I chased away the blues yesterday and woke up early this morning, full of ideas. I've been fussing over what to write for the GSHW short story competition. Originally, I planned to write a horror story. I had (I thought) a great premise and plot, but when I wrote the outline, it didn't feel quite right, so about a week ago, I decided to let it fester for a while and go with something else, a sci-fi, set in the late 1940s, that I came up with last year.
The weird thing is, after I wrote a 1,000 word outline for that, I realized I didn't like the ending. I liked the sci-fi part of it though, so I've changed the setting (now mid 1950s), come up with completely different set of characters, changed the non sci-fi part of the plot and did a lot of online research. This morning, I took another look at it and changed the beginning one last time. So far, I'm up to 700 words. I expect to finish the first (3,500-word) draft by the weekend.
I'm a great believer in using outlines (I even do one for the 100-word drabbles I write). I find it enormously helpful to get the whole story straight in my head before I start to do the first draft. Even though I've spent a lot of time and effort on the above-mentioned sci-fi idea before putting pen to paper as it were, and despite the fact that I may well change some other things as I go along, I consider it more than worthwhile, since (at least as far as I'm concerned), I've ended up with a stronger story than the one I'd have told if I just sat down and started typing.
How about you? Does anyone else outline short stories?
The weird thing is, after I wrote a 1,000 word outline for that, I realized I didn't like the ending. I liked the sci-fi part of it though, so I've changed the setting (now mid 1950s), come up with completely different set of characters, changed the non sci-fi part of the plot and did a lot of online research. This morning, I took another look at it and changed the beginning one last time. So far, I'm up to 700 words. I expect to finish the first (3,500-word) draft by the weekend.
I'm a great believer in using outlines (I even do one for the 100-word drabbles I write). I find it enormously helpful to get the whole story straight in my head before I start to do the first draft. Even though I've spent a lot of time and effort on the above-mentioned sci-fi idea before putting pen to paper as it were, and despite the fact that I may well change some other things as I go along, I consider it more than worthwhile, since (at least as far as I'm concerned), I've ended up with a stronger story than the one I'd have told if I just sat down and started typing.
How about you? Does anyone else outline short stories?
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jongibbs- Jon Gibbs
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No longer in print but there are still some copies floating around out there
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THE MEAGER PUDDLE OF LIMELIGHT AWARDS
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Comments
I outline novels--a rambling sort of thing that makes sense to no one but me. It works though!
I guess when it comes down to it, that's the important thing :)
I do outline more when writing a novel, obviously, but not to that extent.
Hmm.
With that said, some form of prewriting generally keeps me more or less on track. Without a very basic outline the story tends to spiral off into the ether, never to return.
I have successfully written, uh, three or four short stories. It's generally very hard for me to cram what I want to tell into less than 10,000 words, but the ones I have managed to complete didn't use an outline at all.
Sometimes I have one or more characters in mind when I begin. Once I have them, I usually rely on "triggers." Starting with some core event, I ask myself, "And how would so-and-so react to THAT?"
The core event is usually the beginning or ending--or both and the challenge for me is forging those middle links that round out the chain. (Yes, curse those middle links!)
Me, I like to plan out every horrible thing I put my characters through.
Yes, I write to entertain myself. Just happens occasionally other folks want to read along.
I've tried outlining but by the time I do so I've burned away the desire to actually write the story.
But if the story requires some type of trick/surprise ending then I might write things down to try and make sure it will work.
I might write a synopsis in order to keep in mind the main intent of the story, but normally I begin with a character and figure out what their problem is. Figure out how it ends then try and connect the dots from beginning to end.
I think you are either a natural otuliner or you are a pantser, and it is better to work in whichever way that maximizes your output and satisfies your creative needs. Whenever I went to panels where writers spoke about the way they worked, no two writers were exactly alike.
As for pantser, I think I know what you mean, but call someone that in the north of England and you'll likely get into trouble ;).
As you quite rightlt say, the bottom line is to do whatever works for you.
However, I try varying up my techniques with short stories, hoping always to find new methods and solutions that can carry me forward. At this stage, I think the experimentation brings more value than harm. Should I progress to the stage where I've got a reliable methodology, well at that point I'd be less willing to mess with what works.