So you’ve brainstormed your story and crafted compelling characters. Maybe you want to brainstorm as you go rather than before starting your outline. Regardless of how much you’ve done, with the right approach, you can streamline the process and unleash your creative genius. While many writers dread the idea of rigid outlines, personalizing this process can make it immensely rewarding. Let’s delve into some strategies to tailor your outlining process to suit your unique creative style.
Understanding Your Story’s DNA
It’s often crucial to have a firm grasp on your story’s core elements like your plot, characters, themes, and settings. But, If you want to keep things basic, focus on the following aspects. First, choose a central conflict for your main character to grow from. Then, consider what theme you want to illustrate through that conflict. Then, ask yourself how they resonate with your own experiences and beliefs. You can expand from there, but remember to ground your story in an emotional core. By knowing the core aspects of your story, you set yourself up to build a focused outline. Click here to see why. This gives you a good starting point to build your story.
Embrace Flexibility in Your Outline
Furthermore, View your outline as a roadmap. it should be a flexible guide that can adapt to your creative process. Don’t hesitate to alter your outline later on if your characters lead you down unexpected paths. It’s good when new ideas emerge along the way. It means you are passionate about your story. Allow room for spontaneity and experimentation. They often lead to the most innovative storytelling and make the writing process way more fun. Remember, this is your story, so don’t let an outlining method stifle your creative juices!
Visualize Your Outline
For visual thinkers, traditional outlining methods may feel stifling. Instead, consider visualizing your outline using mind maps or index cards. These allow you to spatially organize your ideas, connections, and plot points. You could use pen, paper, cork boards, etc. Some people need to have it all physically there in front of them. I think that’s wonderful. Alternatively, you could utilize softwares like Scrivener, Obsidian (a free option), Campfire, or even google docs! That is what works for me. Use whatever your heart desires!
I use scrivener because I love the index card view. Campfire would be better for someone doing a lot of world building. It is tailored more for sci-fi & fantasy stories. On the other hand, Obsidian (a note-taking software) allows you to connect your ideas in a visualized mind map, if that’s better. You could buy templates online for google docs (or make your own if you can take the time) to visualize your character sketches, chapter overviews, scene cards, and more!
Tap Into Your Emotions
Writing a novel is not just an intellectual endeavor—it’s also an emotional journey. Infuse your outlining process with your emotions. Allow them to guide your decisions and shape your narrative. What aspects of your story touch your soul? How can you translate these emotions into compelling scenes, characters, and conflicts? By tapping into your emotions, you give your novel with authenticity and depth. This will make your story matter to you And your readers.
Resources to Enhance Your Outlining Process
Numerous resources are available to help writers streamline and personalize their outlining process. I have an outlining method master list (coming soon) that could help you compare the most popular methods. Additionally, there are countless podcasts, YouTubers (like this one), books, and more that are readily available to you (For free!). Brandon Sanderson has some of his lectures for free on Youtube (here) and there are masterclasses you can take (I hear Neil Gaiman’s was very insightful). The internet is your oyster!
In conclusion, outlining your novel is a highly personal process that should be tailored to suit your individual creative instincts and preferences. By understanding your story’s DNA, embracing flexibility, visualizing your outline, tapping into your emotions, and utilizing available resources, you can craft a roadmap that guides you toward a compelling and resonant narrative. So, embrace the adventure, trust in your creativity, and let your imagination soar as you embark on this thrilling literary journey. Happy writing!
How will you work on outlining your story? have you already started and struggled? Or have you found the method that works for you? Find my latest post here to learn more about choosing which genre lights up your soul. Happy Writing!