Comments on: A Line Around the Outer Edge http://pcwrede.com/blog/a-line-around-the-outer-edge/ Wed, 16 May 2012 17:03:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Gray Woodland http://pcwrede.com/blog/a-line-around-the-outer-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-1883 Gray Woodland Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:44:12 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=478#comment-1883 The distinction between the two kinds is really worth making. My version of a usable working outline is an ever-changing contents list and a long series of mutually incompatible sketches and speculations. I did once do a regular portion-and-outline for a tie-in line that accepted unsolicited submissions in that form. Got a rather good individual rejection, too - though not the only good-enough kind, that says, "Change and resubmit". Boy, that taught me a few things: 1) Boiling down to outline length hurts. 2) Chapter-by-chapter belongs to my writing process, and is not necessarily optimal for the publisher's outline. Even if one of the chapter titles is among the best <i>evah</i>. Here is your "#2 with maybe a bit of #1" writ large. 3) Even in a series that's all about time travel, don't assume the poor overworked slush-reader will correctly follow the plot's screwing about with time unless one frames the trick in ruby-studded gold and bolts it to the wall. This may require one to remember point (2) above. 4) After boiling it down to a skeleton in (1), dancing with it just ain't the same. Specifically, trying to write from the result is the same kind of fun as trying to read an Agatha Christie novel - whilst consulting a set of exam notes before embarking on every chapter. Darn, point (2) again! Things I'm not so sure I've learned: a) You can get away with half-a-dozen named characters in the outline? Good gravy. I hate to think how many I had. One reason was space - 'the King of Essex' eats words a lot faster than 'Gary'. b) I'm okay with my WIP - write first draft my way, check; write publisher outline afterwards, check; redraft both and submit, got it. But I am a denizen of the slushpile. Being a professional who presumably can't afford to write a whole novel whose outline nobody offers to commission - how much leeway do you have with that outline, once it's sold? And how do you frame the outline to give you maximum breathing-room? The distinction between the two kinds is really worth making. My version of a usable working outline is an ever-changing contents list and a long series of mutually incompatible sketches and speculations. I did once do a regular portion-and-outline for a tie-in line that accepted unsolicited submissions in that form. Got a rather good individual rejection, too – though not the only good-enough kind, that says, “Change and resubmit”. Boy, that taught me a few things:

1) Boiling down to outline length hurts.

2) Chapter-by-chapter belongs to my writing process, and is not necessarily optimal for the publisher’s outline. Even if one of the chapter titles is among the best evah. Here is your “#2 with maybe a bit of #1″ writ large.

3) Even in a series that’s all about time travel, don’t assume the poor overworked slush-reader will correctly follow the plot’s screwing about with time unless one frames the trick in ruby-studded gold and bolts it to the wall. This may require one to remember point (2) above.

4) After boiling it down to a skeleton in (1), dancing with it just ain’t the same. Specifically, trying to write from the result is the same kind of fun as trying to read an Agatha Christie novel – whilst consulting a set of exam notes before embarking on every chapter. Darn, point (2) again!

Things I’m not so sure I’ve learned:

a) You can get away with half-a-dozen named characters in the outline? Good gravy. I hate to think how many I had. One reason was space – ‘the King of Essex’ eats words a lot faster than ‘Gary’.

b) I’m okay with my WIP – write first draft my way, check; write publisher outline afterwards, check; redraft both and submit, got it. But I am a denizen of the slushpile. Being a professional who presumably can’t afford to write a whole novel whose outline nobody offers to commission – how much leeway do you have with that outline, once it’s sold? And how do you frame the outline to give you maximum breathing-room?

]]> By: superscout http://pcwrede.com/blog/a-line-around-the-outer-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-1870 superscout Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:21:05 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=478#comment-1870 you should really think about doing a book on boy scouts or cub scouts! you should really think about doing a book on boy scouts or cub scouts!

]]> By: pcwrede http://pcwrede.com/blog/a-line-around-the-outer-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-1860 pcwrede Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:49:44 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=478#comment-1860 Chicoy - That's a system that works really well for those of us who can't actually follow outlines for more than a chapter or so! Chicoy – That’s a system that works really well for those of us who can’t actually follow outlines for more than a chapter or so!

]]> By: Chicoy http://pcwrede.com/blog/a-line-around-the-outer-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-1859 Chicoy Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:55:36 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=478#comment-1859 I tend toward a `two or three chapters ahead' outline -where I figure out what I'll do next not long before I do it. I'm getting away from that a little as I practice writing and story-planning, though. I tend toward a `two or three chapters ahead’ outline -where I figure out what I’ll do next not long before I do it. I’m getting away from that a little as I practice writing and story-planning, though.

]]> By: pcwrede http://pcwrede.com/blog/a-line-around-the-outer-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-1857 pcwrede Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:33:03 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=478#comment-1857 Alex - I've never been able to follow an outline to save my life, but once the book is done, I find that it's often a useful revising tool. This is one of those cases where mileage varies, though. Alex – I’ve never been able to follow an outline to save my life, but once the book is done, I find that it’s often a useful revising tool. This is one of those cases where mileage varies, though.

]]> By: Alex Fayle http://pcwrede.com/blog/a-line-around-the-outer-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-1856 Alex Fayle Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:53:45 +0000 http://pcwrede.com/blog/?p=478#comment-1856 I've found that doing the first sort of outline really helps with the revision process. Once I've finished the first draft, I'll outline the book which highlights where I've gone off track (as well as many other first draft problems). I’ve found that doing the first sort of outline really helps with the revision process. Once I’ve finished the first draft, I’ll outline the book which highlights where I’ve gone off track (as well as many other first draft problems).

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