Have a plot outline, now what?

[Lith]

That explains why I never have enough time to read. The typewriters and monkeys are hogging it all!

However, I would think the undead monkeys cancel out at least some of the non-undead monkeys, thus solving the problem of a finite amount of matter...

[dreir]

Did those monkeys come up with 'It was a dark and stormy night'?

I've always hated that one..

- Dreir -

[Aorrowan]

It seems to me that the monkey written products are easy to identify. They're the ones with an overabundance of "peel"-ings.

[deathbeatsliving]

Well I usually what a more detailed outline. I once wrote an outline of a 1 or 2 line description of what happens in every scene but when you get down to writing the actual script. So many different things by the cause and effect of things said, or actions taken it causes a butterfly effect because of this I would write each scene and then write a bullet point happenings and any quotes that stand out in your mind that is said. Therefore when you get down to writing the script it flows out of you.
For example, I just wrote the first draft of my short film, it just flowed out of me. It was amazing.

[Cudaer]

[quote=Aorrowan;1185025]

I am typically a spur of the moment, plan nothing type of writer. I tend to just start writing, and develop the plot as it comes to me. Well, it hasn't been working for me too well until now! I've probably got 6 different beginnings to completely different stories that have run out of steam after I got the opening scenes off my chest.


I too have tended to be a spur of the moment writer and like you the stories ran out of steam. However, I persevered and finally have a plot line that I have continued to write until the end.

The only issue with writing a story without some predefined outline is that unless your careful you can end up with so many twists and turns you get lost.

A person told me once that if you want to write a book, try writing a one line description of each chapter, but start with the beginning and end, then fill in the rest. If you can't bridge the gap between the two try altering the plot or changing it completely.

I don't know whether this is helpful and I don't profess to be an experienced writer, but it's a method I have used which seems to work.

Above all enjoy yourself!!!

[Blackrook]

I started a story last week. I wrote an epilogue and two chapters without much pre-planning. Now I realize I have not laid down the proper foundation for my characters and I will have to scrap everything and start over.

I am going to take each character and write a semi-detailed backstrory so I know exactly who they are and why. Then I'm going to outline my story. I outline everything I write at work so it makes no sense to do otherwise in my fiction.

When I write outlines at work, I make a caption that tells, in one sentence, everything that will be said in that section. That way, the reader can figure everything out just by reading the captions. Pinnochio was written this way. You can read the titles of the chapters and know everything without reading any more.

[deathbeatsliving]

I think its a good idea have for tv series scene index cards when you have bullet points for each important thing that happens in it. Reading the above makes me think that you are leaving not much surprise as an audience. I don't know why. It just makes me think there is a reason why episodes in big series like Lost, Heroes have ambigious titles. Its because unless you are a really big fan you aren't going to know what its going to be about. It doesn't mean the title isn't good. It's catchy just not revealing.

[Blackrook]

No, I would not actually use such titles for chapter titles in a final draft, only as captions in an outline.