outlining – Almost An Author

Can Outlining Help You Become a Better Writer?

When I began learning how to write a novel, the word outline brought to mind dreaded high school assignments. You know, those formal outlines with the rigid format and Roman numerals. I hated making those outlines. They seemed like a waste of time, especially since I always wrote a draft of the report first, and then created the outline to match it.

Needless to say, when I began writing in earnest, I didn’t bother with outlining. I didn’t want something that felt like overly structured busywork to inhibit my creativity or waste my writing time. Therefore, on my first attempts at writing a novel, I used more of a “pantser” approach than a “plotter” approach.

I won’t say that decision was a mistake, but it was a learning experience—I learned I’m not a pantser. I work better when I have an idea of where the story is going.

Does your writing process match your personality?

I have a logical, linear thinking style. Over the years, I’ve learned that I write better when I invest enough time in planning out a story before I plunge into writing it. When I know what a specific scene needs to accomplish to keep the plot moving, I waste far less time wondering what my characters should do, and I avoid bunny trails that lead to dead ends five scenes later.

When I realized planning helped me write better rather than hindering me, I began to experiment with different methods for planning a story. That’s when I turned to K. M. Weiland’s book, Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success. This book helped me get over my misconceptions about how outlining can help me become a better writer.

The book covers different methods of outlining and then leads a writer through a process that helps them consider the key information necessary for creating a solid plot. Everything from a premise to setting, and motivation to character arcs.

Once the foundation is set, the book guides you through creating a scene-by-scene roadmap of the story. Each chapter is filled with insightful questions and plenty of examples from the author’s novels.

As an added bonus, the book includes interviews with a variety of writers. These insights on outlining from experiences authors helped me imagine how I could utilize the tools of outlining to work for me.

For example, John Robinson says,

“It helps me see the big picture and keeps me from getting bogged down in tar pits and rabbit trails that lead nowhere.”

And Dan L. Hays described the benefits of outlining this way:

“An outline is analogous to reading a map before a road trip. I find my starting point, then pick out the best route to where I’m headed.”

Some great advice to make outlining work for you

No two authors outline the same way. The specific method isn’t as important as the thought process behind it.
Every author must find the level of detail that works for them. One author benefits from a big picture type of outline that defines the main plot events and final outcome. Another author creates an outline that include details on every scene. You must find the balance between getting enough detail to write well and spending too much time in planning.
Consider the outline as a brainstorming process.
Creating an outline can offer you a chance to explore multiple options without wasting a lot of time. In the outline phase, you can explore where various rabbit trails lead without writing whole scenes you subsequently decide aren’t needed.
If you get stuck in a particular scene, it may be you’re trying too hard to adhere to the outline. Give yourself permission to ignore the outline and try a different idea instead.
Remember your outline can have multiple drafts just like your novel. You are free to edit your outline at any time.
With an outline as a roadmap, a writer can more easily determine which ideas for new scenes or characters fit the plot vs. derail it.
Outlining enables a writer to focus more on subplots during the first draft, because the main plot is already ironed out and the writher knows where the characters will end up.

Summary

If you’re a dedicated pantser, this book probably isn’t for you. If you’re a planner, this book offers good advice to help you hone your planning and make it more effective. And if you’re frustrated because your current writing process isn’t working, or you’re feeling stuck in the middle of a writing project, this book may help you write more effectively.

You can use this book like a workbook. The questions and suggestions in each chapter will guide you through the planning process—from the initial spark of an idea to a finished, well-designed story plan. Alternately, you can skim through the book to find inspiration or to seek solutions to specific story problems.

Happy outlining!

Lisa E. Betz is an engineer-turned-mystery-writer, entertaining speaker, and unconventional soul. She inspires others to become their best selves, living with authenticity, and purpose, and she infuses her novels with unconventional characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her Livia Aemilia Mysteries, set in first-century Rome, have won several awards, including the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021).

She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in her novels. Lisa directs church dramas, hikes the beautiful Pennsylvania woods, eats too much chocolate, and experiments with ancient Roman recipes. Visit lisaebetz.com.

Between the Lines

Ever since I took my first journalism class in high school I’ve heard the age-old debate on how to write, to use an outline or to just free-form (discovery writing.) Some creatives feel outlining takes the life out of writing.

They like having the freedom to just let their ideas flow. Whereas most intellectuals believe structure is the best way to shape ideas and convey a thought. I believe they both serve a purpose.

Outlining – Focus, flow, Balance, and definitiveness.
Free-form – Spontaneity, more creativity and of course freedom.

After years of writing, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m one of the moderates who go either way, depending on the type of writing I’m doing. When I write nonfiction and want to prove a point or explain it, I’m a legalistic outliner. Plus, writing with a brain injury makes it hard enough to focus itself.

When I write screenplays I tend to let the characters tell their own stories. It doesn’t take long before they invite me in on their joinery. Of course, there are times when I have to step in and help keep the characters in line.

Lines?

In regards to art, a line is a basic element. Geometrically, a line connects two points. It is a path traced by a moving point. A line is vital to any artwork.

Writing is a form of artwork that takes an audience on a journey from point A to B; the journey can be in the form of a fictional story or nonfictional prose. Either way, the audiences’ attention is going somewhere.

I’ve used screenwriting as a protagonist’s adventure of growing in life: they will make mistakes, get hurt and hopefully learn from it all. If I do my job well as a storyteller my audience will want to follow my character’s journey and hopefully learn a few things as well.

Nonfiction writing has a line of thought as well: it may be political, enlightenment, entertainment or a sales pitch, etc.

After all, what’s the point of writing if it doesn’t take us from point A to B? As Christian author DiAnn Mills’ theme states, “Expect an adventure!” All writing has a theme or purpose.

Takeaway!

One of my bigger struggles as a disabled writer is I tend to write for myself. Sometimes I write what I want to hear and sometimes I write for what I need. But, that doesn’t make me a good writer.

Every writer knows the selling point of any prose is the take away value. What will my reader, my audience, or my peers gain by going on the adventure with me from point A to point B?

Sometimes is obvious from the get-go, other times it comes from the journey or it is found at the conclusion of it. But by the time we get to point B, my theme should be obvious.

When I first started blogging, my posts were the length of a college thesis, and I thought this was the best way to cover all my bases from beginning to end. The problem was, I often lost focus and veered off on multiple tangents.

I was like an adolescent with ADHD who ran out of Ritalin. Without an outline, sometimes I can be all over the place and can’t keep it between the lines.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Truamatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.