Friday, March 30, 2012

Aspiring Advice: The Mini-Synopsis Outline



Planner. Pantster. Plotter. All popular "p" words among writers. One of the more often posts I've read around the blogosphere is the Are You a Plotter or Pantster discussion. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's a good topic, to be sure. When I leave comments, however, I end up saying the same thing: I'm both.

There is no "one size fits all" method for crafting a story. Some authors are discovery writers. Others need a spreadsheet to keep track of the magic system. What's important is finding the method that works for you.

And this has helped my last two novels greatly.

I call it The Mini-Synopsis Outline - a three-lined paragraph summary of every chapter for as many chapters as the story needs, not to exceed three pages (depending on how long you want the novel to be).

A lot can happen in a chapter, more than can be summed in a three-lined paragraph, but it is enough to jot down the chapter's purpose, which then challenges us to complete its message in an exciting, succinct way.

(Great practice for query and synopsis writing, btw).

After the outline is completed, it goes through edits. The whole story is right there in a 2-3 page document, a tight space for reviewing plot points, making it easier to spot holes, incongruencies, and lags while reading like a mini story in and of itself. If you have a good idea on what your ending is and how each chapter leads to the next, that helps reduce the time spent at the beginning of a new chapter thinking, "how do I start this one?"

Not that there's anything wrong with that - not at all!

Keeping it limited to three-lined paragraphs also helps invite discovery and deal with the dreaded perfectionist in all of us. It's easier to scrutinize over a series of small passages than a detailed, 20 page outline of a novel.



This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. With this outline, I can lay a full novel foundation in a matter of hours. And when the actual writing begins, everything is subject to change. Outlines, after all, don't have to be followed to the letter, but to be used as a guide to help lead us from introduction to conclusion.

Whether you plot or pantsed, do you have any unique approaches to your writing? How has it helped you?

I'm David ... not that there's anything wrong with that!

45 comments:

  1. Sorry, I can never bring myself to use the word "pantster." It sounds like someone who goes around pulling down people's pants.

    Anyway, this is one of those writing topics I got sick of talking about seven years ago. Just do whatever works for you is my philosophy. I mean if history has shown us anything it's that you can do it most any way and still succeed.

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  2. Lately I've been writing the "back of the book blurb" before I start. It gives me an idea of what some of the main issues/plots should be, and hopefully that's enough to get me running. I do a little more in-depth thinking, but I usually don't write it down as an outline or anything. I've discovered that if I write an outline, I'm incapable of straying from it, even if the story pushes a different way.

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  3. Gosh, to be Nora Roberts and sit for 8 hours at the keyboard and type without an outline or care in the world...a true pantser!!!!

    I've been writing for a while. Tried the plotter approach. Worked well. Tried the pantser approach. Crash 'n' burned for my second novel. Tried it again, but this time with some outlining. It worked out quite well.

    For me, the plotter approach works best. Planning out the scenes, plotting out the story, writing character outlines...all that stuff. It helps both my creative and analytical side. I really look forward to when I write now because I know what to expect, but when actually writing the scene, that's when the surprises come out!

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  4. DPK... I'm *both* too! With my first novel? Total pantser. Now, I'm a lovely combination. I completely agree with your last paragraph. And speaking of synopsis... I just completed my *real* synopsis yesterday. Phew! Happy it's done and proud of it :D

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  5. I have an idea of the plot line but it changes as I write and I like to give myself freedom. I'm also the type if person that I get visual images that insipre what happens next and I can't force that to happen by sitting down to write an outline.

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  6. I do something weird, but it works. I totally act out scenes before I write them down. Dialog and all, lol. Then I can tell if I sound like 90210 and I can quickly change it! :)

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  7. Very good tip, David. I think it can all work, but I think the 'mini outline' you've presented is something that could be used by most writer types.

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  8. I have a rough outline. but before I sit at the computer to write, I work out the scene in my notebook. I write about the scene and that usually helps me get in the mood to write and explore what I want to do and go with it.

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  9. I am also a mini-plotter. I just finished for my new wip. Then I start to write and try to stay on track. ;)

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  10. I'm a panster...but I hate that term. Basically I'm disorganized. You know that though. Great lil' post.

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  11. I'm bit of a plotser. I like to use a skeleton outline of scenes/chapters to give me an idea of the direction I'd like to take at that time. I have to specify "at that time" because sometimes, once I get started and the words are flowing, the scenes transitioning from one moment to the next, a detour pops up and sends me somewhere not mentioned on my dainty little outline.

    I will say this, when I'm dealing with world-building, I'll get very detailed there. I want to know my newly created world very well so I don't get lost within magical systems, government turmoils or village hierarchical catastrophies.

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  12. I'm both as well...but if you put a gun to my head and made me say which one I am more, then plotter. I plot more than I pants. And I almost always do it with pants on!

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  13. I spend almost a month on an outline, with paragraphs on all the high points, some more than others. Once I feel my outline is turning into the book, I actually start writing it.

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  14. Hi David, for my last book I spent a month outlining, writing a paragraph about each chapter. I finished the first draft really fast, but spent a lot of time on rewrites, edits and more rewrites.

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    1. rewrites and edits are always part of the process, outlining or not, but that's awesome that you got your first draft in so quick. :)

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  15. Great post, David. I'm not much of a planner, but I'm 20,000 words in on my current WIP right now and feeling a bit overwhelmed by the lack of order. I may have to give your mini-synopsis system a try. It may have just enough organization to get me back on track, without so much structure that it totally intimidates me. Thanks!

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  16. I like to plan everything out before I begin writing. I find that having a direction and a destination helps to keep me on track.

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  17. Well said! There is no "one size fits all" method to writing. Not just from one writer to another, but from one project to another.

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  18. Oh, this just might be what I need to write to get my chaos in my head organized on paper. Thanks!!!

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  19. And you do the mini synopsis in advance?

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  20. Thanks for the advice! I'm going to link this post to my blog under writing links and synopsis :) I love Seinfeld, great clip and now I'll be watching for that line in re-runs!

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  21. I suppose I'm a pantser. Though by about 50-55K, I start outlining to the end. Just to keep things straight.

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  22. I can't write without an outline. I have to have something that gets me from a, to b, to c, and so on. Your method is one I admire and find very useful. Thanks!

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  23. Helpful tip, David! I'm fighting/writing my synopsis right now. I'll start early with the next one. :)

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  24. Oh, a three line paragraph for each chapter. A nice summary probably does help out a lot without stifling the creativity.

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  25. I'm a panster until the rewrite. Then I start organizing and planning because I have something to shape. But, your approach sounds good.

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  26. I actually do that type of outline as I'm writing the first draft. And later it helps me switch or delete the chapters as needed as I revise. I seem to do best when I start with knowing the inciting incident, the first door of no return, the reversal, the climax and the resolution and creating my scenes as I go. I wish I could create the outline like you do before I start.

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  27. I tend to be a mix. I'll start a project just to get out all the ideas spiraling around in my head and once I've gotten around the first couple of chapters written, I'll outline the rest of the story.

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  28. I've used index cards to brainstorm about four chapters at a time until I get to the end. Now, as I edit, I'm putting the individual scenes into a spreadsheet so I can check for continuity (time, weather, etc...) I like how you do the outline, though, so I might try that next time!

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  29. I'm a pantser. If I try to outline, my characters will defy me and take the story in another direction.

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  30. I write a very loose outline of what I think's going to happen, plus any backstory that occurs to me, and then I jump right in and get typing. Too much planning kills my stories.

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  31. I do a bit of both too, but I more on a chapter by chapter basis. I may have a scenario to write to that will take a few chapter to get there, so I leave myself plot notes; but I haven't done that for an entiree novel.

    Well, my fantasy novel is taking more plotting that pantsing. Mostly for the research involved in clothing, weapons, ancient cities and terms.

    Yep, one size does not fit all.

    .........dhole

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  32. Bit of both I suppose. I try to plot things out. I do a single sentence for every scene, which gives me the gist of where I want the scene to go, and allows me to give the story a basic direction. Then I start writing, using only those scene lines as a guide. At some point the story will go off the rails, and then it's a mad dash to finish it before chaos overwhelms me. For me, revision is the easy and fun part.

    I also have to stop myself from over-worldbuilding. It's a huge time waster because it allows me to pretend I'm working when I'm really not.

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  33. thanks for this idea! you make synopsizing fun!

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  34. I like the idea of your mini-synopsis outline. Good one David! :-)

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  35. I sort of outline, but never stick to it :-)

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  36. Love this post and advice! Is it possible to start as a pantser and then move to plotter? I'm a: grab a pen and paper whenever a great thought or sentence pop into my head- come back later- write more- make a quick outline- type. Part of this is driven by necessity- I have three kids and squeeze in writing around them, so I grab the creative thoughts and writing moments when they come. It's also driven by the: if I don't write it down, I'll forget and there goes a great idea, never to be found again situation in which I often find myself. Hmmmm. Might have something to do with those adorable kids. :)

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  37. Each project is different. My current one I've ended up creating something very close to your mini-synopsis.

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  38. This is great stuff, David. I did something kinda similar, but like many novelists, I had a hard time keeping it to less than 5 lines. Which in the end, became a logistical nightmare.

    So I start with a visual map (since I'm pretty visual), and for my current project, I'm going to really think this stuff through and be disciplined to keep it to a manageable 3 lines or less.

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  39. I use the term plantser. I start with a story line in my head. Write a middle chapter and three to five organizing chapters. Write the end then throw it away, then write the first chapter. Then I just write over what I've already written and I get to be surprised by the end.

    It's not efficient but it beats all that messy organization business.

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  40. This sounds a lot like Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Plotting, except he begins with one sentence, breaks that into the blurb, then synopsis,etc. His method sounds more fun to do and it's load of fun to teach too. I learned it too late for my first two books but I started the outline for the next two that way.

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  41. I actually love using cards with a short synopsis. I feel bogged down if I try to write everything out but never have enough direction if I just wing it. Enter the handy 3x5 cards =)

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  42. This is great! I am immediately going to steal your idea and try it myself! (Giving you credit, in the end, of course!) Thanks for sharing!

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  43. Just discovered this post via Jay Noel's guest post. Thanks for the awesome advice!

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