Writers: Do you prefer outling or just sitting down, writing, and seeing where the writing takes you?

Answer 1

I know where the story has to go before I begin, but don't outline until I get stalled. When I start to have trouble figuring out what needs to happen next, I do a quick outline. I don't stick to it because it is simply another tool.

Answer 2

No, I am not an outliner, although I do tend to keep some notes because sometimes things occur to me that happen farther into the story. As a teacher of CW, I recommend outlining - especially for those who have trouble with focus. But most importantly I prefer research before anything. I never just sit down and write without research first. I am currently reading The Russian Concubine. In the introduction the author mentions spending NINE MONTHS in research before she started writing. Most people seem to forget the research phase. I think I probably spend about 5 times as much time researching as I do writing. And I always know the ending when I start writing. In fact, when I start I just cannot wait to write that last scene. That is because my writing style is very cinematic.

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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 3

If I'm writing a non-fiction piece, I find that my writing is more organized if I start with an outline. However, if I'm writing fiction or poetry, I just go where my imagination takes me.

For fiction, I first create my characters and a situation. After that, the characters basically take over. Their individual personalities respond to the situation I've created and where it ends, I don't even know until it ends. This is part of the joy of writing.

Answer 4

I do a mix of both. I generally know what happens in a scene, or what is going to happen in the next scene. I think about it, get the very basics down.

Say person A and person B have a fight, and A loses argument. But what exactly they fight about or learn from this fight are things that I often learn just by writing whatever comes to me just by the characters themselves.

I often do a general outline, so I know where I am going, but not so much that I have no freedom in what I write.

Answer 5

I like to see where the story and characters take me. I know quite a few others that prefer to outline, do character profiles, use white boards, plot out each chapter...you have to do what ever works for you...writing is a very individual thing.

Answer 6

I have never outlined a novel or short story. I prefer to write by inspiration, ideas, and imagination. Forming a list of characters are often helpful, but even then names and identifying the characters come to mind as I type away.

For a large novel or series I believe it is best to list the characters by name and their attributes for quick reference.

Answer 7

Outlining, usually - especially when I'm writing something as serious as an essay, or working on my novel.
Why?
Well, if you have true characters and you want them to stick to your plot, and they won't, that's when you know you have a good character.

But when I just get a phrase in my head that I can imagine a completely new character saying it, I write it down and go from there.

Answer 8

Seeing where writing takes me! Always gets interesting really.

Answer 9

I guess both .... i try to make an outline, but dont let the outline be too detailed and always VERY VERY FLEXIBLE.

Answer 10

outlying! it organizes my thoughts into what I'm going to write but when i write for fun i just go with flow