{"id":1098,"date":"2015-03-16T14:01:56","date_gmt":"2015-03-16T19:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/?p=1098"},"modified":"2015-03-23T13:41:23","modified_gmt":"2015-03-23T18:41:23","slug":"outlining-the-key-to-finishing-that-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/outlining-the-key-to-finishing-that-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Outlining: The Key To Finishing That Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"girlatsunset\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So, one day you’re going along your business when BOOM! It hits you: a great idea for a story! Awesome! Full of excitement, you launch right in, with tons of momentum behind you. Entire chapters fly from your fingertips!<\/p>\n

…then, about 50 pages down the line, it all peters out. The motivation goes away. Ideas dry up. You’d rather barf than return to that hideous thing. What were you thinking?<\/em><\/p>\n

Your work in progress gets deleted, or shoved aside for “later.” (Which in all likelihood means “never.”)<\/p>\n

This happens with your next story idea too. Then the next one. What the hell is wrong with me?<\/em> you might ask. Why can’t I finish<\/strong> anything?<\/em><\/p>\n

The thing is, that initial spark of an idea is usually insufficient to get a whole story written, especially a long one. That’s because there’s a big<\/strong> difference between having a cool idea and having a full story mapped out from beginning to end.<\/p>\n

If you keep petering out on stories, then maybe you’re just not a seat-of-the-pants type writer (also known as “pantser”). Maybe you should open your heart to the idea of outlining first, writing second.<\/p>\n

Outlining is about defining the full sequence of events in the story. You’ll start very basic, then gradually get more specific, always asking yourself, “What happens next?<\/em>” and “How will my characters react and respond?”<\/p>\n

When you’re done, you’ll have full chapters and scenes defined. This is the roadmap you’ve been needing to guide you all the way through your writing journey.<\/em><\/p>\n

Granted, the specifics are the real bitch. You know your hero saves the day, but for the love of Pete, how?<\/em> It’ll take a lot of thought, possibly some hair-pulling. But, if you can map all that out- along with all your character-related planning- the actual writing part becomes (relatively) easy. You’ll know what<\/em> to write, and just have to worry about good implementation.<\/p>\n

That’s not to say that surprises don’t happen during drafting. You’ll constantly have better ideas and new takes on things. That’s great, roll with it! Don’t fight it- even if it means (gasp!) retooling your original outline.<\/p>\n

Now that you have an outline and notes on character baselines<\/a>, arcs<\/a>, and relationships<\/a>, you’re totally ready to go, right? Nope! Worldbuilding!<\/a> Where’s the worldbuilding…?<\/p>\n


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