I just
completed my first novel. I’ve started several, but for one reason or another I’ve
set them aside and either attributed them to learning or figured I might come
back to them someday. But this one was a winner. I fell in love with the story
line and followed it through to the end. I cried when I wrote the ending. But I
think I’ll try a different approach with the novel I’m working on next.
Over the
years I’ve listened to other writers discuss whether to outline or not. Some
say they outline the book completely before beginning. Others write as they go.
Because my outlining strategy left something to be desired, I figured I was one
of those “write it as you go” writers. But I think I just didn’t have the
correct tools yet. I was trying to just use an outline like I’d learned as a
student instead of having a formula to follow.
Dan Webb
says to start with the conclusion. He says you can’t write the beginning until
you know how the book is going to end. According to him and others, outlining a
novel has more to do with a figuring out conclusion, beginning, midpoint, a
couple turning points and so forth. See his set of videos for helpful information about Story Structure.
Exercises
like the ones in Book in a Month can
provide help in developing the outline. Whether you write a book in a month or
not, Book in a Month provided a lot of insight on writing a novel. I used a portion of
these exercises to help develop the novel I just finished. The exercises I used
were amazing and helpful. But I had to back up and re-write the entire plot of
the book so many times that I have had new thoughts on developing the story as
far as I can before I begin. I’m planning to do more pre-writing this time.
Writing a novel is great adventure. Effective tools improve the journey.
1 comment:
I am so glad I came to your blog today, this is just what I needed to hear. I think that we should talk, I have an IDEA, yup, all caps, its that cool. :)
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