WRITING | OUTLINING
Why and How to Outline Before You Start Writing
“In the world of your story, your outline is like the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, your characters are all Atheists.” — Jefferson Smith
Outlining is an interesting and controversial subject among writers, especially those who write fiction and novels.
Some novelists like the best-selling author James Patterson are known to prepare massive 50-to-80-page long outlines before setting down a single word on paper. In Hollywood, “screenplay treatments” have the same function of outlining a story in detail.
Yet some other creative writers prefer to sail out on a hunch, an idea, or a concept and then discover the terrain as they go along. The reward is the kind of discoveries the “unprepared” author might make along the way.
Think of getting in your car and setting out for a long trip without, however, knowing where you are going. Scary, isn’t it?
But the terrible reality is most authors who jump without any safety net below the cliff suffer from half-finished manuscripts and storylines not knowing where to go next.
Especially in non-fiction writing, outlining makes eminent sense.
If you write information products, academic works, and other types of educational prose, make sure you start out with an outline since that will prime your creative pump and will cause your creative juices running even before you see the first sentence on your computer screen.
How Granular?
But how “granular” your outline should be? That’s another important consideration to make.
For example, if you are writing an essay on solar cells, is it enough to have an outline as follow:
· Introduction to Solar Cells
· Benefits of Solar Cells
· Conclusion
Or would you like to break down each category further, with extra details?
· Introduction
- Who invented the solar Cell
- Governments and Solar Cells
- Laws and incentives regarding solar cells
· Benefits of solar cells
- Energy conversion rates
- Financial benefits
- Case Study 1
- Case Study 2
- Case Study 3
- How to decide to install solar cells
· Conclusion
- Resources
- Web sites
Don’t forget that any effort you expend to develop your outline will reward you later on as less time spent on actual writing.
Two Great Benefits of Outlining
Outlining will help you to think through the subject and look at it from different angles before committing yourself to any one particular version or argument. It’ll support your creativity rather than hampering it.
Outlining will save you time as you start to write in earnest since you will have a pretty good idea of what comes next at the end of each section and chapter. It will take anxiety out of the writing process.
Outlining Software
You can outline with just a simple pencil on paper, or by using y the humble Notepad on your computer.
However, if you’d like to give it a try to more sophisticated outlining programs, you might want to give the following a try:
· Microsoft OneNote
· Omni Outliner
· Mind Manager
· Note Mind
· Org-Mode
· FreeMind
· WorkFlowy
· OmniGraffle
“For all my longer works (i.e. the novels) I write chapter outlines so I can have the pleasure of departing from them later on.” — Garth Nix
Strategies of Outlining
Here are some strategies for outlining:
1. Traditional Outline: This is a structured approach where you use Roman numerals, letters, and numbers to create a hierarchical structure for your ideas. Start with a main topic or thesis statement (I), then list supporting points (A, B, C), and further subpoints (1, 2, 3) under each supporting point.
2. Mind Mapping: This strategy involves creating a visual representation of your ideas using branches or bubbles connected to a central topic. Start with your main idea in the center and branch out with supporting ideas, subtopics, and details. Mind mapping allows for a more flexible and creative approach to outlining.
Different types of mind maps
There are several different types of mind maps, each with its own unique features and purposes. Here are some commonly used types:
1. Traditional Mind Maps: These are the most common type of mind maps, where a central idea or concept is placed in the center of the page, and related ideas branch out from it. It typically uses keywords, colors, and images to represent and organize thoughts.
A traditional mind map.
2. Concept Maps: Concept maps are similar to mind maps but focus more on the relationships between concepts. They use labeled arrows to connect ideas and show the hierarchy or flow of information.
3. Flowcharts: While not always considered mind maps, flowcharts are a visual representation of a process or workflow. They use different shapes and arrows to illustrate the sequence of steps and decision points.
4. Tree Diagrams: Tree diagrams are hierarchical mind maps that use a branching structure to represent categories, subcategories, and details. They are commonly used in organizing information or classifying concepts.
5. Spider Diagrams: Spider diagrams, also known as radial maps, start with a central idea and use lines to connect related ideas in a radial pattern. They are useful for brainstorming, organizing ideas, and seeing multiple connections.
6. Fishbone Diagrams: Also called Ishikawa or cause-and-effect diagrams, fishbone diagrams are used to identify and analyze the causes and effects of a particular problem or situation. They resemble the shape of a fish skeleton, with the main problem positioned at the head and the contributing factors branching out like bones.
7. Timeline Mind Maps: Timeline mind maps are used to visually represent events or processes in chronological order. They can be useful for planning projects, tracking progress, or understanding historical events.
These are just a few examples of the different types of mind maps available. The specific type of mind map you choose will depend on the purpose and context of your project or task.
3. Bullet Points: This method involves creating a list of key points or ideas in a linear format (see above). Use bullet points or dashes to separate each point. This is a simple and straightforward way to outline, making it easy to add or rearrange ideas as needed.
4. Storyboarding: This technique is especially useful for narrative or visual writing projects. All movie projects, for example, start with storyboarding every scene in the movie before the shooting starts. Create a series of boxes or frames to represent different scenes or chapters in your story. Include brief descriptions or key elements within each box to outline the sequence of events.
5. Reverse Outlining: This approach involves creating an outline after you have completed a first draft. Read through your draft and identify the main ideas and supporting details in each paragraph or section. Summarize these points and rearrange them into a logical order to create your outline. This method helps you identify any gaps or inconsistencies in your writing.
6. Sentence Outlining: Rather than using brief phrases or bullet points, this method involves writing complete sentences to outline your ideas. Each sentence should represent a main idea or supporting detail. This approach can be helpful in creating more detailed outlines and ensuring clarity in your writing.
Outlining is a personal process, so choose the strategy that works best for you. Experiment with different methods and find the one that helps you organize your thoughts and plan your writing effectively.
For more writing tips and techniques visit 101 Pro Writing Techniques
