WHAT I DIDN'T MENTION in this video is that this isn't a scene-by-scene outline. You could certainly use this technique for a scene-by-scene outline, but I don't like outlining that way. Some of the ideas in my scene list were scene-by-scene, but if there were large gaps between scenes, I didn't fill them with other ideas. Those notecards STILL were placed next to each other chronologically, since Z idea comes after X idea (with Y missing, for example), but I'll fill those gaps AS I write. I'll make a video for this technique later, but since it's NaNo, I wanted to post this in the meantime for those of you still working on your outlines/wanting to outline! TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - how I approach writing when I'm feeling bad 2:50 - my preptober strategy 4:52 - my problems with outlining 5:45 - my outlining process summarized 8:14 - outlining with notecards 9:36 - what my book is about 11:24 - outlining plan of action 13:38 - what my scene list looks like 14:47 - recap of my outlining process 15:18 - 1. brainstorm ideas 15:57 - 2. summarize ideas into one-sentence loglines 16:03 - 3. compile all one-sentence loglines into a scene list 16:19 - 4. transfer scene list onto note cards 16:38 - 5. organize ideas by subplot 18:41 - 6. organize notecards in chronological order 19:44 - a note on including numbers on the notecards 20:11 - 7. finalizing outline in scrivener 21:49 - 8. organizing scene notes in scrivener
I used to think I HAD to outline my stories until like, pretty recently, because most of the writing content I got recommended was made by people who are planners and of course they would talk about planning and how important it is... but for me outlining never worked because I would start writing an outline and focus on a lot of small details and obsess over every single piece of information, then i would get overwhelmed and give up, so for a while I just thought I was not a good writer because I couldn't outline. I'm very happy I've found creators like you that have helped me see outlining is not the only way to start writing a story, and that outlines doesn't always look the same for everyone. Nowadays I just write a list of events I want to happen one after each other and add more events as they come to me while writing, so, somewhat similar :3 (PS. sorry I always leave super long comments, I can synthesize to save my life)
Having a bunch of ideas, then going "yeah, I probably won't use that" is a mood. 😂 I've found I'm doing the reverse. I came in with a very simple concept, and now that I'm actually writing a lot of ideas are popping up to add more depth to the characters and setting. I find it's more natural that way, like I'm learning things through stalking the characters and the town.
I really relate to your process! I honestly just outline the beginning, mid point and ending. Any other pantsers who love writing character driven stories over plot driven?
Loveeeee making character driven stories! Even if I don't plan on making them too character driven there's always that one character that decides to become the MC and take over the plot
honestly, this is very similar to the way i outline. I fill stuff in as I go. Sometimes I have points in my outline that are like... miles apart. (that´s why I like the stick notes, as I can visualise that distance better than in scrivener) I don´t even start with scenes, I start with general points. I know I want to hit that point, but how i arrive from A to B is left undefined. Generally, the areas of where I am currently writing are mor filled in (to the point of having a very indepth scene by scene notes) but the more to the future, the emptier it gets, and fills in as I go. That allows me to easily change stuff if i come up with something different, and also allows space to explore unforeseen stuff because i just felt like it during the actual writing. I´m not married to my outline however, the current one is very detailed, because I am redrafting an already written book, so of course I know where I am heading and need to keep it a bit tighter (well, it WAS before my computer deleted it and now I´m just going off of what I remember)
This is so organized! I’m so impressed! I’m also a pantser, but when I get stuck, I just end up bullet pointing a bunch of ideas and writing from them that way. Good luck with Nano and sending you ease and some pain free days! 💜 Did I hear correctly that SV will be a trilogy and you’re planning another book after SUNLESS GROUND? I am intrigued! 👀😍
Sorry again for the late reply Lara, but ty! And yeah, I'm just planning on writing as many books as possible in that branch of the series lol, so definitely a book 3 in the works, probably more!
One thing I do to brainstorm ideas out of nowhere is list my favourite books, films, shows, characters, etc. and then things like character traits, genres, plot twists, plot devices, and then match them up, so if I like a certain character, I might think, okay so what would a character like this do in a story of this genre with this plot device? It's quite fun tbh!
Thank you for this. It’s actually VERY helpful. PS: (just for you pls) . . . I’m sorry about my idiotic and unnecessary comment on the last vid! No excuse for that, just poor judgement 🥺
Hello, I just wanted to let those who read this comment know that our LORD and saviour Jesus Christ loves you and died on the cross for all of humanity's sins. If you have any problems or you feel alone or lost, you can talk to him about it. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 KJV Have a nice day or night 💖💕
WHAT I DIDN'T MENTION in this video is that this isn't a scene-by-scene outline. You could certainly use this technique for a scene-by-scene outline, but I don't like outlining that way. Some of the ideas in my scene list were scene-by-scene, but if there were large gaps between scenes, I didn't fill them with other ideas. Those notecards STILL were placed next to each other chronologically, since Z idea comes after X idea (with Y missing, for example), but I'll fill those gaps AS I write. I'll make a video for this technique later, but since it's NaNo, I wanted to post this in the meantime for those of you still working on your outlines/wanting to outline!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - how I approach writing when I'm feeling bad
2:50 - my preptober strategy
4:52 - my problems with outlining
5:45 - my outlining process summarized
8:14 - outlining with notecards
9:36 - what my book is about
11:24 - outlining plan of action
13:38 - what my scene list looks like
14:47 - recap of my outlining process
15:18 - 1. brainstorm ideas
15:57 - 2. summarize ideas into one-sentence loglines
16:03 - 3. compile all one-sentence loglines into a scene list
16:19 - 4. transfer scene list onto note cards
16:38 - 5. organize ideas by subplot
18:41 - 6. organize notecards in chronological order
19:44 - a note on including numbers on the notecards
20:11 - 7. finalizing outline in scrivener
21:49 - 8. organizing scene notes in scrivener
I used to think I HAD to outline my stories until like, pretty recently, because most of the writing content I got recommended was made by people who are planners and of course they would talk about planning and how important it is... but for me outlining never worked because I would start writing an outline and focus on a lot of small details and obsess over every single piece of information, then i would get overwhelmed and give up, so for a while I just thought I was not a good writer because I couldn't outline. I'm very happy I've found creators like you that have helped me see outlining is not the only way to start writing a story, and that outlines doesn't always look the same for everyone. Nowadays I just write a list of events I want to happen one after each other and add more events as they come to me while writing, so, somewhat similar :3 (PS. sorry I always leave super long comments, I can synthesize to save my life)
me: an outliner
also me: YES I NEED TO KNOW HOW PANTSERS OUTLINE
HEHEHE 💖💖💖
personally every writing is discovery writing if you forget your own ideas 😌
NO BUT YOURE SO REAL FOR THIS LOLLL ME TOO
Having a bunch of ideas, then going "yeah, I probably won't use that" is a mood. 😂 I've found I'm doing the reverse. I came in with a very simple concept, and now that I'm actually writing a lot of ideas are popping up to add more depth to the characters and setting. I find it's more natural that way, like I'm learning things through stalking the characters and the town.
Yesss I love both approaches!!!
I really relate to your process! I honestly just outline the beginning, mid point and ending. Any other pantsers who love writing character driven stories over plot driven?
me i so love to just make it about my characters
Loveeeee making character driven stories! Even if I don't plan on making them too character driven there's always that one character that decides to become the MC and take over the plot
Just FYI, I'm loving all your latest content. :D
hehe I'm so happy to hear, thx for watching!
honestly, this is very similar to the way i outline. I fill stuff in as I go. Sometimes I have points in my outline that are like... miles apart. (that´s why I like the stick notes, as I can visualise that distance better than in scrivener) I don´t even start with scenes, I start with general points. I know I want to hit that point, but how i arrive from A to B is left undefined.
Generally, the areas of where I am currently writing are mor filled in (to the point of having a very indepth scene by scene notes) but the more to the future, the emptier it gets, and fills in as I go. That allows me to easily change stuff if i come up with something different, and also allows space to explore unforeseen stuff because i just felt like it during the actual writing.
I´m not married to my outline
however, the current one is very detailed, because I am redrafting an already written book, so of course I know where I am heading and need to keep it a bit tighter (well, it WAS before my computer deleted it and now I´m just going off of what I remember)
I am jumping right into that note card idea!
This is so organized! I’m so impressed! I’m also a pantser, but when I get stuck, I just end up bullet pointing a bunch of ideas and writing from them that way. Good luck with Nano and sending you ease and some pain free days! 💜
Did I hear correctly that SV will be a trilogy and you’re planning another book after SUNLESS GROUND? I am intrigued! 👀😍
Sorry again for the late reply Lara, but ty! And yeah, I'm just planning on writing as many books as possible in that branch of the series lol, so definitely a book 3 in the works, probably more!
I do the same thing. I start outlining when I’m stuck 😊
Welcome.back. We missed you
Oh that’s so nice 😭 happy to be back!
good luck, Rachel x
Tysm!!
One thing I do to brainstorm ideas out of nowhere is list my favourite books, films, shows, characters, etc. and then things like character traits, genres, plot twists, plot devices, and then match them up, so if I like a certain character, I might think, okay so what would a character like this do in a story of this genre with this plot device? It's quite fun tbh!
Sorry for the late reply, but oooh, these are great ideas!!
thanks! I hope you have lots of motivation and inspiration in the future ~~ @@rachelwritesbooks
Thank you for this. It’s actually VERY helpful.
PS: (just for you pls)
.
.
.
I’m sorry about my idiotic and unnecessary comment on the last vid! No excuse for that, just poor judgement 🥺
Yay I’m happy! And don’t sweat, I get it & appreciate it!
Tbh, I only just write. It is hard to outline but i do get some help from a friend to outline (If needed). If that made sense! Lol.
Have fun writing ur story!
Sorry for the super late reply but haha I feel that, me too!
Hello, I just wanted to let those who read this comment know that our LORD and saviour Jesus Christ loves you and died on the cross for all of humanity's sins. If you have any problems or you feel alone or lost, you can talk to him about it.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 KJV
Have a nice day or night 💖💕