Hey everybody! New kid on the block here. Haven't been able to find any local writing groups yet but this group I can take anywhere so its great to be here.
I'm putting together an outline for my novel and wondered if anyone has good tips for doing this efficiently. One method I read a little about was the "snowflake method" where you start simple and layer on complexity as you go until you have a great outline.
Another idea I read about was the "Marshall Plan" method where you outline each beat/section/whatever of your story.
Both methods have their own software online, but ultimately I think I'm looking for something that combines these techniques. Anyone out there have some experience with these or something better?
Posted by xardoz (Member # 4528) on :
I just started using yWriter for my new project and it's a great tool. Regarding plotting, I just found this over at Jim Butcher's now seemingly abandoned livejournal blog:
[This message has been edited by xardoz (edited September 04, 2010).]
Posted by xardoz (Member # 4528) on :
So I'm finding the "story question" and "physically draw out the arc" method to be helpful, at least so far.
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
Tracy Hickman has a good line about outlines, he compares them to a hand full of marbles if you hold them too loosely then they fall out, if you squeeze them to hard and they fly out of your hand. Either way you lose your marbles. Paraphrased poorly, he does it better, I'm sure you can find it somewhere in his essays on his site.
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
I don't know what the rules are regarding re-posting a chunk of someone else's advice onto Hatrack without their explicit permission. I seem to remember this is frowned upon.
KDW?
Posted by xardoz (Member # 4528) on :
You're probably right, skadder - my bad. Edited to correct above.
Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :
I'm due to start a new novel shortly. I have the characters, the situation, the beginning, the end and a few ideas for some cool scenes if they happen to fit when I get there. And that's all I'm gonna do. We'll see how it works.
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
I've started writing a sort of proto-synopsis. That gives me the main story arc. Besides, I'm going to have to write a synopsis later anyway. They say it's easier before you write the story and have all those details in your head.
It worked pretty well for MAGE STORM.
Posted by Brendan (Member # 6044) on :
Have you finished the novel version of Mage Storm. I remember quite enjoying it in the first annual WotF trigger challenge. Has it been a year since then? Was it triggered from the challenge or prior to that challenge?
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
@Brendan: I'm almost finished with the second draft. The short story was written for the challenge and the short story became the inspiration for the YA novel. In fact, the first chapter is very similar to the short story. Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Be careful of putting too much detail into the outline...you can find you've written so much you've killed your desire to expand on the outline and finish the job...
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Thank you, skadder, for speaking up, and, xardoz, for correcting your posts.
Edited to add: and thanks, xardoz, as well, for the links in the first place.
[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited September 06, 2010).]
