Outlining versus winging it. This is one of the most debated topics in the writing community. Every writing group has that guy whose method consists of sitting down after a quick smoke and just “letting things flow”. But for every “flow guy”, there’s the hardcore planner. She insists that no good novel will ever be written without a solid outline. Both of these characters are probably more than happy to share their opinion on the subject, but what do some of the greatest writers of all time have to say?
I always have a basic plot outline, but I like to leave some things to be decided while I write.
~ J. K. Rowling
One of the all-time best-selling authors of this generation seems to take a bit of a middle ground. Plan, but only to a certain degree. But there are others who strongly disagree with her stance.
Outlines are the last resource of bad fiction writers who wish to God they were writing masters’ theses.
~ Stephen King
Harsh words, but did we really expect anything but an honest, blunt opinion from Mr. King?
The truth is, while their wisdom is often invaluable, even the best authors aren’t right 100% of the time. No author, regardless of his/her greatness, has the right to tell you what’s best for your novel. It’s your project, your dream, and your choice. That doesn’t mean you can’t hear the wisdom of the greats. You should, but don’t assume it’s wisdom for you.
Authors who plan
The crafts of writing and carpentry are deceptively simple. The carpenter has to begin with a plan; the writer must begin with a thought. There must be at least the germ of an idea. Before the first board is nailed to the second board, or the first word connected to the second word, there has to be some clear notion of where we expect to be when we have finished nailing or writing.
~ James J. Kilpatrick
This is why I started outlining in the first place. Without a guide, my stories seemed to dance in circles, reflecting generic plots that rarely had any substance. Subplots where almost non-existent, simply because my brain can’t store all of the information needed to execute them. If you’re having trouble keeping timelines straight, thinking of small things to fill the chapters, or your story seems directionless, you might want to give outlining a try.
In order to write something big, it really helps me to think of the constituent parts. What are the basic units or elements? What are the chapters? That helps with my research — filling up my chapter files. And it helps with my drafting — writing one chapter at a time.
~ Roy Peter Clark
One reason why first-time novelists fail to complete their book is that they don’t plan properly. Sometimes, even just a one-page outline can keep stories from stagnating.
Prose is architecture. It’s not interior design.
~ Ernest Hemingway
This summarizes my views on the subject perfectly. If writing a novel is building a house, then planning is drawing up the house’s blueprints. Structuring the first, second, and third act is laying the foundation, building the support walls, and constructing the roof. Writing the novel is pouring cement, nailing down the boards, and shingling the roof. Editing is when the interior design comes into play — where you make it beautiful and sparkly.
The first sentence can’t be written until the final sentence is written.
~ Joyce Carol Oates
Authors who wing it
If you’ve been in the writing community long enough, you’ve seen this next quote enough times in enough different but equally dreadful fonts for it to be obnoxious. Don’t let that ruin the message and freedom behind the words. The first draft is about you and the story. Nothing else, and no one else. Make it what you want, and don’t worry about how others will perceive it.
The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.
~ Terry Pratchett
Oh yeah. This also seems to support not outlining.
For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I’m surprised where the journey takes me.
~ Jack Dann
Free-writing is one of the best things an author can do to hone his/her skills. Even the most rigid of planners should take time to write short stories, flash fiction, or journal entries without any constraints and without a plan. If you don’t frequently do this or haven’t tried before, I would recommend it. There are literally thousands upon thousands of prompts online to get you started!
I’m a strong opponent of outlining. It’s deciding in advance what the story will be, and then just bolting the whole thing together like something out of a hardware store. Tortured transitions are the mark of an outlined story.
~William Blundell, author, The Art and Craft of Feature Writing
As a planner, this hurts my soul. Not because I disagree, but because I feel the truth in it. My biggest struggles with the first book I ever wrote revolved around the story’s flow. The transitions were awful, and the conversations felt like each character was a video game NPC, only capable of saying what would advance the plot. This warning is a vital one for us planners to hear: don’t let the outline turn your story into an equation.
For pansters (as they have so affectionately named themselves), you’ve got nothing to worry about. Transitions should be a breeze! (Go ahead, put the tally in the “pros” column. I know you want to).
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
~ Douglas Adams
For both camps
Authors will never agree on which way is superior. Mostly because both methods (and everything between) can produce fantastic results. Whatever route you take, there is at least one thing you should know: your character and his/her desires. Every story needs a strong anchor. Planners and pansters alike should understand their protagonist better than anything else in the story — yes even the plot.
So, in the hopes of ending on an unbiased note, I’ll leave you with this wonderful quote by one of my favorite authors.
First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!
~Ray Bradbury
