The process, part 2 - Outlining
After brainstorming and research has produced the bare bones of a story, outlining is a crucial part of my plotting process which promotes consistency, and provides a reference guide, for character dialogue and actions/reactions.
But creating an outline means different things to different writers. For my process, it comprises -
Creating and documenting detailed characters
Worldbuilding
And summarising an overview of the plot
Even though The Connickle Conundrum established my Victorian steampunk alternative reality and introduced many of the trilogy characters, I had to create several new characters, contraptions and locations for the second instalment.
To document and keep track of everything, I use a legacy software called Campfire Pro (now Campfire Writing). This software enables me to note each character’s physical characteristics such as age, height, weight, build, hair colour, eye colour, social class etc., and for each of the major characters, personality traits, relationships, and a detailed back story.
The back story defines the character and, even if is never revealed in the narrative, it provides a foundation for an individual’s actions or reactions.
Then finally, I write a plot overview that summarises -
What drives the main character
What problems they must overcome
What event turns their world, or perception of the world, upside down
How they react to that event
And, because the story is part of the trilogy’s bigger picture, how it drives the overarching narrative towards the final instalment.
Of course, whilst I tried to be thorough, because I tweaked my process for this instalment, less detailed plotting resulted in the characters taking the story in their own, unpredictable, directions; causing the creation of new characters and locations as necessary. So this time, outlining and plotting were an ongoing process rather than a rigid roadmap.
Now, in my haste to publish last week’s blog, I broke my promise to highlight a writer or artist and musician. So this week, I present two authors and two bands -
Cherie Priest - Steampunk, horror, American gothic author
Homepage - Sacha Black - Author, podcaster, blogger and writing craft tutor
NIGHTWISH :||: Official Website - The Symphonic Metal band that defined the genre
Visions of Atlantis - Pirate Symphonic/Cinematic Metal band
Please visit their websites, and enjoy.
Next time… Points of view.