Workshop: An Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults
This week and next I’m going to share from an
Excerpt From Write Your Novel Now Workshop that I gave a few years ago. This particular
workshop focused on fiction but I have found that the basic concepts of
outlines apply to nonfiction as well. So I’ll be adding a few comments as well.
Think of it as a metaphor journey with a roadmap. I’ll indent the comments for
nonfiction.
Whether we outline before we begin a project,
or as we go, or wait until after the first draft, at some point we need to
process the narrative flow. And even though one form may work well for one
project, the next may require a whole new way of thinking. So here are five
possible basic forms to consider. Not only are there many more possibilities but
each of these is adaptable too. That’s the beauty of outlines. They are tools
we can specialize and not formulas we must adhere to.
Outlines?
Everyone Does
There
is a broad spectrum of opinion on whether to outline or not, and so first of
all, I want to mention that my personal system is a hybrid, which I’ll explain,
but not from my own first choice writing preference. Instead I now choose
whether to outline and how to outline according to the story’s needs. Some of
which I obviously won’t know until I get the story down. If pressed for a
position, I’ll say I’m an “organic write as I go” person, who has discovered
how much an outline can steer me, and my clients, in the right direction
creatively. And make sure I finish my novel. (Or nonfiction projects)
Overview
Regardless
of whether we write down a detailed outline or think it through in our minds,
we all plan. There are several metaphors for outlining and plotting, and for
now I’m going with route destination or map potentials as an approach .
1)
Simple: I’m traveling from San Francisco to New York City.
Write
a sentence that describes from here to there. Takes the story question and use
it as a launch point. No real details at least until after the first draft.
Nonfiction:
This works well for early brainstorming of your topic in general.
2)
Detailed: A specific itinerary.
Has
itemized details for every stage, every potential situation, with matching
expenses, papers, maps, and phone numbers.
Nonfiction:
Works well for an ongoing pattern for an extended subject, especially for
articles and essays, with the potential for a book.
3)
Planned Stops: A General Aim
While
en route there are a few places considered a must visit, but otherwise will
make other choices when appropriate, or intrigued.
Nonfiction:
Good preliminary general outline with an open area to insert a variety of
examples from different sources or subjects. Also can include an example or
information you might only use occasionally.
4)
Easy-going: Whichever route grabs interest each day.
As
long as I’m headed in the right direction, I’m open to explore.
Nonfiction:
Gives you the freedom to work out of order, especially if you have to wait on
some material. Or if you’re stuck in one section, switch to another so you re
not losing writing time. Or take a break and do research for fun.
5)
Full-Scale Travel Journal: A suitcase full of travel books for each
major stop.
Read
along the way to decide possibilities according to information on lodging,
restaurants, history, landmarks and cultural interest.
Nonfiction:
This is the heavy-duty version for a full book. For a memoir it might involve
tracking several threads throughout the narrative. For science or history or
techniques it can involve specific steps, extra research, definitions, and
precise references.
Next
week we’ll look at some examples from finished book projects.
Action Steps:
1.
Which
of these feels the closest to your brainstorming process. What do you think its
strength might be for your topic?
2.
Choose
which process feels the most opposite to your preliminary outline? Rewrite your
outline in that format. What is different?
Share: Was there any detail missing
from either outline that you needed to add?
Read deep, marcy
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