Comments on: The #1 Reason You Haven’t Written the Book You Want to Write

By: Silencio Barnes

Silencio Barnes — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:23:44 +0000

Some people outline, some people don’t. It brings to the forefront the whole outlining vs discovery writing thing. Both are valid, and in reality, most writers do a little bit of both.

I can’t outline. I’m a discovery writer. Outlining never works out for me. But at the same time, I can’t finish a draft. However, I don’t think it’s because I don’t outline.

But really, I DO outline. Most writers do, just not to the extent that one would call them outliners. To put it in perspective. I tend to write until I get an idea of where I’m going, then I make some notes about what will happen based on what I’ve already written. This is outlining in essence. I then repeat the process.

I will say this though, I envy outliners. The ones that can plot the entire story from beginning to end and then just write the whole thing out with the outline as a blueprint. But my mind just doesn’t work that way. And I’m sure many other writers are the same. For some, the enjoyment is in the discovery, word by word, as they go along.

By: Robert Rogers

Robert Rogers — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:02:40 +0000

For me the biggest challenge is ‘timing.’ I always seem to push my writing ideas back because of other, ‘more important’ things. I always tell myself that writing will take up more time/effort than I can afford instead of taking things a step at a time. Thanks for the tips on outlining!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:44:25 +0000

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Also check out Guide to Literary Agents Blog (www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog)

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:22:39 +0000

I get writers block so often and it is really hard for me to sit down and focus on writing that book. I like you idea of outlining. These are some of the basics I learned in school that I need to go back to practicing. Thanks for the wakeup call.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:16:02 +0000

Outlining can only get you so far. You have to have the time and the drive to follow through with your outline. Some people are great organizers, but they never actually follow through with anything.

By: Wade

Wade — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:07:11 +0000

Does slow typing speed really affect the result and outcome of a book? One of the commenters posted this. I think that making yourself stay on schedule every day and not burning yourself out on it, then you could display your novel with time. I don’t think speed has anything to do with it.

By: Ricky

Ricky — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:42:02 +0000

I often fear rejection. English is not my native language which also discourages me. I usually rate myself way below the English speaking country writer.

By: Jameson Blake

Jameson Blake — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:57:11 +0000

I really believe in loose outlines, but when I write I don’t want to limit myself at least when I write narratives. I think that my subconscious knows best as to what I want to write because that is the creative side of my brain working.

By: Henry Sim

Henry Sim — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:28:57 +0000

It didn’t occur to me that one of the reason that I am reluctant to write is because of my typing speed. I am not a native speaker, and even writing a 500 words articles takes me 1-2 hours. While doing an eBook course, one pointer was to improve the typing speed. I timed myself and realized I only type at 35 wpm! I have since taken the effort to improve that and I now I can type a 70 wpm – that’s a double in productivity. And now I am more motivated to write and type.

By: Adellar Greenhill

Adellar Greenhill — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:26:38 +0000

Since creative (not technical) writing is a recursive process, as you reread your words, you may want to change direction a bit, or point of view, or combine elements previously treated separately. That’s why Hemingway began the day by reading what he wrote the day before. It primes the pump and allows for ongoing revision–much less onerous than following a blueprint to the end, before any revision
has begun. Note: Revision isn’t editing.

Typically beginning writers need to find where what they want to say begins–sometimes it takes a page and a half to get rolling with the good stuff.

An outline can cause a writer to lose a valuable new thread, force an idea that may end up not working with the ongoing process, and worst of all predetermine a predictable ending.

Most writers I know write a few drafts after several false starts, and then when they feel they know where they must go, make a very tentative outline, but not in strict outline form. And many confess they outline after completion of an essay, a story or poem.

Once a complex novel or play is underway, note cards are essential for keeping characterization consistent, along with names, dates, details of settings, and even monitoring words that may be over used.