Essential Guide to Writing a Novel Episode 2: Getting ready to start writing a novel.
17 snips
Mar 2, 2022 AI Snips
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Episode notes
Lost In A Forest Mirrors Plot Panic
- Jim Thayer recounts getting momentarily lost in a forest to illustrate writerly panic.
- He compares that fear to writing five chapters and then realizing you have no idea which direction to travel in the plot.
Discovery Writing Can Produce Surprises
- Some successful novelists deliberately avoid outlines and trust discovery while writing.
- That spontaneity can produce unexpected discoveries and character-driven developments.
Outlines Range Widely By Writer And Genre
- Outlines vary hugely between authors, from terse sketches to massive documents.
- The right outline length depends on your method, genre, and how much planning you need to seed twists and structure plots.