My writing process has never been the same for each book. Sometimes I outline heavily; sometimes I just discover the world as I write and see where it takes me. Usually I’m somewhere in the middle, a strange balance of outline and discovery that shifts for what the story needs. Yet the outlining process at work has me rethinking my methods.
As a background, David Farland’s Million Dollar Outlines changed how I viewed storytelling and outlining, and it shaped how I developmentally edit for work. Additionally, teaching the Fiction Writing series at Homeschool Connections these past two years has cemented what Farland taught. Character, motivation, conflict, and wonder (and the cost of magic) have shaped my stories and how I approach others’ stories I’m privileged to work on.
Detailed Outline Benefits
For ghostwriters, outlines are imperative. It ensures the client approves of the full story before writing, it allows writers to understand the client’s vision, and it allows writers to work together smoothly when they’re working on the same book. But outlines can be different shapes and sizes, and over the years I’ve learned that the more detailed the outline, the better (for ghostwriting).
A detailed outline leaves little room for questions for the clients. They can see the full story upfront, and they know exactly how characters will act and react to the challenges they face throughout the story. The setting details are clear, and we can ensure no promises are broken for the reader.
But it isn’t just clients who like the longer outlines. Creatives do as well.
Editors use them as series bibles to ensure continuity and that the writers followed the client-approved outlines.
Multiple writers have shown appreciation toward the longer outlines, saying they aren’t spending as much time on ideation for each chapter, that they can simply write. If they can write a high-quality and engaging chapter faster, isn’t that better for everyone? Better for the writer, because it gives them more free time to work on their own work, spend time outside of work, or have more time to take on additional projects for higher incomes. Better for the client, because they can get a completed project faster. Everyone wins.
Several writers have also said they’ve started using the detailed outline style we use at work on their own projects, and they’ve seen better and faster output there as well. And it’s encouraged me to try the same.
My Own Outlines
It’s been a while since I wrote my own novel. I’ve been busy with work and the curveballs life throws at me concerning my family. But I have been writing flash fiction, and I’ve been toying with the idea of writing my own serial novel to release to test out the Amazon Vella market.
So this year, between all the craziness, I slowly wrote my own detailed outline for a serial I want to release. It’s 16,000 words, detailing the 49-chapter story. It’s a romance, something I’ve never written before, so I’ll publish it via pen name and see how it goes.
But with how crazy life is, I really want to see how the outline guides my own writing. Will I be able to just write, without spending the little time I have on ideation, and finally complete a novel again? We shall soon see (and I’ll update my progress on it!).
