Outlining My Novels

You want to write a novel. Great! I mean, the idea's there right? Right?

Oftentimes, when I'm thinking about what to post, the pictures are blurry. This blog is a great example of that. My words are usually a list of never-ending rambles, that sometimes condense to a point. That can't really be the case for a long piece of fiction like a book.

So, I try to make the image clearer. Mind you, this method, like everything else on the planet might not work for you. I know how to use my brain, you know how to use yours, This is only a guide to help, if that's what you guys are looking for.

Just like writing a song, there's a bit of a dilemma on where to start. Beat or melody. Characters or setting. Conflict or dynamic.

I avoid this problem by condensing my ideas into aesthetic boards. You know, the cringe crap you find on Pinterest? Getting the overall feel is like...finding your base colors for your painting. The palette. The style for your next outfit. It's a foundation to build the story from.

Once I've spent a good few hours on what I want this to feel like (tone, flow, humor if any, genre, writing prompts/quotes I like) I start building characters.

There are plenty of good character generators online. Questionnaires too, if you fancy that sort of thing. I tend to focus on personality first. According to the minimal knowledge I have on psychology and sociology, environment can change a character's attitude in all sorts of ways.

For example, a character living in a dystopian world may value their own life over others. At the same time, a character living in a fantasy might be used to taking the easy way out (magic, and all). Because of this, every character would also have a foil. This is the definition an antagonist. A character given the same situation, with an opposing mindset adds conflict. A character with a similar mindset, yet a different approach could be seen as a side character.

Finding what your character wants, and building an opponent to that is a great start.

So, once I think of personality I start thinking of appearance. Day-to-day existence has an impact on how you appear. It's easy to make assumptions based on what we see. Observations. Granted, it's superficial, but it works.

Does a person have any distinct habits? Biting nails? Picking at clothes? How wealthy is this person? Can they afford tailored suits? Do they dress in street clothes? Due to their personality, what culture do you think influenced their look? The punk scene? Dark academia? Cutesy pastels?

A good example of this, to me, is The Breakfast Club.

Not only does this scene portray a good amount of body language, it also shows off the characters' looks. This movie does a great job of condensing high school archetypes into a solid and distinct appearance. Looking into fashion trends characters follow, or even the colors they wear can tell a lot.

Even better? Characters can break through some of this superficiality with a personality trait that goes against their image. Like an aristocrat with a genuine and warm smile.

Alright, cool! You've got a neat aesthetic, neat characters, dynamics, what about plot? I could go on and on about the hero's journey, and all that, but plot can be anything you want it to be. It doesn't have to be a grand Shakespearean tragedy. Sometimes, a book can just be a season of The Wonder Years. Day-to-day vendettas with an easy solution.

As I've said, think about what the protagonist wants, and what the antagonist wants. What can either side do, in this game of chess, to make sure their opponent doesn't win? How close are these two characters? Arch-nemeses? Old friends?

Think about the three variants of this conflict: Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Man, and Man vs. Self. Usually books have more than one, maybe all three of these elements. It's what keeps a novel fresh. I tend to think of this order of conflict and solution similar to a video game. The villain is the big boss at the end. These other troubles mixed in are seen as the mini-boss. The things that make a character trip up to the grand finale.

I usually map these out with a thorough outline on a bulletin board like I'm some noir detective. As over-the-top as that sounds, mapping out chapter by chapter is a perfect start. Look at every angle. What does a decision have effects on? How vital are these effects to the story? What can you include? What can you cut out?

And, after that, you should have a decent map to follow. You have your cast, your set, even a vague idea of a script. Now, it's just a matter of writing.

They say starting is the hardest part, but even one word a day means progress.

Sorry if this overwhelmed you in any way; I don't know if I was the best at explaining any of this, but I figured I'd at least try.