1/4/14: Stick a Fort In It!,…Outline Done

Stick a Fork In It! – Outline Done

Tonight I’ve finally finished my Novel Outline.  I have the basic plot and guideline from which to work from.  I’m sure I’ll be changing things as I go along, but I think the Outline will keep me on track with my basic idea, yet still allow me to stray from it as I need to.

Now comes both the scary and fun part,.. the actual writing of my first novel.  I’ll admit that the Outline was kind of an obstacle at times, as it seemed to be a convenient procrastination crutch, but now I’m ready to begin.  Now the struggle to produce over 85,000 pages of fiction that people will want to read begins.

At this point, looking out over the vast ocean of unwritten novels, I have no idea if what I produce will be worthy to print.  That’s certainly my desire, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say.  I’ll pray before each session, and invite your prayers for my efforts as well.  Here’s hoping that my wild dream will be worthy for the ages.  Worthy for those looking to get lost in a story.  And it begins on this day.

January 4th, 2014:
Finished Novel Outline:  13,429 Words
Current Novel Word Count:  27 Words (Title Page)

12/26/13: Outline Almost Done

Outline Almost Done

I’ve always been the kind of writer that likes the comfort of having an outline.  My basic story idea for the first draft is contained in my little black notebook, but I’ve been transcribing and expanding that into an outline so that I can see and reference the structure of how things will go when I need it the  most.  That’s not to say that I’m going to stick to the outline exactly as that’s part of the fun of writing a first draft.  If the story takes you into a different direction, you have to follow that when it feels right. 

Considering I’m going to be writing this novel, primarily in the early mornings before getting ready for my day job, the outline will be helpful in getting me on track before the coffee kicks in.  And yes,… there will be coffee.

I had started my outline in Microsoft’s Word, but I came across another author’s comment about a program called Scrivener, which helps to keep all the different components of a long document neatly organized.  After checking out the many positive comments left by some of it’s users, and getting the free trial myself, it did appear that this would really help me to concentrate more on the story, and less on my reference materials. 

I had been planning on printing out my Outline and Character Sketches so that I’d have them handy, and had saved some scientific information I needed for reference as browser favorites, but this program will help with all that.  Within Scrivener, I can write the novel, chapter by chapter, organize thoughts on scenes using a cork board card feature or synopsis and easily move things around as needed.  The program also allows you have reference material and research right within the same program and easily accessible during your writing process.  When the writing is done, it then can compile the finished document into a number of different formats, and puts all the chapter pieces into one document.

I’m hoping this new software will help me to concentrate on the writing since I’ll have everything I need in the one application.  It won’t write anything for me, which I’m glad for, as that would be a bit much. Not to mention, no fun for me.

With this installment on my blog, I’ll put down the date as this will keep me more accountable.  Hopefully soon, in my future post I’ll be able to announce that the Outline is done and I’ll have begun the writing of the first draft.  Then I’ll date each post and put in a current word count to again keep me accountable.  A novice novelist’s worst enemy is procrastination, so the thought that I’ll hold myself accountable with these blog posts will help me keep on track.  The thought of showing little progress on the grand task of writing this novel will hopefully keep me going when I’d rather sleep, rather surf the web or have doubts about what I’ll ultimately produce.  This will be an arduous journey, but I’m looking forward to it.

December 26th, 2013:
Current Novel Word Count: 27 Words (Title Page)

9/8/13: Starting

September 8th, 2013: Starting

Starting with my Idea:

I’ve written before, having completed three spec 1 hour Television Series scripts, three spec movie screenplays, two freelance articles for a now defunked startup Gadget Magazine and one paid, non-union indie production screenplay that I don’t think ever actually got made into a picture once the co-producer died.  This is over my lifetime, so not really the best example of a productive writing model, but I’ve now made a decision that I will write a novel while staying true to my beliefs.

This is a turning point for me as my previous interests had been in the Hollywood entertainment industry so when my life was changed by faith in God, it didn’t hold the same appeal.  I also didn’t want to promote my previous works as well.  Having no work to really promote, my writing aspirations seemed to be on ice.

In the back of my mind, though, through the years, was the idea of writing a novel.  This has now come front and center and I’ve begun the process with the intention of completing this as my goal.  This started with a process I’ve done before, but I have since validated as a method other writers have used as well.  I’ve been envisioning my story for the last few weeks, seeing each scene and allowing myself to ask the “what ifs” that send the story in an entirely different direction. 

Having now come up with the basic story I’d like to tell, I’m writing an outline that I’m trying to keep brief, just so that I can pick up and continue with the original idea if I find myself stalled.  Once the basic outline is completed, I’ll begin the writing process, holding the story loosely and allowing myself to create new ideas on the fly. 

I’m anxious to get started, but still feel that I need the Outline to be finished first, so I’m working on this now.  Others use extremely brief outlines to start their novel, others include so much detail, that it’s practically a novel in itself.  I’m of the camp that lands somewhere in between the two philosophies.  I want enough detail so that I know where I had envisioned going (even if I decide to disregard that later) but not so much detail that I end up writing the first draft twice.

So here I go, into my hopefully brief outline to capture my story thoughts.  Wish me good providence and say a prayer for my success, if you think about it.