How now, Mates?
Today marks Day Four of the "Hydra Blog Hop", and to celebrate, author Jay Noel has come for a visit. He will be sharing his Guest Post on his "Confessions" as a "Reformed Pantster". (Mr. Noel's forthcoming novel, Dragonfly Warrior, is scheduled for publication through Hydra Publications in early 2013.)
So, without further ado, strap on your favorite pair of jeans and discover the confessions of a had-been pantster~
Confessions of a Reformed Pantster...
by Jay Noel
I've written a bunch of novels that will never see the light of day. Stories that went all over the place. Poor victims of a sprawling imagination. By nature, I'm pretty "by-the-seat-of-my-pants." However, life has dramatically changed the last several years, and being so haphazard and spontaneous just won't work anymore.
Those who juggle careers, writing aspirations, and children all at once will know exactly what I'm talking about.
For ten years, the manuscripts I wrote were such prime examples of what happens when wayward creativity is allowed to spew all over the place. Unbridled and wild. I also spent a lot of time putting my English degree to good use and did lots and lots of editing. So I looked inside of myself and thought, "There's got to be a better way."
I went to the "Dark Side" and tried my hand at outlining. Plotting. Planning. It was tough at first. Disciplined is always difficult for the undisciplined. I tried all different kinds of outlines...and my uncontrollable urges got the best of me, and my outlines always ended up looking like full blown manuscripts. So I worked really hard at forcing myself to make SHORT outlines.
One of my blogger buddies, David Powers King, did a post back in March of 2012 where he described his outlining process. I took what I did (namely the visual mapping I love to do) and David's format - and magic happened. My outlines were concise and clear, yet it left me with more than enough room for flexibility. Here's how to create your own Mini-Synopsis-Outline:
Brainstorm in any fashion you wish. For me, I love to draw "bubble maps" or "mind maps." I literally start with one central idea and just keep mapping outwards from there.
Once you've gotten the juices flowing and figured out some of your characters, plot, conflicts, themes, etc., create a three lined paragraph summary of every chapter. Do this for as many chapters as you're going to need to tell your story. Keep each chapter summary to only three lines. This forces you to write down the chapter's main purpose and action. It also gives you plenty of room to flesh out the chapter as you write.
When you're done, feel free to go back and edit the outline for your book. It's a plan with just enough to help guide your writing, but doesn't pigeonhole you or hold you hostage to your initial ideas. If done right, your outline should only be 2-3 pages long. All of mine have ended up being three pages for a 100,000 word novel.
I use my mini synopsis outline throughout the writing process, always referring back to it when I'm beginning and ending a chapter. And when inspiration hits me, I'm free to not follow any part of what I've written on my outline. Sometimes, you go in a different direction and the outline itself might need to be revamped. This happens to a pantster like me maybe 33% of the time. But when I do make those changes, it's so much easier for me to revise my work because I know where to look and what chains in the link need to follow any changes I make.
Since using this method, I've written four novels with only one where I quit about three-fourths of the way through. Although I can see clearly where it just wasn't working for me, and I'm able to go back and rework it.
I still love the flow and creative spontaneity that comes with feeding off of my imagination and being inspired by my muse. But utilizing the mini synopsis outline method, I'm able to create a workable skeleton from which I can let my creativity continue to flesh out and build. I can still go a little crazy and wander, but now I'm no longer lost in the woods. Plotting works.
I'm Jay Noel, and I used to be a Pantster.
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Jay Noel is a one-time high school English teacher, but now works in medical sales. He's been blogging since 2005, and has spent most of his writing career as a freelance editor. After finally gathering enough courage, he has taken the leap to writing his own work. His first novel, Dragonfly Warrior, is an Asian-inspired Steampunk story filled with pirates, ninjas, gunslingers, and samurai warriors. They say you must write what you love, and damnit, that's what he's done. It will be published in early 2013 by Hydra Publications. His blog can be found at www.jaynoel.com
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Also: Take a peek at my "Hydra" feature on Tricia Ballad's Blog.
That's similar to how I've always outlined, although I use more than three lines. I also have no idea where the chapters begin and end. (I don't divide mine up until right before I send it to my publisher.)
ReplyDeleteGlad the Force pulled you into outlining and you made it work!
Alex: I wrote short stories for more than a decade - so my chapters read like them (with cliff hanger endings). But with the outline, I'm free to move stuff around pretty easily. Thanks for coming over here!
ReplyDeleteI need to know what will happen, otherwise the words can't flow. I end up writing a short synopsis for each chapter to plot how to get to the end.
ReplyDeleteI like the bubble mapping idea, though. I may need to try it.
I am slowly reforming into someone who uses an outline. I've always kept mine in my head, knowing the entire plot of the book. But as a fellow person with a job, kids (Twin girls. Did I mention they were girls.)and a writing career, life itself requires an outline, just to know where I'm going and what I'm doing. So why shouldn't my novels get the same advantage? Great tips.
ReplyDeleteMiranda: And your words do certainly flow pretty good! For me, I overthink things and try to write final drafts during my rough draft stage. That's why working with you has been so healthy for my writing (from a purely selfish standpoint).
ReplyDeleteTony: Obviously I understand (except for the twin girls part - I just deal with regular sibling rivalry with a diva 8 year old in the middle of all of it). Doing even a brief outline is a lifesaver!
ReplyDeleteI like your method! I'm really visual too and often write lots of bubbly things in my plotting process.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pantser who has also had to start outlining to get anything written. I tend to write out chapter descriptions as well, though only a few chapters as a time. With my current WIP, I already knew the beginning and where it would end; the middle was still muddled. Slowly, I'm getting to a point where I can connect all the dots. :) Great information, Jay!
ReplyDeleteLydia: I always start with the bubble and flow chart. Then the outline forces me to start filling in some of the gaps, but leaves enough for me to follow where the wind takes me.
ReplyDeleteErin: Yup, I feel your pain! I always start with the beginning and the ending too. That's what I love about doing the mind mapping. It does help.
I also have a hard time outlining but I'm finding more and more ways to outline that work for me. I think the best thing for any author to do is to keep looking for new ways to make writing work out the best for them. Great post Jay!
ReplyDeleteI do something similar. I usually only outline a few chapters at a time, because I am always taking left turns which require changing the outline. If the turn is too crazy, it gets deleted though.
ReplyDeleteI am total pantser and need serious help. This sounds like something I could really do. It helps to know that it's coming from a pantser like me. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJ.A.: CONGRATS on the baby!!! And thanks for having the energy to come over here and visit. I was lucky to find a nice system that works for me.
ReplyDeleteMary: I like seeing where I'm going, but like I said, I only stick to it maybe a third of the time.
Melissa: You're so welcome! Adopting this system has really worked for even a pantster like me. It can work for you too.
Great post, Jay. I had no idea my advice was actually helping anyone. You put a great spin on it, too. Thanks for the Shout-Out, sir. And thank you, Rachel, for hosting Jay today. :)
ReplyDeleteDavid: Thanks for your original post. It was exactly what I needed. This is what I love most about the blogosphere - the exchange of ideas. And once in awhile, you come across some wisdom that can profoundly help someone. Like me!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. I'm a pantser trying to learn to plot. Plotting helps in revisions, but my muse is rebelling against the plotting for the first draft. With my limited amount of time these days, I think it will be easier if I could plot things out first. I'll just have to keep trying!
ReplyDeleteI (now) use a similar method - a post-it note for each chapter. Nothing more. They are then stuck to a sheet of brown paper and can be moved/removed if necessary.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Thank you for visiting, everyone! Isn't Mr. Noel great? I'm thrilled to have been given the opportunity to host him today.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I tend to be a staunch pantster, I find the idea of an outline to be quite beneficial - not only for keeping one's writing on track but also for keeping one's ideas organized. (I don't know about you, but my thoughts and ideas run at a mile a minute, so if I don't writing things down in a clear, direct manner, then I tend to forget them). *sigh* Tis a "blight" of the Muse~
It's been great reading all of your comments!
Christine: Try the mini-synopsis outline. It WORKS!
ReplyDeleteEllie: LOVE that idea. Like a cool story board.
Rachel: I love subplots and stuff, so outlining has been so beneficial for even a stubborn pantster like me!
I will have to try this method. My plot outlines tend to end up too detailed or too unstructured; I like the idea of summarizing chapters in only three lines.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I come from the opposite side of the fence - I'm a born planner and outliner. Sometimes outlining can become a crutch and you have to just close your eyes and leap into the story head first!
ReplyDeleteI recently started using index cards to summarize each key scene, so I have notes about important details I'd otherwise forget. I spread them out, rearrange them, then put them all on a keyring so they stay in order when I'm not using them.
Went to the "Dark Side"<- lol. I'm a combination. I started out on my first book (the one tossed in a drawer) as a complete panster and I loved that. It was fun. Then I realized that everyone else didn't love it. I then wrote a book totally plotter style. After writing three novels, I'm now a blend. I , like you, will sometimes veer off on an unplanned idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about doing NaNoWriMo so your method might come in handy for me....I have so many idea seeds growing in my head, I need to find a way to keep things neat...I'll also check out David's post.
ReplyDelete