opinion. It ventures into a different territory than what a mere outline as a tool entails. I’m not here to stop you from such endeavors, but when you sit down to write, always keep in mind that you’re in it for the long haul. Crafting something substantial, say, above 40,000 words, takes time. The key is not to burn yourself out, and that’s bound to happen if you don’t measure and control your work.
So, what exactly is an outline, Timmy? You might be thinking it’s a necessary step, like following a recipe in cooking, or perhaps because I’m here telling you how to outline your story, you must do it, or failure is imminent.
First of all, take a deep breath. Unless you have a manager breathing down your neck, you’re free to do as you please, and that, my friend, is a responsibility in itself. Secondly, don’t put that kind of pressure on your shoulders. If you do, you’re likely to break at some point and leave things undone, which is the worst mistake you can make. The purpose of outlining is to make your life easier, to streamline your workload and enhance your workflow. It’s also one of the many tools you can use to keep things consistent.
Similar to character sheets or character profiles, an outline helps you keep things focused and consistent. It’s all too easy to stumble upon a shiny new story within the story you’re writing or a captivating plot point and start anew in the middle of another thing. Timmy, that’s what I call normal—foolish, but normal. The trick is to know how to store those ideas or new elements for later. They’re not going anywhere, and you can always revisit them later.
The outline is your guardian against chaos; it keeps things orderly and on track. While it’s a crucial part of the prewriting phase, it stands on its own as the next step once your ideas are in order, ready to transition into proper writing. It serves as the bridge, helping shape your concept once the foundation is laid. There are countless methods to go about it.
Whether it’s a synopsis of what you believe your story will be about, bullet points 2.0 (I add the 2.0 because it’s something you can do in the previous step), mind maps, flowcharts, idea trees, or the ever-popular sticky note method—soon we’ll explore each method. For now, understand that you can use one or all of them. Mix and match, start with one only to switch halfway because you realize its utility doesn’t align with your style and needs.
I’ve emphasized before, Timmy, that the outline is no prison. Many will advise you to follow a specific method, but feel free to throw in a bit of Z on the side and a tad Y on the other. Don’t get anxious because you’re not doing it the way it’s been explained. What matters is the final product and its quality. Concerned about other people’s opinions? Well, who are these mysterious other people, and where are they? Speaking as a reader, I couldn’t care less about how a book was written unless there’s an interesting story behind it. As a writer, I deeply care about that part, no matter how pedantic it may seem. That’s the crux, Timmy—those who might care about the “how” of your work likely understand the chaotic process and won’t judge. And even if they do, who cares?
There’s one final thing to consider, Timmy—the difference between Hardcore Outliners and Pure Pantsers. Common logic would suggest that one relies on an outline while the other doesn’t. Unfortunately, reality is far more nuanced. One end of the spectrum might have an outline but never use it. It could help them organize their thoughts just before sitting down to write. For instance, a writer tackling a historical novel set in a specific time period and location might need an outline to ensure they don’t break any fundamental historical elements.
As an example, I’ve mentioned before that I have an outline collecting dust in the notebook I set aside for the novel I’m working on. Why? Well, Timmy, since starting to write, I’ve become intimately acquainted with my story. I’ve realized that what I outlined many months ago isn’t enough; it’s too restrictive. There are elements the story needs that weren’t there initially, along with characters and plotlines that the story begged me to add. No, I’m not talking to ghosts, Timmy, or figments of my imagination—although I am talking to you right now. Never mind. As mentioned earlier, most writers fall somewhere along this spectrum, and that’s perfectly fine. You have to find what works for you and how to implement it.
On the other hand, Hardcore Outliners essentially write their story in the outline and build on top of it. I can’t comment much beyond providing you with a description. I lean more towards Pantsers, so their method feels restrictive to me, but to each their own.
I hope this serves as a small primer into the world of outlining. We’ll delve into each step of the process in the upcoming discussions.
