Hello and a very happy Friday to everyone!
One of a writer’s biggest hurtles to overcome is how to plot their story. Well a hurtle for those of us who choose to plot our stories. This week I wanted to go over some ways of outlining for anyone who may be just starting out or even going through and re-working what they already have. I know there are pantsers out there who don’t think they need an outline and if it works for you then you keep at it. This is for those plotters out there, pantsers who might want some stepping stones to follow, or anyone trying to figure out what works best for them. By no means am I trying to tell anyone how to write, I’m just here to share some outlining formats to anyone who might need it.
Spreadsheet
If you’re writing a story that takes place over a specific time this might be a good outline for you to try.
Mind Map
This particular outline is good for keeping track to the main ideas you want to hit in your chapters.
Stepping Stone
This is another great outline for keeping track of the main plot points you want to hit. If you’re a pantser then I highly recommend this method.
Skeletal
This is a format that’s often taught in schools, at least here in the U.S. it’s great for really outlining and figuring out finer points in your story.
Scene Builder, the detailed
This outline is more wild but it can really help you get a feel for your story and work out some of the easier points.
Five Act Structure
I think this is the outline a majority of writers tend to use. It’s great for keeping pace in your story and figuring out where certain scenes need to go.
I personally use three different outlining formats while writing so I know from experience that it might take more than one outline or even something completely different for you to feel comfortable. The important thing is that you do whatever works best for you.
Next week I’m going over one of a writer’s best assists when drafting....
✿ Happy reading and writing to all and to all a good day ✿
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