Should I outline or not when I write?

12/28/2014

It's bugging me. Always has. I asked Tim Dorsey if he works from an outline or just free-wheels it. He looked at me strangely and said something like, I have to work from an outline.
I never have. But lately I'm thinking I should give it a try--especially after throwing out over 30,000 words of my third novel--A Cold Copper Moon. So if any of you out there are writers, let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Connie

3 Comments

David Humphrey

12/28/2014 10:38:15 am

I have taken both approaches. Usually when I have an outline I deviate from it about half way through. Now, when I do an outline I keep it very simple, five or six index cards. I do some of my best writing not knowing where the story is going. Now this comming from a screenwriter. I've never written a full length novel.

connie link

12/30/2014 03:13:59 am

Thanks for the feedback, David. I like the use of index cards. I think I'll give that a try. .
I'm also inclined to agree with you about 'best writing'. For me it seems to come from god knows where. A full outline seems to take away some of the thrill of telling the story. Never-the-less, I'm still trying to use a partial outline--that is, at least have a general idea of where I am going with the story and some of the stopping off places along the way.
One of the great outcomes of blogging is to discover that many of us share similar experiences.
Thanks again. It's good to hear from you.
May the New Year bring you many good things!

connie

12/30/2014 03:17:06 am

By the way, I hear there is good news coming up this year for you! Congratulations!

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Richard "Connie" Conrath

Richard's first two books in the Cooper Mystery Series, Cooper's Moon and Blood Moon Rising will have a grand finale coming out this summer, 2020...In this next book, A Cold Copper Moon, readers will learn what happened to Detective Cooper's son, Maxie. Remember? Max disappeared 8 years ago. I promise I'll give you ample clues, but the end provides quite a twist! Let's see if you can figure it out... I doubt it. No early readers have so far.