Don't ask me what the sentence above means... it sounds like wise advice. What does the sentence tell me, as a writer? Outline! If you start an outline from the beginning of your writing process, it will save a lot a work later. You don't need to plan every chapter or paragraph or scene. You don't even need to know how it ends.
But, here are some things you might want to plan in advance:
- knowing your character's motives and goals
- where you want to go with the story
- what you want the theme to be
- what you want the reader to take away from the story
beautiful insight !
ReplyDeleteThe title is what I wanted an answer to :) What does it mean I've heard that my entire life. Any who, wonderful thoughts on outlining.
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Haha, nice post. The phrase means to do something immediately--Sewing a small hole will require one stitch, if you wait the hole will get bigger and you'll need more stitches to sew up the hole. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch good ideas! Speaking of which... off to outline now. :)
ReplyDeleteClarissa - That saying means if you sew a small hole up quickly (take care of a problem when it is very small), you save yourself much more effort later (i.e. sewing a larger, uglier hole).
ReplyDeleteI love your idea about outlining. I think the more planning one does, the better one's story structure. Carpenters have this saying about this kind of thing: Measure twice, cut once. That means if you prepare carefully and measure your wood twice to be sure, you will only need to cut it once and not have to go back and do it again.
I've found if I wrote out the characters' goals and motivation first, it makes writing the story so much easier because you'll know instinctively whether a character is moving in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice!
yeah and even us pantsers can do this without losing face in our world.
ReplyDeleteI'm so bad at outlining being such a panster!! But preparation helps doesn't it really!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for these succinct writerly tips!! Take care
x
I outine! I don't start anything in life without a plan and a goal.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. Outlining helps in any type of writing you might do.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
"what you want the reader to take away from the story"
ReplyDeletethat would be the most important one, and I think the one which most of today's writers don't really follow :( They often don't think about the influence and possible message of their writing.
Interesting and informative. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend, Boonie
it's a catchy slogan...I never knew what it meant myself. Yes, I have heard that outlining is good and I am thinking about incorporating it more. I have a lot of ideas jumbled in my head and it has been hard to direct them. Good tip.
ReplyDeleteWith my first MS, I just sat down and wrote...and it took AT LEAST nine stitches to adjust. Next time...I'm outlining!
ReplyDeleteI'm a planner for sure!
ReplyDeleteooo! I know what it means--but I bet somebody already beat me to it...
ReplyDeleteWhatever! It's a sewing thing--if you stitch a hole in time, you save yourself nine more stitches... b/c it gets bigger! Get it?
Also good writing advice! Thanks, C~
Merry Christmas! <3
Great advice, Clarissa! :-)
ReplyDeleteA stitch in time means that you save the clothes from tearing or unraveling when the problem first occurs. And yes, that does apply to our writing. Great post...now I'm going to preview your poison series because I have a dastardly dead to create for the twisted Christmas fairy tale blogfest tomorrow. LOL
ReplyDeleteN. R. Williams, fantasy author
I try to write outlines for the story I'm going to be writing, but I usually procrastinate doing it. Until I'm desperate, of course.
ReplyDeleteI agree heartily and I plan quite a lot before I begin writing so I am amazed when I hear about writers who are able to finish a novel without planning the route in advance.
ReplyDeleteI tried writing my first mystery without an outline...won't do that again. My favorite outlines are chapter-by-chapter scene plans in just a few sentences. That keeps my plot on track without being too rigid, which gives my characters the freedom to act out once in a while.
ReplyDeleteYes. I learn something everyday, and recently I've learned I do better with a time line coupled with GMC knowledge. And a few other things. Great post. Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeletePlanning! I love planning... Good list! :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely--I HATE writing stuff that goes off on bunny-tangents, that I would slash later. So I plan ahead, and have less of that. It doesn't eliminate it all, but it sure helps!
ReplyDeleteIt sure makes sense to me!
ReplyDeleteA loose outline does it for me, but I believe, you need the goals etc especially for the MCs even though for me a story usually leads me to far more interesting places than my outline suggests.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what that means. I neglected a tiny rip in my seam, and had a torturous day till I was able to get back home to needle and thread!
ReplyDeleteI love these pithy advice series that you have started on.
Pretend you are a movie camera! I love this; I am going to try it~ Great tips, always learn something when I visit! Thank you~
ReplyDeleteoops, sorry somehow I ended posting on this comment and it was meant for the latest one...time for shut eye~
ReplyDeleteI've gradually gotten better at using all five senses.
ReplyDelete