Comments on: Writing Update: First Draft As An Outline?

By: Simon Haynes

Simon Haynes — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:32:47 +0000

The first drafts of my books are 130,000 word plot outlines. Then I pare them back into 90,000 word novels.

By: Benjamin Solah

Benjamin Solah — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:39:42 +0000

Thanks for the comment David. I really agree with that quote.

By: David Sayers

David Sayers — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:21:12 +0000

I think you’re going about this story the right way Benjamin. Just write it down and see what you end up with.

Don’t worry whether it’s the right word length or if it will be published. The satisfaction will come from knowing you have penned the story as it was meant to be.

“If you’re going to put your name on something, make sure its something YOU are happy with (emphasis on YOU) because if you truly consider it to be a piece of art, then in a way it is a reflection of yourself.”

-Adam Jones (paraphrased)
David Sayers´s last blog ..

By: Benjamin Solah

Benjamin Solah — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:01:47 +0000

I guess that may have been a problem with previous stories, like ‘An Abused Mind,’ which really needs a rewrite.

By: Karen Lee Field

Karen Lee Field — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:00:24 +0000

Well, it really doesn’t matter in the long term, as long as the manuscript is written. I’m a believer in having a completed draft means you’ll more likely to end up with a polished manuscript ready for submission.
Karen Lee Field´s last blog ..The Reading World

By: Benjamin Solah

Benjamin Solah — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:22:18 +0000

Karen, I think I’ve tried to do it your first way in the past but this time it’s definitely just to get the story down and lay my cards to see what I’ve got to work with.

By: Karen Lee Field

Karen Lee Field — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:19:28 +0000

I usually try to write a “clean” first draft. This means I want it to be as good a draft as a first one can get.

But…sometimes the planning is lacking and I don’t figure that out until I’m writing that first draft. When this happens, I turn to “just get the story down” mode instead. At least then I have a complete story to work with when I start the editing stage…even if it means rewriting the entire thing!

By: Benjamin Solah

Benjamin Solah — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:18:33 +0000

Thanks Chris, nice website.

Carol: You should so hunt down those lost stories. I’m sure the ideas are still gems even if you’ve probably grown as a writer.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:43:22 +0000

I was going to say I've never used a first draft as an outline, but then I realized I had. One time I looked over the first draft of a story that I'd been having trouble with and realized there were three stories in one, so I used the draft as a guide to separate the stories. Hmmm, I wonder what ever happened to those stories . . . Carol’s last blog post..Post Fairies

By: Chris Kape

Chris Kape — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:31:44 +0000

I agree with Richard – all you got to do is keep writing. The story will unveil itself to you eventually, you don’t have to worry about that or how many words you will end up writing. I completed my first novel, “A Diary of Wasted Years,” a couple of years back, and it’s just released by Eloquent Books. If you are into dark novels, you are certainly welcome to try it… and even if you’re not… Other, than that, keep on writing.

By: Benjamin Solah

Benjamin Solah — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:48:53 +0000

Isaac: I outline occasionally too, and even tried with this one but I think I kept stalling because I was trying to over outline. I have the basic scenes in my head so just need to write them and work out the rest of the details in the process of the first draft.

Richard: That project sounds interesting and I guess having your work updated online gives you some extra pressure to keep writing consistently.

By: Richard Bourgeois

Richard Bourgeois — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:27:05 +0000

I think 1st draft as outline is a good way of looking at it… the important thing is when you’re primed to write, WRITE!

My current project is a serial webnovel (http://www.saintmarksbody.com/buono) set in 9th century Venice. I am keeping a tight schedule of three ~500 word updates a week, and by necessity they are all first drafts. Character development and themes just kind of happen when you’re under the gun like that!

By: Isaac

Isaac — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:57:24 +0000

I've got a couple stories with a first draft that i'll use as an outline for a completely fresh write. One story in particular stands out. The first draft has given me some good character development, and something to base the plot around, but the plot itself in the first draft is cheesy, and the focus doesn't feel right. But there should be enough there for me to work with when it comes around to rewriting. Generally, as you know, i'm an outliner (as in, brief progression of main points so i know where i'm going, rather than lots of detail about every scene) and i often outline as i go, so a lot of my first drafts have a completed plot. Usually they only require intensive editing rather than rewriting, to clarify things, to get the pacing right, to make sure the characters are fully developed, etc. Isaac’s last blog post..And today we wrote…