What's better in fiction writing, a plot outline or free flow writing?
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It's The Writer's Voice
Frankly, in my opinion, it's not about an outline, a plot, or stream of consciousness writing, it's about whether your story has a voice or not.
You can write an outline until you're blue in the face or free flow your consciousness onto the page until your hand cramps, but without a voice, you won't be heard. The beauty of fiction is that your voice can take on whatever character you choose.
With fiction, you can come at any one topic or a multitude of topics from multiple points of view be they opposed or aligned. You can be demure, coy, outrageous, sexy, loud, obnoxious, rude, exploitive, kind, inspiring, young, old, wise, stupid, courageous or cowardly. You can be beautiful on the inside, ugly on the outside or vice versa. The point is you can express yourself in many ways through mutiple view points.
You can write omnisciently or as first, second or third person. You get to be the bad guy AND the good guy. Most anything in your storytelling can have a voice from a rock to a star.
Most writers get hung up in the details and lose their voice in the telling. Readers only care about whether or not they're interested enough to turn to the next page. If you can get a reader to turn to the next page, or the next screen, you've got 'em hooked. Nowadays, if you can't capture someone in the first few sentences or words, don't even bother.
I've written fiction and I've written fact. Both types of writing must tell a story, one way or another. There is a beginning, a middle and an end. For writing to be really good, the reader is drawn into the story and comes away changed, touched, moved.
Who cares whether it's plot driven, character driven, structure driven; each word carefully crafted or stream of consciousness writing? If it doesn't grab me, I could care less.
The Jarvis Method of storytelling delineates five elements of good fiction writing. They are, Story Concept, Category, Type, Components, and Structure.
How you arrive at this - whether it be from writing an outline to one of stream of consciousness is something private - between you and the paper, the page or screen. The reader could care less if you were writing from an upside-down yoga position with a pen in your mouth, if it doesn't move the reader, your method won't matter a hoot.
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Comments
This used to bother me too, but if you develop a good character with a problem, that part will figure itself out. A great book for doing this is "The Writer's Journey" by Christopher Vogler. The writer's journey is the hero's journey talked about by Joseph Campbell. Most movies use that model. To use an outline or a model is not a bad thing and it doesn't stifle your creativity. I used to think (when I was a much younger writer, that *ahem*, *sniff*, my art is free flowing and doesn't require all that planning).
I was wrong. Like art, you must compose your story with vivid imagery and colors, you must bring your reader into your story's world and suspend their disbelief.
I develop outlines after I've got the characters going or the story idea going. After that I forget about it and find out that I rarely, if ever follow the storyline because the character goes where they want. If your character is alive, trust me, they move your hand.
Another way to do this is to come up with a brief three act outline. Not a hard core one, just I. II. III. Character Development, Conflict, Resolution. Or Introduction, Problem, Resolution.
Your main character faces a problem and is either conquered by it or conquers it. Get away from plot and all that. Don't get hung up on plot development. Start with something really simple.
If that doesn't work, just practice on developing a character and find out what motivates them. What is their engine? When you find that, often enough a story develops right from that.
I like to think of my characters like this: they're not made-up; they live in a different place and I get to "see" into their world and write about them. Make your character real. Envision them in your mind, and show the reader who they are through what they think, how they react, what they wear, what they eat and their flaws. Your character must be flawed or they won't appear human or even lovable, or someone the reader loves to hate.
Go back to some of your favorite stories and read them with that in mind. Literally write down on paper what happened and how the character changed. Once you get that, your own stories won't stop at a brick wall.
Remember - it's not about the destination, it's the journey. That applies in storytelling too. Of course your story's final destination must be reached (unless you're into sequels) or you will just piss your audience off.
Try circle writing. I've found that the truly best stories end where they start.
WildwindE, you've helped more than you know!
As I was reading your response, I was thinking that I already put myself in my character's shoes and see the scene through their eyes.....then it hit me! What I really do is have the character see the scene through my eyes. I was doing it backwards and didn't even realize it.
Thank-you so much!
:)
Your characters in all of your fiction stories are nothing more than extensions of yourself (or a compiliation of others you know).
No problem Shirley, love to help.
Laurie B.
Very very, interesting and informative. My problem is not having trouble writing the novel with plots and action. But using the correct english,
It all so dont do this do this, no clauses, punctuation, etc etc, so that I became so confused I gave up for years. And just started writing in Helium and in hub pages and enjoy both.
Now I do my best and that is all I can do. Thanks for your help.
You know, there's a really great book called, The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, it's a small book that you can keep by you when you write - it answers most of the questions you would have on writing, grammer, punctuation, etc. It solves most problems. It's not that big. I got mine in 1979 and it's a little less than half an inch thick in a 4x6 format.
If you're writing from your heart most people will feel and sense that. Good writing, to me, is like listening to a emotive singer sing. When you write from your heart there ain't nothing better!
Happy manifesting and keep writing!
Laurie B.
Wildwind,
Sage advice. I'm 39 and still looking for my voice. A question, once you find your voice, isn't still important to pay attention to th 'less important things' you mentioned above? I ask because I'm a sucker for step 1, step 2, do this, do that. If it's just about voice, I'd be afraid I was doing something wrong.
Vrecc:
You know Vrecc - you write and you write a lot and everything you write about is intelligent, informative and well said. Finding your voice, in my opinion, can only happen when you're writing a lot. Most authors, writers, journalists, etc. all do other writing than the writing you see on their pages, in their articles and stories.
Yes, writing is a craft - but it's also art. The craft is the structure. Developing your unique voice that touches people - that's the art of it.
How you structure articles and get them on the page is unique to you. Every writer has their own methods. For books I do rough outlines. For articles, I just write them. I think because I've been writing a lot since I first got bitten by the bug on the school newspaper, I don't think about structure for pieces less than 5,000 words. Anything beyond that, for me, requires more of a structure.
I read your stuff and I hear your voice, so though you may not have found it, or may not recoqnize it, I hear it loud and clear.
To free yourself artistically, the best thing to do is do stream of consciousness writing. Journal pages, a few in the morning before you're out and about for the day. Or stretch yourself, write a poem, write lyrics, write a short story.
Some good books for this:
The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron
Writing the Natural Way, Gabriele Rico
Writing on Both sides of the Brain, Henriette Anne Klauser
I enjoy everything that you write Vrecc - so keep on writing!
Happy writing!
Laurie B
Thanks Laurie, for the compliments and advice. Hubpages is better with you here. I will think about what you said. BTW: I love how you always have a list of resources at hand to help with this issue or that. It's great!!
Hi Laurie--liked this hub so much I went and read your profile and other hubs. Must say I like your style--and your content too:-) Thanks-- I'm a fan.
vreccc: (with 3 c's) I'll try and remember that next time. Sorry for the late response - Sunday is the day my husband makes me take down. It's my sole control of the remote day, but no matter, he always tries to get it back. V (I like that better less letters to type) you always provide ample resources - all of us never quit learning, and I've learned a few things from you already.
Thanks!
Laurie B.
Laurie,
Call me Jonathan
And my favorite spelling of your name. With an h it makes it look more stuffy somehow.
Thank you for the honor of your name.
Laurie B.
WildwindE, thx for reminding me about Julia Cameron's book. I bought The Artist's Way many years ago, but packed it away when I moved and forgot about it. Only recently, I came across a stack of my morning pages. Think I'll dig out the book and get back at it.
Your tremendous contribution is very much appreciated, thank-you.
This hub and onoging discussion has been very helpful--thanks a bunch! It has gotten the wheels in my head turning and I'm anxious to try my hand at fiction writing.
What a great article! Thanks!
For me, it's all about theme. Outline comes later. Perhaps voice is part of theme.
Shirley Anderson says:
2 years ago
Thx for the input, and I agree with you re needing to find your voice in the work and move the reader. That's what it's all about.
I posed the question for my sake....I am great at beginning story ideas, but not really terrific in figuring out the meat and ending. I think I branch out too much and all scenerios I come up with I like.
Thx for a good response, I appreciate it.