Talk to me, people.

[only_more_love]

For those writers who outline or do intensive pre-planning, will you tell me what your process is like?  

ETA:  If you're willing to share a sample outline, I'd love to see it. 

Answer anonymously if you want.  Answer even if we're not "friends."  Answer even if you just stumbled across this post and have no idea who I am.  

(And hell yes, I'm spamming today.) *g*

Comments

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

This is interesting as I never usually plan, but I did plan a bit for my current fic as it seemed to warrant it, but when I started writing I ended up doing it the way I always do, which is have a vague idea where I want to go with something but keep changing my mind as I write LOL.

The only planning ahead I am doing is having lots of docs set up for future chaps and bunging stuff in them when it comes to me.

Stories tend to come to me first of all as snippets of dialogue that I build descriptions and stuff around - which goes a long way to explaining why my fics are light on that kind of stuff *fails*

I think that if I planned in too much detail it would stifle me to be honest, but if I was to write a casefic, obviously that would need planning... which is probably why I've never written one... *looks at Space* Whatever happened to that idea??! *g*

[bertie456.livejournal.com]

*wants Temper-Space case fic*
*uses kitty icon as motivation*

[spacekid77.livejournal.com]

*pets kitty*
nice try.

[bertie456.livejournal.com]

You're threatening to shoot the kitty?!
*hastily covers kitty's eyes and pets him reassuringly*
Meanie.

Actually, changed my mind. The post came and I love you lots. :D :D :D

[spacekid77.livejournal.com]

You're threatening to shoot the kitty?!
No, not really - that icon just seemed to have the expression I was looking for...

Yay for the post! Can't believe all three of you received on the same day... wicked!
Enjoy!
*twiddles thumbs in anticipation of own parcel*

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Haha. Yes, we've discussed our somewhat similar "planning" methods. *g*

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

LOL, like Space says above, I kinda vomit on the screen (nice visual for you there).

I'm still getting randomly accosted by stuff though.. the other day I was walking to work and got all this dialogue in my head. I sat on the train and entered it as memos to my mobile phone as I didn't have a pen and paper! *is a dork*

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

When it comes to writing, I'm not much of a "linear" thinker. That doesn't mean that people who write like us don't think. It's not like I think I'm a conduit for "God" or a muse or something. Like you, I have odds and ends that come to me, and I'll save those in a doc for future reference. But a lot of description, symbolism, dialogue, etc. comes as I write, in the moment, though I USUALLY have a general sense of where I'm going, even if the specifics don't come until the vomiting stage. ;)

But I have the sense that maybe I could make the process more efficient -- and possibly make the product better -- if I molded myself into more of a planner/outliner. I don't know if that's right, and the point may be moot if I just can't make myself work like that. And yes, for a casefic, it's practically necessary, unless you want a gazillion drafts.

As for your putting notes in your phone, hey, a writer's gotta do what a writer's gotta do! :)

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

I don't know if that's right, and the point may be moot if I just can't make myself work like that.

Very true... and I can't, I've tried!

[spacekid77.livejournal.com]

*looks at Space* Whatever happened to that idea??! *g*

o_O
*shrugs* I still have all the notes... just lost motivation, I guess.
I think there just wasn't enuff BB!sex. ;)

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

Bwa ha ha ha! Yeah that'll be it ;) I was only joking, I lost motivation too ... it's a time thing I think.

[labsquint.livejournal.com]

I think that if I planned in too much detail it would stifle me to be honest, but if I was to write a casefic, obviously that would need planning... which is probably why I've never written one...

I'd try to bait you to do it, because I'd really like to see it, but then you'd want a drabble from me and things would get messy. Besides, if you can say no to the kitty, you really don't want to do a case fic! ;)