Workshop: An Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults
Outlines?
Everyone Does (Excerpt From Write Your Novel Now Workshop)
Examples
Here
are a few examples or working outlines from my own work. For my novel (Betta’s
Song) I wrote a Simple brief three-paragraph general synopsis, and then
the novel. The three paragraphs pretty much fit the category of a three-act
structure. It was fun to write and I had no storyline problems until the
crisis. Even though I knew how my story ended, I didn’t know how to get there
and I wrote myself into a corner. I only needed the character to get from A to
B. It took about four months to figure out how to write through that small section,
almost as long as it had taken for the entire novel draft.
Jump
forward a few years after I had begun to work with different structures a
little more and was more comfortable with Easy-going generic outlines.
My contemporary novel (Light That Fractures) first took place in a two-week
timeline. My preliminary chapter outlines worked well. But something was
scrambled and I couldn’t get it. After a few days (note the time
difference instead of months) I decided to revise the trajectory and changed it
from the decision making plot process to a timeline structure. And everything
fell into place. Both factors were already present but I turned and simply
reversed the focus of each. I was so set on my first viewpoint that I didn’t
recognize the story’s viewpoint. When I did, it flowed.
Another
work-in-progress novel (Invisible Light) had a threefold sequence, a Planned
Stops and Easy-going combination.
I needed a much more structured outline in order to keep all the parts
straight, even though none of them appear to match the other. For my first
sequence I took a fairy tale that interested me and outlined its sections. I
found a three-act structure and within each section I found, or engineered,
seven scenes. Then it became a dramatic narrative poem with a YA voice.
There
was not much of a market for that particular piece, but at almost the same time
I was also writing another contemporary story and I realized that my main YA
character loved poetry too. So I re-did the character sketch and she wrote the
fairy tale narrative. Then I looked at the two stories, so far apart in setting
and character and timeline, but emotionally very close. So then my double-sided
outline focused on theme, voice, atmosphere, and emotional journey. I set up
chapter outlines with each character listed side by side to see where the
matches would fit.
In
nonfiction, my new Write with Impact
series has gone through multiple outlines. Originally I have taught the
contents in classes and workshops both in person and online, so they have each
had several versions and overlap depending on the participants. One of my
foundations is that each workbook will stand-alone for its subject matter and a
writer does not need the whole series but only the subject that interests them.
At the same time the undergirding principles are the same throughout.
My
basic question was how do I give the repeat concepts and the new content.
Finally I decided on a brief page series introduction for each book. Then I
outlined the specific introduction for each individual workbook topic, then
chapters, and references. Since my intent is layered information for all
writing levels I include writing exercises and examples. However, because of
the differences between topics sometimes they are a simple practice exercise
and sometimes a developed process.
Right
now I think the overall series arc is a combination of all five outlines I’ve
shared. The degree varies according the focus concept of each workbook and
whether it is general information or detailed exploration.
My Table of Contents for each workbook does
not reflect my interior outline, but I now have a working template to remind
myself what threads need to be addressed in each separate topic.
Next week I’ll outline some beginning steps
towards shaping applications.
Action Steps:
1.
Choose
three of your favorite nonfiction books based on which you found easiest to
read.
2.
Also
choose three research books on your proposed topic that you found most helpful.
3.
Read
the outlines. Do you see any similarity? Which parts capture your interest the
most and why?
4.
How
might the style of these outlines be applied to your topic?
Share: Did any format surprise you?
Read deep, marcy
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