When I started writing my initial set of stories and my first book I was clueless about their endings, only the beginning of the stories would be clear in my mind. After writing nearly three fourths of my first book, I floundered in mid sea, with no idea regarding how to resolve the issue. A month later, perhaps taking pity on me, my muse dropped in with an ending I considered brilliant; it was promptly dismissed by my editor as “a too common a resolution.”
The
book lost out not just because of the way I had ended it, but also the way I had treated it.
I was clueless right from the beginning about major chunks of the story.
Neither the conflict, nor the character’s
goals were well defined. And the character himself was a watery version
of the one I had in mind.
That incident taught me the value of writing out a book or a story in an outline form, before I actually started writing it. Even for the short stories (800 to 1000
words) that I pen for the newspapers, I do a one line outline:
who is the protagonist, what is
his/her conflict and how it’s resolved. This
one line synopsis helps me get a feel of the entire story before I
tackle it.
For
the longer stories (2500 to 4500 words) that are used in anthologies, I do a
one paragraph outline before I sit down to write the story. This one paragraph outline or
the one paragraph synopsis has the following things: the protagonist, his/her or conflict or goal and the antagonist
or forces against them, maybe a few lines
about the protagonist and the antagonist.
For the books
my initial synopsis is quite long, maybe two to three pages ; the protagonist, their current
status and what kind of a person he/she
is ( headstrong, reliable, thinker, rash, calm, independent, sentimental ) and
which aspect of their nature can
get them out of tight spots and
which trait of theirs can get them into
trouble ( this in particular helps me when I am working on the conflicts) the things that perpetually trouble them
(another aspect that helps me in conflict), their aim in life, the antagonist
or forces creating obstacles in their path, the antagonist’s strength and
weakness, and how the protagonist jumps
over the obstacles.
As this
particular synopsis is just for my
benefit, I even add a little about the other characters who assist or provide stumbling blocks to the main
character. Several twists and turns the plot takes too are thrown into what I
call the ‘ Working Synopsis.’
It’s like I write the entire story (especially
the main highlights) in an outline form. My last such synopsis was four pages long. But it helped me get a feel of
the entire story. As this synopsis is not shared with anyone else, it more
often than not can go the lengthy route. Just writing down that long synopsis
took several days, but it brought out the entire story in my mind.
To
get the short synopsis that agents and
editors prefer ( who is the protagonist,
what their story goal is and what are the forces against them) the long
synopsis can be stripped to its bare essentials and polished. I have decided never to write a
story until I have an ending in mind. Once the ending is clear in our mind, we can start building towards it, by adding the twists and turns that lead to it.
What kind of synopsis do you all write?
Like me do you write a ‘Working Synopsis’?
Do you all follow the policy of writing a book/story in an outline form? Or do you all just go along and see where the
story and characters lead you?
It varies with what I am writing. I suppose I should be more consistent. Think I will lay it out more clearly for an upcoming, larger WIP.
ReplyDeleteBlessings for your day!
Karen :)
This is interesting. I wonder what everyone will say?
ReplyDeleteI for one must have an ending in mind when I put pen to paper (or rather finger to keyboard). I simply must know. Maybe it's my left brain saying "There must be order!"
I have to tell you I usually let the idea percolate in my mind for several months (usually while working on my last WIP) then I try and strategize for a whole evening with a strong cup of coffee. I really need to feel like I know where the story is going. It's tough to feel lost when starting a WIP> Know where you're going, at least the general direction.
ReplyDeleteI get a basic outline: characters want what, they do what to get it and what major plot points consequentially happen. I do not go into a great deal of detail or I lose any interest in writing it. I'm so glad YOU posted THIS!
ReplyDeleteI love this: and which aspect of their nature can get them out of tight spots and which trait of theirs can get them into trouble ( this in particular helps me when I am working on the conflicts).
Believe it or not, I'd never thought of it in quite those terms. My characters are based on real people and the actions they took, so I had to look at those people and actions and decide how they could possibly act as they did. It doesn't look like my next novel will come together like that, so this gives me a new angle to work with. THANKS!
I'm still trying to figure out what works best for me. I do the snowflake method for sure, which gives me a good foundation. I do know the way I want things to end. Then there's the middle, where I only have a vague idea of where I'm going.
ReplyDeleteThere is no rigid rule for me, Rachna. I go where my muse leads me. There are times where I start a story with just a full chapter and a few detailed notes on where I want it to lead.
ReplyDeleteother times I've made it sound like the back of a book kinda description.
Times where I only have one detail that unfurls its mighty wings into a complete novel.
I have no set thing.
Nice post! :)
Karen, try it out for a larger WIP. Trust me, it makes it easy to actually sit down and write.
ReplyDeleteLydia...nowadays without an ending in mind, I am just not able to write.
Anne, the idea simmers in my mind too, for several months before I actually start writing it. Infact, I allow it to unravel mentally before I put pen to paper.
Victoria..if the basic outline is clear I know where exactly the story is going. Nowadays I am scared to write without an eye on the ending.
Julie...at times I am in a muddle over the middle, but if the end is in sight the middle will work itself out.
Elizabeth..you are a brave writer and your muse is a generous creature. Mine isn't, so I am pretty clear about the entire book before I invest time in it.
I always write an outline because then I never get stuck while writing the story. I always know where the story is heading and what is going to happen to the characters.
ReplyDeleteI don't write a synopsis exactly. I save writing that for when I'm querying agents. I actually write a quick outline of each scene, who's view point I'm writing from, how it's going to end and flow into the next scene. That works for me. That way there's never any awkwardness in how the story moves along (I hope).
Jai
I usually have an ending in mind when I start, but it's always subject to change. I mean I try not to be rigid about it. For me an outline isn't that helpful at the beginning, except in the sketchiest sense. I once outlined a whole novel before allowing myself to write it, and what I found was that I had lost the need to tell it, lost the spark to write it. In fact, the outline still is stuck in a notebook awaiting my return.
ReplyDeleteThe point where I find an outline and synopsis really helpful is after I've gotten that draft out, before the rewrite. Then when I go through that outline, I can see what's missing and what has to be addressed. That's my approach now. But who knows? It might change for future books.
Do you hear my groan? I am getting better at writing out a brief outline--major conflicts and obstacles etc. But still the endings don't come.
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer in that if you don't know where you're going, you'll never know when you get there.
ReplyDeleteAn ending makes for a lean, effective story.
Love your blog, Roland
My outline is definitely alive and kicking. As I write on it shifts with the landscape of my imagination.
ReplyDeleteAfter too many earlier mistakes when I hared off with only the beginning of an idea in mind, I have finally learnt my lesson and only embark on a novel when I know the ending. So yes, I outline, write a synopsis and do a chapter plan before I begin. It's the only way forward for me!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachna: As you know I just finished my first full length book, a middle-grade fantasy. When I started out, I had no clue how it was going to end. I rewrote the ending five times (or more!) but I don't know that I would do it any other way because in the beginning I didn't know my characters well enough. They needed time to develop and mature and I wanted them to surprise me at the end. They did.
ReplyDeleteIt took a lot of patience, a lot of rejection from my reviewers, and a lot of faith that something good would finally come to me. In the end, for the end, this worked for me. So I'd be in the 'I follow along and see where they lead me' category.
It probably takes longer, but it was a fun journey.
I often need an end before I write. It doesn't have to be set in stone, but it's important. I haven't yet been able to write a full outline however.
ReplyDeleteW.I.P. It: A Writer's Journey
Hi, chanced on your blog from Jai's. Thanks. The stuff you post is very interesting and useful.
ReplyDeleteGood going and good luck.