cc answer: on fic outlines
Feb. 22nd, 2021 06:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
geguria continuation of a cc question on how i stick through with an idea/concept
how i personally do it is that i tend to get an idea and then i really, really, really let the idea just percolate in my mind. marinate it!!! i think it over in the shower, i go on walks and turn it this way and that, i have sleep issues so sometimes i just lay there and think about how i want to continue building it and slowly i gather this little nest of ideas that precariously stack on top of one another. and then i usually talk to someone. not always, but i like being able to voice it out loud (or through text) to a friend because it forces my brains to make connections between plot points or to see gaps where it's apparent that the plot has to be further fleshed out still. and if the friend is someone who tends to respond well to plot ideas, having a dialogue back-and-forth really helps ideas to continue to build and develop! and often, it inspires me too!
and then what i try to do is that i try to organize my thoughts -- and honestly, this is where i think this starts being potentially unhelpful to anyone else -- because as a person, i really can't stand having my mind immersed in chaos. which is...actually inherently my perpetual state of mind actually, but then i feel that to get traction on work, i have to start organizing things. and so i write everything down. before i write a single scene, i write down EVERYTHING i want to convey and i actually do it in sequential list form. i typically write it "scene by scene" as it would progress in the story, and i don't only include the "actions" but also the intention behind my narrative voice in that specific scene.
and it's not always developed ideas either; sometimes it's as simple as "i want this scene to build a contrast in how the relationship between wonwoo and soonyoung has developed through the little moments of intimacy when soonyoung stays over. a non-linear way of showing how soonyoung used to leave immediately after sleeping with wonwoo, to how they've become a lot more domestic as we see in the opening scene of the fic" (and then this took shape in the scene in amosac where soonyoung makes wonwoo dinner at his apartment and they sleep together for the first time since their one night stand).
sometimes, it's incredibly specific (i had a detail about soonyoung drinking yogurt soju the first night they meet in amosac because he doesn't like the taste of alcohol. actually, that detail was omitted in the writing process, but it was in the outline lol). and then, again, i do this scene by scene because the way my brain likes to work is through building blocks that build upon one another to reach the resolution (or lack thereof, whatever your intention is).
when i write, i then use my outline as a guideline but i tend to veer off course as the events develop. i usually build in flexibility in my outlines knowing this happens 100% of the time for me, and so i just let it develop -- but my outlines are usually there to guide me in terms of what emotional sticking points i'm hoping to land and what development i'm trying to introduce. for me, this is honestly usually enough to get me going from start to finish! there are little things for me too, like i cannot post any fic that isn't complete because my brain goes "haha u posted now ur donesies" if i post wips. any wip i've posted without finishing it first, i have abandoned it. kudos to people whose brain don't do this!
that being said, i think a lot of other people can thrive and build off so much more with messiness and chaos and get really organically-grown narratives that work perfectly! i think there's a lot of value in trusting your own writer's instinct, and i definitely think you don't need to outline (or as detailed as i cant get at times). sometimes, having an outline actually ends up limiting you and how much you want to write. you know what i just said about my brain going "you're done!" when i post wips? sometimes, writing an outline may trick your brain into thinking the exact same thing. if you find that outlining isn't working for you, i would actually just try writing! any scene! a line of dialogue! the very beginning! somewhere in the middle! trying just letting it build and see how it feels for you!
in terms of staying committed to a plot, my brain tends to get really fixated on singular things until it's finally finished with it. until then, i can be a bit of a dog with a bone and this is a bit of a driving force behind finishing fics for me. i also do follow terry pratchett's 400 words a day except i do "one scene a day" instead. setting up a manageable routine can be helpful in terms of staying guided while you write! i tend to write during the same day every day, which i can manage mostly because i work a 9-to-5 job with a stable schedule.
in the past (i.e. pre-pandemic) i also tried to work in environments that i personally focus better in. those would be cafes, but well, i can't really do that anymore. there are some rooms or spaces in my apartment that i work better in though, so i am mindful of that as well!!
another thing too is that i find it personally helpful to try and internalize the fact that i can edit afterwards. like, not being afraid of edits and letting my first draft be a little bad or a little lacklustre so that i can just lay down the brickwork and return to build upon it with fresh eyes (or with a new perspective of where your plot has taken a turn). if i'm unsure about a scene or a line, i often mark it with a comment ("i think this exchange sounds a little stilted. maybe i want this to sound more natural?") and return to it later. again, this is super subjective, because you might prefer editing on the spot! and that is totally valid too!!
sdjfjsdf anyway this was a super long response but i'm not sure how helpful this actually is ;_; i'm sorry, i know it's super subjective overall and everything i said might actually be hard for you to work with!!! but if you have any follow-up questions or want me to expand on anything or if you want to share anything at all, please let me know!!! good luck <33
how i personally do it is that i tend to get an idea and then i really, really, really let the idea just percolate in my mind. marinate it!!! i think it over in the shower, i go on walks and turn it this way and that, i have sleep issues so sometimes i just lay there and think about how i want to continue building it and slowly i gather this little nest of ideas that precariously stack on top of one another. and then i usually talk to someone. not always, but i like being able to voice it out loud (or through text) to a friend because it forces my brains to make connections between plot points or to see gaps where it's apparent that the plot has to be further fleshed out still. and if the friend is someone who tends to respond well to plot ideas, having a dialogue back-and-forth really helps ideas to continue to build and develop! and often, it inspires me too!
and then what i try to do is that i try to organize my thoughts -- and honestly, this is where i think this starts being potentially unhelpful to anyone else -- because as a person, i really can't stand having my mind immersed in chaos. which is...actually inherently my perpetual state of mind actually, but then i feel that to get traction on work, i have to start organizing things. and so i write everything down. before i write a single scene, i write down EVERYTHING i want to convey and i actually do it in sequential list form. i typically write it "scene by scene" as it would progress in the story, and i don't only include the "actions" but also the intention behind my narrative voice in that specific scene.
and it's not always developed ideas either; sometimes it's as simple as "i want this scene to build a contrast in how the relationship between wonwoo and soonyoung has developed through the little moments of intimacy when soonyoung stays over. a non-linear way of showing how soonyoung used to leave immediately after sleeping with wonwoo, to how they've become a lot more domestic as we see in the opening scene of the fic" (and then this took shape in the scene in amosac where soonyoung makes wonwoo dinner at his apartment and they sleep together for the first time since their one night stand).
sometimes, it's incredibly specific (i had a detail about soonyoung drinking yogurt soju the first night they meet in amosac because he doesn't like the taste of alcohol. actually, that detail was omitted in the writing process, but it was in the outline lol). and then, again, i do this scene by scene because the way my brain likes to work is through building blocks that build upon one another to reach the resolution (or lack thereof, whatever your intention is).
when i write, i then use my outline as a guideline but i tend to veer off course as the events develop. i usually build in flexibility in my outlines knowing this happens 100% of the time for me, and so i just let it develop -- but my outlines are usually there to guide me in terms of what emotional sticking points i'm hoping to land and what development i'm trying to introduce. for me, this is honestly usually enough to get me going from start to finish! there are little things for me too, like i cannot post any fic that isn't complete because my brain goes "haha u posted now ur donesies" if i post wips. any wip i've posted without finishing it first, i have abandoned it. kudos to people whose brain don't do this!
that being said, i think a lot of other people can thrive and build off so much more with messiness and chaos and get really organically-grown narratives that work perfectly! i think there's a lot of value in trusting your own writer's instinct, and i definitely think you don't need to outline (or as detailed as i cant get at times). sometimes, having an outline actually ends up limiting you and how much you want to write. you know what i just said about my brain going "you're done!" when i post wips? sometimes, writing an outline may trick your brain into thinking the exact same thing. if you find that outlining isn't working for you, i would actually just try writing! any scene! a line of dialogue! the very beginning! somewhere in the middle! trying just letting it build and see how it feels for you!
in terms of staying committed to a plot, my brain tends to get really fixated on singular things until it's finally finished with it. until then, i can be a bit of a dog with a bone and this is a bit of a driving force behind finishing fics for me. i also do follow terry pratchett's 400 words a day except i do "one scene a day" instead. setting up a manageable routine can be helpful in terms of staying guided while you write! i tend to write during the same day every day, which i can manage mostly because i work a 9-to-5 job with a stable schedule.
in the past (i.e. pre-pandemic) i also tried to work in environments that i personally focus better in. those would be cafes, but well, i can't really do that anymore. there are some rooms or spaces in my apartment that i work better in though, so i am mindful of that as well!!
another thing too is that i find it personally helpful to try and internalize the fact that i can edit afterwards. like, not being afraid of edits and letting my first draft be a little bad or a little lacklustre so that i can just lay down the brickwork and return to build upon it with fresh eyes (or with a new perspective of where your plot has taken a turn). if i'm unsure about a scene or a line, i often mark it with a comment ("i think this exchange sounds a little stilted. maybe i want this to sound more natural?") and return to it later. again, this is super subjective, because you might prefer editing on the spot! and that is totally valid too!!
sdjfjsdf anyway this was a super long response but i'm not sure how helpful this actually is ;_; i'm sorry, i know it's super subjective overall and everything i said might actually be hard for you to work with!!! but if you have any follow-up questions or want me to expand on anything or if you want to share anything at all, please let me know!!! good luck <33
