Bernard asked a question in my last post. He wanted to know how detailed my outlines get. I answered him in the comments, but I thought I’d add to it here. When I first started writing, I was a total pantser. I didn’t outline at all. I just waited for the words to flow. It was kind of like taking dictation. This explains the ’style’ of my first four or five books. *g*
As time went on, my stories became more complicated. I could no longer rely on keeping the book in my head. I had to start writing things down so I wouldn’t forget important bits. I began to chart things out. At first it was only a few chapters at a time. Eventually that grew into the whole book. I now try to chart out the book by writing a sentence or three for each chapter. If I’m having problems doing that, I go back to the characters and ask them to tell me their story from the beginning. This tends to fill in any gaps the book has in the first/second pass. I also go over each chapter, using the sentences I came up with, and expand them until I have a paragraph per chapter. If I can, I break the chapters down even further into scenes. I try to have three scenes per chapter. Some of the best advice I ever read was to pretend each chapter is its own little book. (ie it should have a beginning, middle, black moment and/or twist and a conclusion) I wish I could remember who said that. Anyway, it stuck with me. I try to keep that in mind when I’m doing my three scenes per chapter. (BTW, I believe I got the three scene thing from PBW.) And that’s it. I don’t go into any deeper detail than that. My outlines are relatively short. Maybe twenty pages with REALLY big writing. I do them long-hand. For some reason, it’s easier for ideas to flow when I’m writing them on paper.
As an aside, I appreciate everyone who is bidding on my Brenda Novak offerings. 
It seems a great way to have a synopsis ready to go when you finish. Do you ever feel trapped by your outline though, and do you miss flying by the seat of your pants?
by BernardL May 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pmBernard, I actually write synopses completely different. I write synopses in blurb form. I don’t use the outline, only the final book. As for being trapped by the outline, nope. Just because I write out the chapters doesn’t mean I follow them all.
I look at them like a security net below a tight-rope walker. *g*
Sometimes I miss the carefree ’seat of your pants’ way of writing, but to be honest, I think the only reason I enjoyed it so much was because I had no idea what I was doing. There is a lot of freedom in ignorance. LOL!
by Jordan Summers May 7th, 2008 at 12:58 pm‘I think the only reason I enjoyed it so much was because I had no idea what I was doing. There is a lot of freedom in ignorance.’
Although I resemble that remark, I agree completely.
Thanks for the insights.
by BernardL May 7th, 2008 at 1:38 pmBernard, LOL! You are not alone. *g*
by Jordan Summers May 7th, 2008 at 1:45 pmThere is a lot of freedom in ignorance. LOL!
by raine May 8th, 2008 at 12:16 am
by Jordan Summers May 8th, 2008 at 1:04 amAfter six years of writing I still write as it comes. If I try to sit and think too much about my story, my brain grinds to a halt. Once my fingers are on the keyboard it flows easily. I have tried outlining etc. but it stunts my creativity and I feel as if I have already told the story and get bored with it. Maybe that will change with time — and maybe not.
by Suzanne Perazzini May 8th, 2008 at 1:46 amSuzanne, I have that same problem. I want to outline because I like structure, but when I’ve finished my mad scribblings derived from a burst of inspiration, I too feel that I’ve already written the story. Have you ever felt that way, Jordan?
by Evangeline May 8th, 2008 at 5:24 am[…] wrote about how she prepares to write, and I thought I’d chip in my not-quite-outlining […]
by Writers Blog » Blog Archive » Jordan did it, so I will, too May 8th, 2008 at 6:21 amSuzanne, There are a lot of writers who write like you do. I used to be one of them. I admit it was a lot of fun just sitting at the keyboard and writing whatever popped into my head about a story. I still do that to a certain degree, since my outlines are very short. (a paragraph per chapter at most) You have to do what works for you. All writers have to find what works for them. Will your process change over time? Maybe or maybe not. You don’t have to worry about it. Mine was a natural progression. I tried long tedious outlines and they never worked for me. Still don’t. But these short ones do.
by Jordan Summers May 8th, 2008 at 10:32 amEvangeline, Sometimes I feel that way. Almost as if I’ve already told the story. But most of the time I just feel relieved to know that there is enough story to fill a 400+ page book. Keep in mind that when I do my outlines I don’t fill in all the details. There is still plenty of room to write things that spring to mind during the process. It’s kind of like having the best of both worlds for me. I get to keep track of the major plot points and I get to see what pops up.
by Jordan Summers May 8th, 2008 at 10:36 amI’ve been Internet-challenged and hadn’t had a chance to come out and check out your new website–it’s sooo hot!! Congratulations!
Because looking at writing a whole books scares the crap out of me, I treat each chapter like it’s own short story. I can relate to everything you said. I prefer to pants it, but usually end up (at least with the longer projects) having to jot down notes for what’s coming at some point or I’d lose my way in a complicated plot.
by Delilah Devlin May 8th, 2008 at 6:08 pmDelilah, Thank you!
My writing style is definitely a hybrid, much like my books. *ggg* I think as writers continue to write they find a happy medium.
by Jordan Summers May 8th, 2008 at 8:15 pmI admit to being mostly a panster. When I start a book I know the characters, the basic premise and the opening scene. Once I get going I’ll jot notes about what I want to do in upcoming chapters.
I like your idea of writing a sentence or three for each chapter. I may try it with my next book.
by N.J. Walters May 9th, 2008 at 1:02 pmN.J., The sentences give you just enough to go on without taking the ’surprise’ out of the story.
by Jordan Summers May 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pmLol, I not only don’t have anything in the way of an outline, I also write scenes out of order. And I work on more than one book at the same time.
Don’t ask me how I do it; I have no idea. My brain must be a scary place.
by Gabriele May 10th, 2008 at 4:57 pmGabriele, My brain hurts just thinking about your method. *ggg*
by Jordan Summers May 11th, 2008 at 9:05 pm