Starting Your Story
If you’re sitting there staring at your novel outline and just can’t seem to get started, you probably have one of two problems. Either the novel outline doesn’t make sense, or you haven’t yet mastered the art of utilizing your outline. Remember that your outline is a guide. It’s not written in stone.
Your outline might indicate that your story starts in some dark alley, but that might not work in the long run. First of all, dark alleys are incredibly overdone, especially for the opening scene in the book. Okay, so your opening scene probably isn’t in a dark alley. But it still doesn’t work and you can’t figure out why. Study the outline to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it.
Often you’re simply starting in the wrong place. There’s an old rule that states your novel should start with some point of conflict. This is a great rule, if it works for your particular story. For novels that are plot-driven, starting with a great piece of your plot is perfect.
However, if your novel is character-driven, that just might not work for you. You might need to start your story with some character development. Look closely at your outline and see if perhaps you can reorder the first few chapters or even add a chapter you hadn’t considered before. This might help you get started.
Don’t Throw Out Your Outline
It can be tempting to throw away that outline if you’ve found yourself altering it in the very first chapters. Don’t. Anytime I’ve thrown out even the most basic outline, I’ve come to regret it later. So, don’t throw it away unless it’s so far beyond redemption that nothing can be done. This is unlikely, considering you’ve only just started.
Instead, work with your outline. You must have thought that you had the makings of a good story when you wrote down the outline. It is most likely that you have all the basics. But, as with most writers, you might find that they’re in the wrong order. This is a good thing. It means you’ve got the story, but the pieces are out of order.
It usually helps to see your plot. So, if you’ve written that outline on a piece of paper, pull out your scissors. Cut out your basic plot points and treat the resulting pieces like a puzzle. Study them and rearrange until you come up with what works. Play “what-if” for a little while and add new pieces to your puzzle. You might even find that a dearly-loved piece of plot just won’t fit. If this happens, just keep that little jewel for your next book.
Using a Novel Outline to Navigate Your Plot
Now that you’ve got your outline in order, follow it through your novel. Let your novel flow and take shape, paying attention to the details you’ve laid out. If you’ve spent time developing and honing your outline, the process of connecting your basic plot points becomes easier. Still, the middle of a novel can be the most difficult to construct. But if you use your outline as a road map, you might find navigating through your plot becomes just a little easier.
Keep your newly-revised outline in front of you as you write. It will help you get from plot point to plot point without getting distracted. As you write, glance at your outline and find your place in the story. If you find that you’re drifting from your story for no particular reason, bring yourself back to your plot, using your outline to help you get back on track.
The first and most important purpose of your novel outline is to help keep you from straying from the core of your plot, and to get you back on track when you do. If you can use your novel outline effectively, you will find that any frustration you might have encountered is alleviated and writing your book becomes an relaxing and exciting exercise.
