clevermanka (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
clevermanka) wrote2021-03-02 07:55 am
clevermanka) wrote2021-03-02 07:55 am
Entry tags:
Outlining
A while back, I posted a comment about how I outline my longfic in write_out's DW. I meant to reproduce over here and then forgot. Until now!
I really like W plots and both my already-published longfics use one, as do both the current longfics.
Once I have enough of an idea for where I'm going with a fic (basic plot, what emotional beats I want to hit) I draw a big W on a piece of paper (taking up the entire sheet) and I write the major plot points at the five peaks on the W. Then, using the notes I've been taking up to that point, I write out short descriptions of where I want details. This sounds confusing, so I drew a fake one:
Those sections don't always hit at the word-count middle. Like, in Deconstruction the second bad thing happens in the third-to-last chapter (out of 31).
With Ghost Story, I knew right away how I was going to structure everything and the outline came together early and fast. I wasn't ready to draw the outline for Deconstruction until I was about a third of the way into it (maybe 30k words?). I didn't know the specific emotional beats I wanted to hit or the plot points I wanted to hang them on. I just had the basic journey in mind.
For the ones I've got currently on the stove, I know the emotional beats but not the plot points for the shorter one. For the sequel to Deconstruction, I have very nebulous notes for both (with detailed notes about a few specific interactions).
I don't use this for one-shots, but I use a modified concept of it when I'm having a hard time structuring a scene where I know what I want to happen but the pacing (or something) seems off.
Seems a little strange giving writing advice when I'm in such a creative slump, but you know what they say about those who can, etc.
write_out's DW. I meant to reproduce over here and then forgot. Until now!I really like W plots and both my already-published longfics use one, as do both the current longfics.
Once I have enough of an idea for where I'm going with a fic (basic plot, what emotional beats I want to hit) I draw a big W on a piece of paper (taking up the entire sheet) and I write the major plot points at the five peaks on the W. Then, using the notes I've been taking up to that point, I write out short descriptions of where I want details. This sounds confusing, so I drew a fake one:
Those sections don't always hit at the word-count middle. Like, in Deconstruction the second bad thing happens in the third-to-last chapter (out of 31).
With Ghost Story, I knew right away how I was going to structure everything and the outline came together early and fast. I wasn't ready to draw the outline for Deconstruction until I was about a third of the way into it (maybe 30k words?). I didn't know the specific emotional beats I wanted to hit or the plot points I wanted to hang them on. I just had the basic journey in mind.
For the ones I've got currently on the stove, I know the emotional beats but not the plot points for the shorter one. For the sequel to Deconstruction, I have very nebulous notes for both (with detailed notes about a few specific interactions).
I don't use this for one-shots, but I use a modified concept of it when I'm having a hard time structuring a scene where I know what I want to happen but the pacing (or something) seems off.
Seems a little strange giving writing advice when I'm in such a creative slump, but you know what they say about those who can, etc.