Achieving For The Greater Good

Outlines

  Throughout my whole school years (elementary through high school) I never turned in a single outline excluding the one bullshit one on occasions. Now that I've been writing for as long as I have I come to find that outlines are saviors. I may not be able to outline what I write at the beginning because I've always had these ideas spark into my head and I'm ready to go but once I get started I have my ways.

It never occurred to me that an outline would actually help me keep up with my own thoughts. Currently, I'm working on Eyes Of The Deceived and my Mythic Enlightenment stories. For those of you who are like me and HATE outlines. I found a website that helped me figure it out.

Once you start writing and get your first case of writers block put the pen/ pencil down and stop typing. Personally, I use a journal so I can keep up with it all but you can use separate sheets of paper and keep them in a folder. Either way works.

Next, read over your first chapter. Write a review. What are the important parts that need to be represented in later chapters. Who are the characters? What is the problem? Write these down.

On the website it says to go through eight simple steps. This, is my version. (Original: http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/plot-outline.html)

1. Story Goal

This is the purpose. What exactly is the problem for the main character(s) or as a good friend worded it: In a novel at least ONE of the characters have to change. Other characters can change but at least ONE of them has to change.

EX:

Eyes Of The Deceived: Noel is born into ignorance

The Last Day: Slaughter is holding a secret.

Eyes Of The Deceived: Sin doesn't know how to control her power or anything about herself

2. Consequences

Here is where you write what makes them unable to reach their goal.

EX:

Eyes Of The Deceived: Ion cast spells on his brother to make him forget.

The Last Day: Slaughter wants to tell his best friend the truth but doesn't want to disappoint her.

Eyes Of The Deceived: Sin doesn't know exactly how much power she has. She is caught up with the life presented to her that she doesn't have time to question it.

3. Requirements

How do they get there? These are the details that set the story into stone. They reveal a route for the story to take.

EX:

Eyes Of The Deceived: Noel learns through Adam what he cannot learn on his own.

The Last Day: Slaughter's inner conscious (Shadow) reveals himself as someone that has known about the problem. He gets Slaughter to reveal his emotions.

Eyes Of The Deceived: Sin learns through James as well as the events that flow with time.

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Glen speaks of other steps. I know I should look at them but they're easy to include. He speaks of foreshadowing and making the story interesting. These steps I thought were obvious (not that this whole outline wasn't obvious) but for those of you who want to go check out what else he says I have the link above.

To my surprise I sent Glen a note and he replied (in the not format like way). I told him when I make money off of my novel I'll send some to him for a donation. He said that he'd be grateful and good luck, He was even interested in reading the book himself.

If I've learned anything from becoming a nonexistent writer to what I am now it's that true writers like to help other writers regardless. Any artist likes to share their information (their knowledge). None of us artist that figure out what we want will force anyone into reading, buying, or anything like so. Artist are pretty amazing people. Antisocial to an extent but they know to be social when the time of need arises.

I hope this helps some of you. If you have a question feel free to ask.

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June 17, 2014