Jessica Steiner (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-04-17 08:18 pm
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-04-17 08:18 pm
Entry tags:
O is for Organic Outlining #atozchallenge
I talked about outlines in yesterday's post, but I wanted to talk about it some more. In the last post, I mentioned having a multi-page plot synopsis before I break it out into actual scene summaries. Today I'll explain how to get to the plot synopsis stage.
1. Write a sentence. I always start with one sentence, the overall idea. I try to include a basic description of the main character, like "A journalist" or "A graphics designer". You also want to include the main conflict. The sentence should be about 30 words or less.
2. Expand it into three major turning points. Every story has one big turning point that launches the character into the story, and a few subsequent disasters, each of which push the story forward. You may want to google the "Three Act Structure" if you want more information about this. I write one short sentence to outline each of these turning points, creating a paragraph.
3. Expand the turning points into paragraphs. Take each of the sentences in your paragraph, and expand it out into a paragraph of its own, adding more detail and surrounding events. You should have between half a page and a full page of summary by this point.
4. Expand each paragraph into a full page. Once again, add in detail and further events, developing connected sub-plots and identifying the key details that have to be included in the story.
By the time you've done this, you have 3-4 pages of synopsis, and have outlined the entire story in some detail, though not down to the actual scene point.
Many people try starting with the first scene and just trying to write an outline chronologically, and then give up in disgust because it's confusing and fiddly. If you are one of those people - or even if you aren't, try this method. You may be surprised by how much easier it is to expand out a story and create an outline when you use this organic method rather than a linear one.
1. Write a sentence. I always start with one sentence, the overall idea. I try to include a basic description of the main character, like "A journalist" or "A graphics designer". You also want to include the main conflict. The sentence should be about 30 words or less.
2. Expand it into three major turning points. Every story has one big turning point that launches the character into the story, and a few subsequent disasters, each of which push the story forward. You may want to google the "Three Act Structure" if you want more information about this. I write one short sentence to outline each of these turning points, creating a paragraph.
3. Expand the turning points into paragraphs. Take each of the sentences in your paragraph, and expand it out into a paragraph of its own, adding more detail and surrounding events. You should have between half a page and a full page of summary by this point.
4. Expand each paragraph into a full page. Once again, add in detail and further events, developing connected sub-plots and identifying the key details that have to be included in the story.
By the time you've done this, you have 3-4 pages of synopsis, and have outlined the entire story in some detail, though not down to the actual scene point.
Many people try starting with the first scene and just trying to write an outline chronologically, and then give up in disgust because it's confusing and fiddly. If you are one of those people - or even if you aren't, try this method. You may be surprised by how much easier it is to expand out a story and create an outline when you use this organic method rather than a linear one.