tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post7784281021889786552..comments2023-04-13T08:54:32.218-04:00Comments on Jester Harley's Manuscript Page: Novelist Justin Robinson Admits He Loves OutlinesAnne E. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08330642610716333970noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-41318540756591812032012-11-01T12:36:56.916-04:002012-11-01T12:36:56.916-04:00Good point about not following outlines slavishly....Good point about not following outlines slavishly. Typically, the more left-brained you are (linear thinker), the more outlines will help you, and the more right-brained you are (intuitive thinker), the more traditional outlining will hinder you, because it probably feels like putting the cart before the horse. I went all the way through school writing the outlines we were required to turn in AFTER I'd already written the papers these outlines were supposed to (but didn't) help me write. Which is not to say that right-brained people don't need to plan ahead or organize their thoughts--just that outlining isn't necessarily the best or only way for everyone to do that. Since you can't change whether you're right- or left-brained any more than you can change whether you're right- or left-handed, noticing which side of your brain is dominant is the first step towards finding a method of organizing your thoughts that will work well for you.<br />Gwen Thompsonhttp://gwenthompson.us/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-77876795445839598772012-10-29T11:08:51.000-04:002012-10-29T11:08:51.000-04:00Oh no. I'm covering my ears here. I do not wan...Oh no. I'm covering my ears here. I do not want to think about outlining. Ruth Schiffmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-3085085277335525132012-10-27T05:13:41.928-04:002012-10-27T05:13:41.928-04:00"Outlines are important for the same reason y..."Outlines are important for the same reason you don’t wear white to a pie-eating contest." I do my outlines after I'm deep enough into my main character's mind and his conflict. Then I revise the outlines and write a draft based on it. Sometimes things have to change, usually in the middle. But I'm always glad I wrote an outline before the draft.Yanting Guehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04788603550626277974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-61004779589821558872012-10-26T08:09:40.448-04:002012-10-26T08:09:40.448-04:00I used to be a die-hard pantser, but I had to chan...I used to be a die-hard pantser, but I had to change my ways when I started writing on deadline. I still don't outline exactly, but I write a synopsis before I start drafting. Okay, a synopsis is really just an outline in paragraph form, but it works for me. :-)Anna Staniszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316883819771607655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-13742696227612572762012-10-25T14:17:53.142-04:002012-10-25T14:17:53.142-04:00I'm definitely an outliner. I outline, write, ...I'm definitely an outliner. I outline, write, outline again as my story takes an unexpected turn, write, outline again, and keep writing. I always have to start with an outline, though.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18293316104653990391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-1394527700643273232012-10-25T14:04:09.964-04:002012-10-25T14:04:09.964-04:00Not to highjack this excellent post, but Mr. BLANK...Not to highjack this excellent post, but Mr. BLANK’s cover is amazing.Mirka Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-52184674145326224842012-10-25T11:17:45.173-04:002012-10-25T11:17:45.173-04:00I'd like to be more disciplined and outline--I...I'd like to be more disciplined and outline--I need to work on that!Ann Herrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06041353495884375883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176298515094230212.post-16518464029874288602012-10-25T09:12:10.123-04:002012-10-25T09:12:10.123-04:00I agree with you - as a writer of YA crime fiction...I agree with you - as a writer of YA crime fiction, I need an outline - especially T THE BEGINNING AND END. aaND YES, IT CAN BE 'SLAVISH' -a very famous writer here (Oh, Okay J K Rowling) does pages and pages of outline stuff, from plot to character. Would drive me mad. An outline, to me, is like a google map - it tells you where you're going, but not the amazing stuff you might encounter on the way.Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.com