I've done something similar for my current WIP, mostly because I've written it on Scrivener and that's a big feature of the software. It's been so helpful as I was drafting, to help me stay on track, but now I'm starting to edit, it's invaluable! Thanks for sharing your process, I love to see how other writers work!
Love that!! Yes I've been finding chaptered outlines so helpful when editing. And that's cool that you're creating the outline on Scrivener, I've just been doing mine on notion but it'd be nice to have everything in one place
I started using Plottr a few years ago. I am pleased with the tool's ability to line out several plot arcs. it is nicely granular. It also has a place for characters and locations. I normally write without an outline. Outlines let me go longer, get cleverer, get twistier, and maintain continuity better. I assume its competitors are similar, but as a class of product, they carry value.
I’ve heard about Plottr before! Those sound like great features, I think I might try it out when I’m brainstorming my next book. Thanks for the suggestion!
I do chaptered outlines too! Though not quite as detailed as yours. I’ve read some writing advice that recommends outlining by scenes and grouping into chapters later, but I’ve found that dividing things into chapters from the beginning really helps me see the story as a book, right from the beginning, and better imagine what it would be like to read it.
So interesting! I've never heard that advice before. Pretty much all of my chapters are just one scene though so I suppose it wouldn't change things too much for me. Do you have a lot of different scenes for each of your chapters?
I depends. I have 1-3 scenes per chapter. I don’t really plan out my scenes though, I have bullet points for what needs to happen in a chapter and then that organically takes as many scenes as is needed.
Amazing! It makes me so happy when other writers are able to get ideas and inspiration for their own books and writing process. Let me know how it goes!
I'm still in my first draft and didn't do one in the beginning. I'm more of a panster than a plotter but I can see how this could be useful when I begin edits. Thanks for sharing :)
Of course! And yeah I didn't do one before my first draft either because I found it too suffocating, not giving me any room to explore the story along the way. But I've been loving it for edits so far - hopefully it's the same for you!
I do use chapter outlines but not quite as structured as yours. I write all of the backstory of a chapter in my outline which is like a roadmap for how I want the narrative, voice, tone, language and dialogue to play out when I start writing.
Ah good I'm glad! Yeah I feel like there's a lot of advice out there about how to write a first draft, but not as much for revisions. So I figured it might be helpful to show some of the editing process as I go through it. Very much winging it though haha as it's my first time doing it but it's been fun trying different things out and seeing what works best!
So helpful! I’ve worked on the chaptered outline all week and it’s really helped me fill in gaps in my outline, as well as show me where I need to cut/simplify. Definitely an important part of my process now, many thanks!
That’s so cool! I love when other writers try out a technique I share and it actually works for them. Good luck with filling in the gaps and simplifying!
I've done something similar for my current WIP, mostly because I've written it on Scrivener and that's a big feature of the software. It's been so helpful as I was drafting, to help me stay on track, but now I'm starting to edit, it's invaluable! Thanks for sharing your process, I love to see how other writers work!
Love that!! Yes I've been finding chaptered outlines so helpful when editing. And that's cool that you're creating the outline on Scrivener, I've just been doing mine on notion but it'd be nice to have everything in one place
I started using Plottr a few years ago. I am pleased with the tool's ability to line out several plot arcs. it is nicely granular. It also has a place for characters and locations. I normally write without an outline. Outlines let me go longer, get cleverer, get twistier, and maintain continuity better. I assume its competitors are similar, but as a class of product, they carry value.
I’ve heard about Plottr before! Those sound like great features, I think I might try it out when I’m brainstorming my next book. Thanks for the suggestion!
This was super helpful, to put thoughts in one place with a structure!
Oh good! I’m happy it helped (:
I've literally just started doing this myself as I go! But some extra things I hadn't thought of, so thankyou. Useful.
Glad it was useful! Hope the outlining goes well (:
I do chaptered outlines too! Though not quite as detailed as yours. I’ve read some writing advice that recommends outlining by scenes and grouping into chapters later, but I’ve found that dividing things into chapters from the beginning really helps me see the story as a book, right from the beginning, and better imagine what it would be like to read it.
So interesting! I've never heard that advice before. Pretty much all of my chapters are just one scene though so I suppose it wouldn't change things too much for me. Do you have a lot of different scenes for each of your chapters?
I depends. I have 1-3 scenes per chapter. I don’t really plan out my scenes though, I have bullet points for what needs to happen in a chapter and then that organically takes as many scenes as is needed.
As a pantser, I tend to not use outlines. LOL. I like your keyboard, though. Where did you get it?
Totally fair hahah and thanks! It's from Amazon (:
This approach could really but a great help for me. I’m going to try it.
Amazing! It makes me so happy when other writers are able to get ideas and inspiration for their own books and writing process. Let me know how it goes!
I'm still in my first draft and didn't do one in the beginning. I'm more of a panster than a plotter but I can see how this could be useful when I begin edits. Thanks for sharing :)
Of course! And yeah I didn't do one before my first draft either because I found it too suffocating, not giving me any room to explore the story along the way. But I've been loving it for edits so far - hopefully it's the same for you!
I've never done a chaptered outline before but I definitely want to start now! This was a great post!
Yay I'm glad you liked it! Let me know if you do!
Will do!
I do use chapter outlines but not quite as structured as yours. I write all of the backstory of a chapter in my outline which is like a roadmap for how I want the narrative, voice, tone, language and dialogue to play out when I start writing.
Love that! It's so nice having a roadmap, makes the writing a lot easier imo
This is exactly what I’ve done for my latest edit. It’s been really useful so far, especially for character arcs. Thanks for sharing.
Nice! I love when other writers do the same things I do cause it makes me think maybe I'm doing something right haha
That’s how I felt reading your post!
Thank you for sharing your outlining process! I always find the revision stage really daunting but this has been so helpful
Ah good I'm glad! Yeah I feel like there's a lot of advice out there about how to write a first draft, but not as much for revisions. So I figured it might be helpful to show some of the editing process as I go through it. Very much winging it though haha as it's my first time doing it but it's been fun trying different things out and seeing what works best!
Great advice, saving this for the future!
Yay I'm glad you found it helpful!
So helpful! I’ve worked on the chaptered outline all week and it’s really helped me fill in gaps in my outline, as well as show me where I need to cut/simplify. Definitely an important part of my process now, many thanks!
That’s so cool! I love when other writers try out a technique I share and it actually works for them. Good luck with filling in the gaps and simplifying!