Why write an outline? Wouldn’t it be easier to just start writing
and see where your imagination takes you?
After all, you’ve had this idea swimming around in your head for a long
time and you’re eager to get started. However,
before you do, can you answer these 6 questions?:-
1.
Who is your main character?
2.
What is your main character’s
goal?
3.
What is stopping your main
character from achieving that goal?
4.
What time and place is your
story set?
5.
What genre is your story? Mystery, Romance, Comedy, Thriller etc.
6.
Are you going to have one
viewpoint character or more than one?
Whether you plan to be an outliner or write
by the seat of your pants, having answers to the above questions is the place
to start.
What
are the benefits of making an outline?
·
An outline is a roadmap for you
to follow. This doesn’t mean it can’t be
flexible.
·
It avoids spending time writing
scenes that do not further the plot or they come to a dead-end.
·
Enables you to plan what
pitfalls your protagonist is to come across.
·
It enables you to set up the
end of your story. In turn, you can write
scenes that lead to this end.
·
Sub-plots can be entwined
throughout the story along with a few red herrings.
·
Lessons the probability that
you will have to do a lot of rewriting.
I have been both an Outliner and a Pantser,
and have found that having some kind of an outline is good for me.
What is your preference, and why?
