Sunday status update: moving forward (woohoo!)
And about time. I’ve officially given up on the notion of being a pantser: I just don’t have what it takes. I know this because I started picking away at a real outline this morning instead of doing my usual pathetic 500 words, and I already have the following:
- 1500 new words on outline and character goals
- a very clear idea of what’s happening in the next few chapters
- a pretty clear idea of what’s happening at the end of this book
- a semi-clear idea of where the next book could start (yes, I am doomed to write series, it seems)
- clear goals for my MC and secondaries
- and, finally, what was really holding me back all this time (I think, anyway): an emotional arc for my MC. I get nowhere without that. I just didn’t realize I was missing one. Apparently character arcs, for me, are connected to plot arcs. I guess that makes sense.
And I’m not even halfway done with the outline.
So, yay.
It’s a nice raining-buckets day today and I’ve read all my new-buys for the weekend, and the reviews of Transformers 2 tell me not to waste my eight bucks, so I have no excuses. I’m gong to finish this outline and geek out in Excel with a few color-coded, comment-laden plot arcs.
Her Dogginess, meanwhile, is filling in on the forward motion of the WIP itself. Which explains why there’s a new chapter about kibble, and why my cup of coffee went missing.
So you gave up on flying by the seat of your pants, eh? Well whatever works. Her Dogginess seems very happy with that as well.
Sounds like you got it going on.
That’s awesome that outlines work for you! =D Write on!
I wrote a detailed outline for my current WIP, and it’s going much more smoothly even though I have less time to write. I’m stunned at the difference. I guess it helps to have a map before heading out on a cross-country road trip.
yay for you, unfocused! The split between pantsers & outliners seems to be a pretty even one, at least it does based on my tiny sampling population at AW.
I’m glad it’s working for you!