To Outline or Not to Outline. That Is the Question.

This past weekend I attended a writers’ conference in Puerto Vallarta, and one of the questions going around was: Do you outline?  Writers like to debate the “Outline or Don’t Outline” question.  And generally, the two sides of this debate never get any closer together.  Why should they?  What works for them, works.  Perhaps they have tried the other method and it didn’t go all that well.

There are many famous writers on each side of the fence.  Naturally, some of those who say they outline may do a lot, and some may do very little.  Likewise, those who say they do not outline, may actually do some.  They may not even know that they do.  It’s not on paper or on the computer, but in their mind.  They lay out the story, select their main characters, and just possibly know how the story might end.

You’ve seen my bias right there.  I think the great majority of writers outline. It may be detailed and it may be a collections of thoughts.  I’ve met some writers who make up an index card for most of the scenes in the book.  They may shuffle those around, change the sequence many times before actually beginning the book.  And they might do a reshuffle of remaining scenes when the book is half finished.  It’s similar to the story boards often used by screen writers.

Many writers make detailed bios for all major characters, and shorter bios for minor characters.  There is an advantage in some sort of a written bio for your characters.  If you take many months to write a book, there is always a chance you might forget what color your protagonist’s eyes are.  Or perhaps what food he likes or hates.  A bio gives you a quick reference.  If that bit of information is not there, you can easily and quickly add it.  This is particularly helpful if you are going to have a continuing character over several books.

While bios are not specifically “outlining,” knowing how your character reacts in various situations can be considered a type of outlining.  If your bio is extensive, it can help keep your characters true, real, honest.  You know how they will react to a situation, what response they will make, maybe even what words will come out of their mouths first. This very knowledge might direct the course of the novel.

On the other side, I know writers who select a protagonist, an antagonist, and a setting.  That’s all they need.  They begin to write and the characters help dictate the direction of the story.

Personally, I can’t do that.  I need to know the problem and a possible solution before I start.  That does not mean it will turn out that way.  In the course of the book, as the characters grow and takes on a life of their own, that solution may change.  But, I like to have something to encourage me to begin a months-long project.  I would say that in most of my books, that has changed, either completely, or in its nature.  The solution might be the same, but arrived at from a completely different direction than I had first imagined.

But many writers have told me they have no idea how it will turn out when they start.  I applaud that approach.  Let the chips (or words) fall where they may.  I can do that as the project progresses.  Still, I like to have some way out when I start.  For me, it’s like having an evacuation plan in case of fire. When the fire happens, I might take a very different path.  But, I had an escape plan, knew my options.  Okay. I admit it. I’m a wimp.

6 thoughts on “To Outline or Not to Outline. That Is the Question.

  1. I’ve done it both ways and it’s worked for me both ways…but, I think the outline works better. I’ll outline the story, but I don’t generally know who the “bad guy” is until I’m about half-done. I’ll have 2 or 3 choices and as the story carries me, I decide who I want it to be.
    As for the bios…absolutely! You’ll spend much less time trying to remember if your character has blue or green eyes, if you have a reference card. In my first book, I discovered in one scene, I’d even used a characters name from a previous book!!
    With so many thoughts flying around in our heads, it just seems logical to keep some notes on basic stuff.
    Great info here.
    ~Ann

  2. Jim, I am one of those guys who doesn’t outline. I sit down with a scene of two in mind and write them. I do the same thing the next time, and so forth. I have no argument with people who prefer to work from an outline, but for me the fun in writing is the discovery of the story.

  3. I outline for fiction much more than I outline for non-fiction, which is the main kind of writing I do (memoir and personal essay). A novel I’ve been working on is based on my ongoing, real-life experiences as a landlady (Two Rooms, Shared Bath is the title), with actual characters — good, bad and rotten — I’ve dealt with over the years. Yes, an outline seemed necessary to make the plot move along and the characters along with it. It also helps me figure out which characters to keep in the book and which ones to remove. I also have to disguise the real life people and alter situations to make the story more interesting — to me and to the reader.
    Glad to receive your blogs, Jim. Don’t think I have before!

  4. I think a lot of writers (myself included) need an outline. And, character bios. In some ways, I think the bios are even more important. The novel needs to be driven by a character who is true to the identity you’ve set up for him or her. Without a bio, it’s too easy to stray – to have the person say things that are not “in character.”

    And you comment about putting it aside for a period of time, forget about it, then come back to it is spot on.

    Thanks for a very helpful comment.

    James Callan

  5. I wrote two novels without outlines and they were both deeply flawed; I had to burn one of them. Knowing I needed to make a change, I vowed to write an outline for the third one, Scalp Mountain, and I did, only to find out a general chapter outline wasn’t detailed enough: I struggled, at times pacing the floor and knocking my head against the wall. Scalp Mountain–published on Kindle last week–contains lots of surprises because I had no idea where I was going.
    I’ll never do this again. I not only have an outline for the novel I’m now working on, the chapters are detailed scene by scene.
    I’ve also found out, the hard hard way, writers need to finish manuscripts then put them in a drawer for three months before working on them again.
    I don’t know about other writers, but I’ve been too eager to finish and congratulate myself. No, no,no. Some things seep up through the unconscious and it takes time to understand them.
    Would love to talk to you about writing. Julia Robb

  6. I agree, Jim. I outline and do character sketches before I start a new manuscript. I need to know the plot lines, the highs and lows, and how everything ties together at the conclusion. The outline will most certainly change as the characters take on their own life, but the story will always stay true to the plot.

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