What type outline do you use as writer or don't you use one? Common are numerica

1. 74

   brakel2posted 10 years ago

   What type outline do you use as writer or don't you use one? Common are numerical, bubble, dictation
   
   Numerical is numbering all the main and sub points. Bubble is the wheel with points in bubbles - circles. Dictation would be dictating the outline. These are ones familiar to me.

   replyreport
2. 93

   FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

   I just write a bunch of chicken scratch notes on a piece of paper to work from and go from there.

   replyreport
3. 71

   dahoglundposted 10 years ago

   It varies for me. If it is something really long I would use numbers or letters for points and sub points. For short stories or articles I might jot down a few main point or ideas but keep the outline in my head or make it up as I go along. Your question mentioned dictating. I used to have to dictate a lot on a job and got the habit of dictating directly into a machine without any outline. That might be how I got into the habit of minimal outlining.

   replyreport
4. 58

   retief2000posted 10 years ago

   I tend to start numerically and refine that over and over until it becomes much more organic.

   replyreport
5. 84

   tsmogposted 10 years ago

   I tend to do what I learned called "free writing". That is just typing single lines of thoughts and etc until a point the mind is emptied. From that I may create a more structured outline for an essay style article. For fiction I create a time line usually with Excel so I can modify as I go along. Sometimes I do a process called mind mapping, yet I tend to do that more with the initial creative process or idea. Again, I structure from that. Poetry is pretty much spontaneous as I tend not to write more than eight 4 line stanzas.

   replyreport
6. 0

   sheilamyersposted 10 years ago

   When I'm working on my novels, I use a separate piece of paper for each chapter (which I title as dates like in a journal). I start by jotting down the main ideas for the plot for that chapter. As I go along, I'll add things to the outline in the places where I need to mention them. Since I write crime novels, I need to do this to keep track of what lab results need to be mentioned, follow-ups for witness interviews, etc. To me, this way of outlining (I don't know if it even has a name) works best because the separate pages gives me a lot of space to jot down ideas and reminders as I go along. I guess my method is a combination of an outline and notes (research, etc) all rolled into one.

   replyreport
   1. 58

      retief2000posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I like your method and frequently employ a similar technique when developing a chapter

      replyreport
7. 72

   Marie Flintposted 10 years ago

   I'm afraid my mind is so terribly logical at times, that I usually don't create any outline. Sometimes, though, after I've constructed a hub, I will revise its organization so it "feels" right. ***

   replyreport
8. 0

   Larry Wallposted 10 years ago

   I do not use a written outline. I get an idea and I write. Sometimes I have to rewrite to get a better story. As a old newspaper reporter, there was no time to write an outline of your coverage of a three hour city council meeting where a budget was approved, police chief fired, a long fight and indecision  about a road project. You just sit and type.
   
   I am working on a book. In my mind I have developed the order of what I am going to write, but it is not a piece of fiction.
   
   I do believe if I ever wrote fiction, I would have a brief outline about introducing characters, describing the setting, establishing the plot, developing the obstacles that lead to the desired result and the conclusion.

   replyreport