I've been working on my novel, The Painting recently. Occasionally I stop writing to reach into the mountain of books I've collected for research. This turned out to be worthwhile the other day when I read about Capability Brown's lakes. My fictional country house now has a lake which I'm using to my advantage in a key scene. This may change at a later date, but for now the lake is staying. Another reason why I stop writing (apart from to go on Twitter, Facebook, to write a blog post etc...) is to work on the outline.
I have a spreadsheet in excel for the outline with a row for each scene. For my novel, The Grandson, I divided the scenes into three acts on the spreadsheet. Then I filled in key scenes and added other scenes around them as I wrote/ edited.
On the spreadsheet there are columns for the following:
• scene number
• chapter number
• plot eg. Plot Point one, first encounter, mid-point etc as per Aristotle's Incline)/ subplot
• date (in the novel)
• point of view
• location
• 'what happens?' in a short sentence
• editing notes
• word count
Whilst writing the first draft, I'm not worried about chapter numbers, as I may move scenes around. Subplot will appear in subsequent drafts once I've sorted out the main plot. Although if I have an idea for a subplot as I write, I make a note of it on the spreadsheet.
I highlight the rows for each point of view in the same colour. When editing The Grandson, I initially worked on scenes with the same point of view together to ensure that I didn't repeat myself and so that those scenes told their own story.
Creating this outline allows me to apply some logic to the 'mess' which is the first draft and I would be lost without it. When editing, I use the outline all of the time as a reference and to plan the next day's work.
Do you use outlines when writing?
I couldn't find a photo of a Capability Brown lake, but thought you might like this one of Lake Como from a few years ago.
Hope the sun is shining where you are. It's been lovely here recently and I'm finally wearing my sandals...
I like to plan my novels before hand, but I don't always use that planning. If I start drafting and the characters just take over (like I hope they will) then I just go with it because they are so much smarter than I am. ;) Still, I like to go through the planning first so I'm never stuck staring at a blank screen.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, thanks for your comment. Those characters always seem to take over even when they're being told nicely what to do.
DeleteI didn't use to plan much at all but I've found my writing habits have changed and I now plan every single chapter before I start to write. It is time consuming but it works for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer, thanks for your comment. Would love to know how you do that (in Word?) and how much detail you go into. And whether you stick to the plan too? I've only planned key scenes in advance with Books 1 and 2, but maybe I'll plan more with Book 3.
DeleteReally enjoyed reading about your method for planning, Anita. I plan a lot too - I find I just get stage fright otherwise! Putting something down on paper beforehand allows me to relax enough to let the words flow. I tend to read through my rough thoughts on a chapter the night before I write it. Somehow the process lets everything settle.
ReplyDeleteHi Clare, thanks very much for visiting and for your lovely comment. I like reading about how other writers go about everything. I tend to handwrite a scene before typing it up for the first time. Once I have that first draft written, I edit it on the computer. Sometimes if a scene isn't working though, I rewrite it by hand (without looking at previous version) and type it up again.
DeleteI love this approach to planning! I've recently reflected on how I need to start tackling my writing as I do my work. I think I need to have more structure and organisation to my ideas and plot before I can just sit down to write. Look forward to trying your spreadsheet approach, thanks for sharing :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Mia, thanks very much for visiting my blog and for commenting! Have found and followed you on Google+. The spreadsheet approach really worked for me last week when I wanted to see the first Act of my WIP set out as scenes. Now I can think about my WIP more clearly and the first Act is moving forwards. Good luck with your writing and planning.
DeleteI only have an outline for the main plots of the book and it's only when I've completed the first draft that I tend to do a spreadsheet to see the entire book a little more clearly. I think I might try and draft a spreadsheet for my first draft with this book though and see how I go.
ReplyDeleteHi Debs, thanks for visiting and for your comment. Hope it goes well!x
Delete