Novel or long story outlines

[Capt. Eucalyptus]

I have recently been convicted that I need to start using outlines. I have an idea that this will make it easier for me to write long stuff that's more cohesive. For those of you that do, what form does it take? Is it a formal outline or more of a sketch? How detailed is it?

Gracias.

[WickerMan]

capteucalyptus (Scott Roche):
I have recently been convicted that I need to start using outlines. I have an idea that this will make it easier for me to write long stuff that's more cohesive. For those of you that do, what form does it take? Is it a formal outline or more of a sketch? How detailed is it?

Gracias.Hey mate how u doing?. :)
Well i will always write down the story outline, it doesnt matter if its for a short or a novel.
The way i work is always have an resolution (in ay way) to the story and know what it is u want to tell.
I start with a rough idea then i fill out details as they come to me.
Once i have my characters i always do a full charcter history for all the main ones and a short history for bit part characters.
This helps me when im writing dialogue, as i can use it as a quick refernce to tell if my character would say what im writing for them.

[Capt. Eucalyptus]

The Pit and The WickerMan:
Hey mate how u doing?. )
Well i will always write down the story outline, it doesnt matter if its for a short or a novel.
The way i work is always have an resolution (in ay way) to the story and know what it is u want to tell.
I start with a rough idea then i fill out details as they come to me.
Once i have my characters i always do a full charcter history for all the main ones and a short history for bit part characters.
This helps me when im writing dialogue, as i can use it as a quick refernce to tell if my character would say what im writing for them.[/QB]Grand mate, just grand!

That's a good idea. Just the stuff I'm looking for. I keep all the stuff in my head nromally but I really need to start outlining.

[Capt. Eucalyptus]

Did you get "Lonesome Highway", or did I screw up the attachment again?

[Dan Whitehead]

I've just started doing this for some screenplays I'm working on, because they're too big for me to trust my feeble mind to keep track of. All I'm really doing though is writing down what I already do in my head.

First, I come up with an idea. Then I come up with a way to expand the idea into an actual story - where it starts, how it ends, and a rough idea of what goes on in between.

Then take three sheets of paper. At the top of each one write ACT I, ACT II or ACT III. Even if these "acts" won't be noticeable in the finished story, it helps give the thing structure. If it's a big story, it may help to list the characters and plot their arc across the pages as well.

Then, I just start filling things in. I may have three or four scenes, events or even just lines of dialogue that I want to use, and it's now that I figure out where they fit in. I know the start and end points, so it's just a question of plotting the course from A to Z. Each of the acts should end with some sort of mini-climax or cliffhanger, with the final act tying everything up (or not, depending on your style wink )

This way, you can see the "shape" of the story. Is the opening third weighed down by too much going on? Is there a huge void in the middle where nothing happens? Are there any characters who outlive their usefulness - and if so, can their actions be taken over by someone else?

Stuff like that. I've found that writing it down really forces me to think about the overall structure, rather than just the "money shots" that I've already thought of.

Then, of course, I just need to write the bloody thing...

[Charlie Brigden]

I always write an outline with events broken into chapter headings. Extremely helpful.

[WickerMan]

capteucalyptus (Scott Roche):
Did you get "Lonesome Highway", or did I screw up the attachment again?Haha no u didnt screw this one up :D
Got this one just fine mate.
Will have a butchers tomorrow pal.

[Capt. Eucalyptus]

Enjoy! I also sent you another jackanory (zat right?).