Outlines and Planning Ahead

Last week, a reader asked: I would love to know if any of you have suggestions on how to write a novel outline. I never really plan ahead in my novels, but right now I am stuck on chapter three and am considering the outlining process.

This isn't really a cut and dried answer, because everyone writes in different ways, and some people don't use outlines at all.

But here's what I do:

Because I now sell on proposal to my editor, I have to - duh - have a proposal. =) And a proposal includes a synopsis (of varying lengths), so for me, I have to have a clear vision of my story before I get it contracted and then written. This is great in a sense, because it means if they reject the idea, I didn't waste time writing a book that didn't sell, and can move to a new idea and try again immediately. But it's also frustrating because that means I have to stick to what I told them would happen, and obviously means I have to KNOW what happens in the story.

There is still room to fudge around with details though, and its happened before that when I was writing the story, half-way through I realized This plot thread was leading toward This, and would fit perfectly with This, etc. So I sent my editor an email, ran it by her and kept going with approval. So don't feel that when you get to this point of selling on proposal with your publisher or future publisher that it stifles your creativity or boxes you in. It doesn't have to at all.

What I do is prepare a 3-5 page synopsis with a clear outline of how the story opens, the heroine and hero's main goals and motivation and conflict throughout (what they want, how they're going to get it, what's keeping them apart, etc.) and the external plot (what's actually going in the story outside of the romance between the hero and heroine). I have a beginning, a middle, and an end that works together and wraps up with a happily ever after (my publisher demands HEA's!)

Since I'm such an organized, detail-oriented person to begin with, I typically thrive on having my story plotted in full previous to writing it, because then I don't have writer's block. I don't ever wonder "what happens next" or sit there staring, wondering where the story is going. I know where it's going because I had to decide before I started. That's another bonus - plotting a full story before you write it lets you dictate a story before you get involved with the characters and the emotion. It's like a pre-writing, bird's eye view, more technical perspecctive of "will this work? is there enough conflict? are the goals clear throughout? are there enough characters? too many? is the setting suitable?" etc. After you're involved in the writing process of the story, revisions hurts more from an editor because you're already so invested. Does that make sense?

Anyway, to get technical about my personal choice of outlining and plotting, here's what I do - I just sit down with a fresh Microsoft Word document page and start writing my ideas for a story. Usually this stage is just me typing, very informally, very amateurish, just getting thoughts on the screen all jumbled and half-finished. Then when I get a full idea fleshed out I go back and tie it together and brainstorm for "why did he do this" type justifications, and fixing what I call "plotholes" (potholes!) of things that don't make sense and need to be filled in, etc. Then when it's all there, I edit it into something presentable and official to present to my agent and editor.

That's it!

So don't feel that you have to have a formal, worthy-of-presenting-to-your-high-school-english-teacher outline with points and subpoints and everything else.

However, there is much praise in the industry for Randy Ingermanson's "Snowflake Method" of plotting, but I haven't ever actually used it myself. I just know it's highly recommended if you are the type of person who works best with a more formal, detailed outline.

Bottom line - do what works best for you, whether that's plotting a lot, plotting a little, or not plotting in advance at all. Just write =)

The Story Continues - With a Prize

Last week, 16 of you added to the sentence, "it reeked of death." (Go here to view the rest... your comments made me laugh so hard!)

This week I want to wrap it up with how you want to end the story. Here's the last paragraph -- add your finale after it:

The Dreamer said...

"P-promise?" I stuttered. And then I remembered. The day after I had meet Ethan, Cole had tried to kiss me. I told him - promised him - I would never speak to him again.

Since you turned the story into a romance, I have a gift for one randomly drawn commenter. I'd like to share a book with you from Sarah Sundin -- her debut novel, Distant Melody! She sent me this copy and I just started it -- excellent. I'd love to share a copy with you! (More to come soon about my thoughts on the novel.)

So start commenting! And be sure to leave your email address or some way for me to contact you if you win.

Conference Time!

I spent the past weekend helping out at the Christian Writers Guild conference in downtown Denver - SO FUN!! My mom came with me and we had a fabulous girls weekend and loved hanging out with the staff of CWG.

This was our NINTH conference with CWG (gosh!!!). So, I hope I was able to help a few of the first-timers who were there! Conferences can be SO intimidating! So, I made a few mental notes for you ScribbleChicks out there who might be getting ready to head to your first conference!

1. Wear comfortable shoes! And maybe more importantly, make sure those shoes are broken in before you go.

2. Bring a couple of copies of your proposal. If you don't have a proposal, bring a few pages of your current work-in-progress as a sample of your writing. CWG's conference lets you sign up for 15-minute appointments with publishers. Even if you aren't hoping to sell something, bringing a sample of your work can allow you to get valuable feedback. Take advantage of those meetings! When else will you get 15 minutes to talk to an editor at a huge publisher?

3. Have courtesy for other writers. Don't push and shove your way through the conference trying to get the best of everything. If you don't get an appointment with the editor you wanted, try to find a time to see them outside of the appointments - but don't be annoying. Remember, first impressions are extremely important!

4. Respect the rules. This goes along with my last point, but it was amazing how many people tried to bend or stretch the rules at this past conference! I probably noticed it more since I was working on the crew instead of attending, but still. First impressions DO count and a publisher is going to notice if you aren't being polite or if you aren't following guidelines. I'm pretty sure most publishers wouldn't be jumping in line to look at a manuscript submitted by a person who couldn't follow directions - how will they know that you'll follow a deadline?

5. Relax and breathe. Conferences are overwhelming, but they don't have to be completely mind-numbing! Take a few deep breaths and gather your nerves - especially before you meet with someone. Also, take advantage of free times to get a much needed break. Go get a coffee and put your feet up for a few minutes. The breather will be so helpful later on that night!

6. Don't waste time. Take breathers, but don't spend the day in your hotel room. Take advantage of the time - meet other authors and try to keep your eyes open for authors in your area and in your genre. Be friendly. Also, talk to the crew (that was me!), because a lot of times, they will have insider insight that the other conferees might not.

7. Bring snacks. Sometimes, hotels serve...well, hotel food. Which may not be something you can or want to eat. Beyond that, they only serve it at meal times. Be sure to bring some trail mix, granola bars or some sort of energy-inducing food with you. You'll be thanking me during that afternoon session when your blood sugar has dropped below the floor!

8. Pack plenty of extra room in your suitcase. Conferences are known for giving out freebies and you'll want to have room to bring them all home!

9. Take ridiculous notes. The sessions only last a few days and so they'll be packing weeks' worth of information into those classes. Bring a notepad or your laptop for extra note-taking room. And be sure to chat with the people in your class. Odds are, they write something similar to you.

10. Have fun! Conferences are some of the most profitable times for writers, but be sure that the I-need-to-take-care-of-business pressure doesn't keep you from having a good time. Relax and enjoy it! Conferences can be inspiring - so let the inspiration flow!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Erynn :)

Recharging Your Passion

It was May 1st. I had a lined notebook and my favorite pen. One little story idea was all that I knew, but I started writing what was to become my first novel. My main character was to be a real estate agent. Her sister lived on a farm. And I wondered if the sister on the farm was to share Jesus with the other.

That's it. No outlines. No plot summaries. Nothing. Of course, the story changed dramatically over the years, but the gist remained the same, interestingly enough. (And the book later became my first published novel.)

I still have that notebook and occasionally go back and shudder at my teenage writings. See, I knew nothing about writing a novel. My only experience was the many books I'd read. But you know what? That was a good thing. I didn't come into it with any pre-conceived notions. I just wrote.

And this is something I need to remember. I wrote because I loved it. As time went on and I learned more, it didn't come as easily to me. Words were harder to pull from my mind. But there's something beautiful about those first attempts. I believe fiction writers need to write, first of all, for themselves, and THEN think about their audience. Because if you're not interesting yourself with your story . . . then honey, you're going to have trouble finishing that novel.

Maybe you're stuck right now in your writing. Or maybe you're not a writer at all, and you feel like your life is just stalled. May I suggest going back to the basics and remembering what used to excite you? Perhaps it's something that still can. Did you always want to write a fantasy novel but got side-tracked on the latest fiction fad? Have you always wanted to travel to Alaska but let life drag you down? It's never too late to live your dreams. Sometimes it might take time to reach them, but start today by taking a step in the right direction.

Sometimes You Just Need a Helping Hand

Does your writing need a jumpstart?

Well, I'm not usually a fan of writing instruction books (most times they're a lot too "duh" for my taste), but this one has gotten me through a slew of challenging times—James Scott Bell's Plot & Structure.

And when you write magazine articles, movie reviews and the like every day for a living, you need all the reassurance you can get sometimes when pursuing your passion project in the wee small hours of the morning, evening, you know, whenever you have the opportunity...

While many of James Scott Bell's techniques won't probably hit someone over the head with their sheer brilliance, it's more of a gentle reminder of how to make our fiction writing really jump from the page (his section on energizing a lethargic middle was particularly helpful when writing Around the World in 80 Dates). And if you're like me and also occasionally struggle with your ending, there's all sorts of sage advice that'll help you pull through...

Trust me, if you're a fiction writer (or aspire to be), it's the best $11.55 you'll spend.

The elusive editor/author relationship...

Last week, a reader asked if we could share what it's like working with editors. Great suggestion! I'm happy to share my experience from working with an editor in the Christian fiction industry. Maybe another Scribble Chick can add to this later or share from a non-fiction side as well.

I had no idea what to expect when my first novel was contracted with Steeple Hill. I didn't know if my editor would become my friend, like my agent had, or would it continue to be strictly professional? Would she email every day, or once a month? What was expected of me in return? Did she want to see pictures of my baby or hear about my personal life, or not?

The answer - all things in moderation.

My editor is not my best friend, and shouldn't be. That relationship fares better when left professional. Not to say we don't care about each other, but I know few if any details of her personal life, and she only knows a little about mine. She's an encourager, but my agent is my real cheerleader. My editor is going to be the one to suggest - even if it's negative at first - how my book could be better. And guess what? That's her job! =) So it works. We email regularly while working on a contract, then communication might slack for awhile as I meet deadlines or am in between books. But she is always there with a fast turn-around time when I have a question or comment and always tries to balance her criticism with encouragement or compliments.

That said, I think I have an ideal relationship with my editor. If we were too close personally, the working aspect wouldn't work as well, and that's what it's all about. I do still send her a Christmas card and the occasional - very, very occasional - picture of my daughter because she does seem to truly enjoy that, but I don't assault her with personal issues on a regular basis. And that would be my advice to you! Vent to your agent. Complain to your agent. Whine to your agent. Celebrate with your agent. Send family photos to your agent (if you have that kind of relationship. SOME agents in the industsry I would imagine would also prefer a more professional relationship, but mine does not) and not to your editor.

Anyone have specific questions?

Group Activity - Your Turn

In the spirit of writing, the Scribble Chicks invite you to join us in this continuing story. Here is how it begins:

It reeked of death.

Your turn. Add a sentence to this story in the comments, and someone will add a sentence after you. (Be serious or humorous.)

Feel free to return and add another.

I can't wait to see how this turns out!

PS - I just responded to your comments from last week. Sorry I missed a few before!