For as often as I’ve heard it from peers, instructors, and fellow writers, I still to this day underestimate the power of “just writing.” Many writers out there will probably tell you at some point that this is, in fact, the number one rule: “Write every day.” Though, in the past I’ve argued that I would tweak that phrase to something closer to “Work every day,” indicating that as long as you’re doing something related to your story—even just thinking about it—you’re still exercising those creative muscles like you should.
But there really is something to be said of working just for the sake of working, and not waiting around for that elusive drop of inspiration. In fact, I’ve recently acquired somewhat of a change in tune when it comes to one particular writing subject I’ve previously been adamant about: outlining. As most of you are probably aware of by now, I consider myself to be a pantser through and through. And while I would freely admit there was some stock in creating outlines for novels and bigger projects, I was confident the true beauty of writing was in flying by the seat of your pants.
Not quite so, anymore.
It all started when I hit a snag in my current project. As usual, I thought that now would be the appropriate time to bring out the charts and the diagrams and Excel sheets. But the snags kept hitting; so I kept on trying. I went through a number of different outlines, each calling on different aspects of the story to be highlighted and taken into consideration. And, again, they have only bought me so far in some areas.
But in other areas, doors have been opening.
There’s a saying that reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Well, I’m ready to start saying that outlining is to the writer’s mind what exercise is to the body. Because even if you get nowhere with how A leads to B leads to C, forcing yourself to think about your story in small segments is like stretching; it might not seem like much in the moment, but in the long run it does wonders. It gets you thinking when your creative mindset might have been stagnant for days beforehand; instead of wracking your brain for the best way to begin your next chapter, you think about what comes next for your characters and what’s important to them right now. And then, BAM! The perfect opening to that next chapter is just there. Instead of looking at the entire story all at once, you look at it as if two different storylines are interconnecting…
BAM! You realize what your main characters are struggling with the most, and how that connects them with each other.
Suddenly I have found a new meaning in outlining. It isn’t just about sorting your thoughts together so you can keep track of plot points, avoid plot holes, and remember just how exactly your magic system works again. No: outlining is about connecting with your darlings and opening them up to possibility. Not every aspect of the story that you come up with is going to fit, but as long as you’re “just working,” you’re continuing to unearth puzzle pieces that you didn’t even know were hiding under the empty box.
Or, you know, a better analogy.
Night Owls, any writing advice that you’ve changed your tune about recently? What are you currently working on?
