There’s always a lot of discussion about the kind of writer you are. The one division that I hear a lot is the one between “pantsers” and “plotters.” Pantsers just go with the flow, they open their brains and let the words fall to the page, and it’s poetry in motion until the very end, when they write “the end.” Plotters are more structure based, they use outlines, and 3 x 5 cards, and struggle over each detail before they write.
As you might have noticed, I’m a Plotter. I have outlines of my outlines, and notes about my outlines.
I usually do an outline for a book at least three times, and if this sounds horrible to you, it does not to me. Re-working an outline gives me comfort, because it goes one of two ways. Either I write the outline and lose interest during the second version (and thus know that the story isn’t going to excite or interest me enough to tell it), or I rewrite it and by the fourth version I’m so certain of this story, that even though each outline reads pretty much like the others, with a few tweaks, the whole prospect excites me to pieces! I’ve got the whole thing memorized by that point, and all I have to do is block out time each day to basically take dictation from my brain. My brain on caffeine, and also, on the fire that has been built inside of me, about this part, and that part, and OMG, the end, the ending is perfect!
That’s how I feel about the book I’m currently working on, Oliver & Jack: In Axminster Workhouse, which is Number 3 in the Oliver & Jack series. I was so pleased with my work on the final outline, that today at the coffee shop, I took a few pictures. Yes, it’s just that exciting to a Plotter to see a well-produced outline! On the other hand, for my writer friend, Wendy Rathbone, who is a Pantser, through and through, these photos are almost guaranteed to give her hives. (Which is also why I took them!)
Here’s the outline, and my empty coffee (a white chocolate mocha, no whip, in a Real Cup), and the cool, new pen I bought as a treat. It’s a Tul, with a nice balance the hand, and smooth, crisp blue ink. The paper is Docket Gold, which is nice and thick, with a luxurious, satiny feel to it.
The coffee shop, The Brewing Market, wasn’t very busy, so I was able to get a four top and spread out everywhere.
Here’s a closeup. Actually the stack goes from right to left, with the opening scenes on the right, and each subsequent scene beneath, until the Happily Ever After For Now (HEAFN, in the romance novel parlance) ending at the very far left. I anticipate that I will be writing the rest of Jack’s POV for another week, before turning to Oliver’s POV, which will take at least the rest of the month. The final word count for this novel I project to be around 130K, with a publication date of mid-August.
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Update: May 25, 2015
In light of Sophie’s interest in reading the outlines, I’m uploading images that I took of the first page. A lot of things are in code (single letters and acronyms), not because it’s a secret, but because when I do an outline, I do it by hand, and so the codes make it easier for my hand to keep up with my brain. So, for example, O stands for Oliver, and J stands for Jack, and C stands for Chalenheim. The page numbers tell me where Jack’s scenes begin and end, which helped me to determine where Oliver’s scenes would fit in.
Scenes from O’s POV are on the left; J’s scenes are on the right. The outline, as I look at it now, only includes triggers for scenes, and the bits of the action that will set things in motion; there’s just no way to include all the emotions that I get when I think of each scene.
Opening Scene
I can’t tell you what “WH” stands for because that would give away the game! But you can see when I wrote the outline, as well as the date on which the action starts.
Second Scene
J is always watching out for O, as you know; C is not a nice man, and that’s all I can say about him.
Third Scene
Good grief, the things I put O through.
Fourth Scene
Yes, it’s still, the same day, and still more Bad Things are happening to them.
Hives! I’ve got hives!
Calamine lotion is good for that! (I was looking at my orderly stack and thinking of what a contrast it was to your poetry in motion way of writing.)
It’s so cool seeing your writing process!
Hey, thanks. : D
I’m not much on selfies but I can take pictures of my scribbles any time!
I’ve been trying to zoom in on the pictures so I can read your notes. Cheating? Perhaps. But it’s not working, so I guess I’ll just have to wait until the book comes out. 😉
Ha! I had thought to take a picture of one of the pages, close up! You are very kind to be interested enough to use the zoom, so thank you.
Book (Oliver & Jack: Axminster) is due to my editor on June 30th, with revisions to happen after. At the end of July Bookfly Designs will do the cover, so I anticipate middle of August for availability.
Hey, I just added some closeups of the first page of the outline. It might not make very much sense, but I thought you’d enjoy seeing them. Hopefully it won’t give the story away too much!
Thanks so much! Poor Oliver. But he has Jack, so (hopefully) things will turn out alright for him in the end.
Your outlines are much neater than mine–mine are a mixture of quick directional phrases, general notes, and a few fully-written scenes. And something I write as a quick note often sparks a whole new scene idea, so the outline can become very rambling very quickly. 😉
You are more than welcome! I tried to give you a close up that didn’t give too much away. And really, I probably a little too much time on outlines sometimes. : D
I’m a pantser, and am bemused by your index cards. I’ve talked to about a zillion writers over the years and am always interested in the process. (i.e., do you “hear” your character? Do you “see” them? Both? Is it like taking dictation or is there some distance to the process? I’ve gotten so many answers over the years, though they do fall into rough categories of “see” vs. “hear”.)
When I’m writing, I tend to jump into the deep end, flail around and then slowly all things become clear. I write a lot of disconnected notes, usually on postits or the backs of envelopes, and then when I’m all done I either have a story – or not…
The flailing would give me hives, but I know it works, if you can trust the process. I think it takes a more confident writer, actually, to be a pantser. Because you dive right in, you have to trust that the words are there and that they won’t leave halfway through.
And hey! I love my index cards! We have a very close and personal relationship, my index cards and I. : D
So, do you see your characters, or do you hear them? I see them, mostly.
I personally hear my characters more than I see them. They have very distinctive voices. Sometimes something I’m doing triggers an idea for a scene and I can hear my main character or even a non-POV character begin to narrate the scene and if I don’t take dictation quickly I’ll forget everything but the outlines of what they said. I see them too, but vaguely, like they’re blurry daguerreotypes.
I think it’s a perfectly fine method to take dictation like that. Characters can be so bossy sometimes, but it’s always good if they have a lot to say.
I went looking for your website, do you have one? You’ve been so kind to come visit me, I’d like to return the favor.
No website, as of yet, but I’m working on it! For now you can find me on Twitter @SophieCHammond.
By the way, the cover for Oliver & Jack is gorgeous. The painting is beautiful and the spoons…the spoons are intriguing. I should put the release date on my calendar.
Good to know, thank you! I’m now following you on Twitter, under my Indie Writers group. : D
Thank you also for your kind words about the cover. I have to hand it to my cover designer, Bookfly Design, he really visually captures the tone of the book, I think. I also be sending out a notice when the ebook is available. : D
Thanks for the follow. 😉
And yes, Bookfly Design is really amazing. I’ve heard they’ve won a lot of awards for their work.
You are more than welcome.
And Bookfly is great; James takes pains to understand what each book is about, and I think his covers reflect that.
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