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Are You Really Trying to Write an Erotic Short Story?

Congratulations. You have shown how exactly five out of the millions of authors in history used outlines for their novels. Well done. Bravo. You've certainly humbled us.
 
slyc_willie said:
Congratulations. You have shown how exactly five out of the millions of authors in history used outlines for their novels. Well done. Bravo. You've certainly humbled us.
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Outline? No outlines there. Just a bunch of notes and scribbling. :rolleyes:
 
There's people here who could write full length novels in less time than it took for those outlines to be completed.
 
They all give me a headache and suck all of the joy out of writing.
 
sr71plt said:
They all give me a headache and suck all of the joy out of writing.
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To be fair, some people need that kind of organized mess to keep their facts straight. I know of a couple who do something similar. But if I had something like that pinned on my wall, it would be useless. My inner rebel would compel me to deviate from the plan.
 
My own (admittedly very limited) experience is that outlines tend to go out the window when the characters take over. They take you places you often don't anticipate. If you try to resist where they point you, it usually gets all f$%^&*d up. For me, if the characters don't take on a life of their own, then I get nowhere.
 
The Joseph Heller one looks like the calender my wife put together for what she thinks I am going to do around the house this summer.
 
MrFoxwood said:
I've come to the conclusion that the problem with the novel I'm writing is that it has an outline. I write best when I just put pen to paper and go.

With regards to what I put up on here, it's short and the intention is for it to be erotic but less and less I worry about it being a story. All I have to worry about is if I enjoyed writing it and if a couple of people will enjoy reading it.
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That is the same method I use when I want to write a short story. Usually when I plan it out it ends up in the middle of nowhere. Everyone generally starts out with one thing in mind and some just think up the rest rather than having an outline.
 
I generally have an idea, then write it out. I guess it wouldnt hurt to do an outline, but I've tried, it aint me
 
I remember really pissing off an English professor in college when taking a creative writing elective and giving her my opinion of outlines: "Why waste the time writing the story twice?"

The only good reason I can see for a structured outline is that it gives your main characters something to laugh at as you try to get them to go along with it!
 
JKendallDane said:
I remember really pissing off an English professor in college when taking a creative writing elective and giving her my opinion of outlines: "Why waste the time writing the story twice?"

The only good reason I can see for a structured outline is that it gives your main characters something to laugh at as you try to get them to go along with it!
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I would imagine, if you wrote books for a living, you map out ideas, step by step with lots of drama, conflict, etc, and a conclusion. When I write, I make it up as I go, just off one main idea. Therefore, i never fully finish a story......just saying. Although I have one, one story I might upload.
 
Sometimes, I need a scorecard to keep track of my characters in a group sex story, does that count as an outline?

Otherwise, me-thinks MrBates2 is a frustrated English teacher.

Not only do I typically write without an outline, I can give a 30 minute talk on any familiar topic at the drop of a hat. And if you'd like an outline of my talk, I'll gladly provide you with one - after I'm done speaking.

Like it or not, some creative people won't fit your mold. Some sculptors work from life studies, others do not. Care to separate them? Same is true of painters. And let's not swerve into the writing music. I have yet to know of a composer who uses a crutch like an "outline."
 
The best teachers I know write their lesson plans after they teach the lessons. (Shh! Don't tell. I'll get fired.)
 
I've had to draw up a couple of genealogy charts and multi-generational timelines to track chars in some tales. (Cf. BRIDE OF KONG and the upcoming SOUL KITCHEN.) And I sometimes need to arrange colored figurines on my desk, to know just who does what to whom in a group sex story. (Some RON'S JOURNAL chapters and spinoffs are like that.) But outlines? I tried that with a Tag-Team story; my partner bailed and the story lies unfinished (although I may get to it One Of These Days).

Sometimes I start writing a tale, knowing how it will end. THE BIG BANANA (just resubmitted) and JENNY BE FAIR, and the rejected pieces LIKE A HOLE IN THE HEAD and THE PHARMACIST, followed a plan. And I may have some idea of what happens enroute to the ending.

But my usual unwritten outlines for journal-type pieces go something like this:

Somebody has sex. Some backstory is introduced. Somebody else has sex. Events occur, then more fucking, then more events, then more sex. Then the episode ends, maybe with a teaser promising yet more sex.

What else is necessary? ;)
 
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patientlee said:
The best teachers I know write their lesson plans after they teach the lessons. (Shh! Don't tell. I'll get fired.)
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(ok...it's just between us ;) )

About five years after I had completed my degrees, the dean of the community college I had attended the first two years called to see if I would teach a couple of courses they had managed to overbook. The dean had also been my instructor for several courses and knew me far too well.

When he asked for a copy of my syllabus for each class, I handed him one sheet for each, with only a few things beyond the course title, text to be used, and a listing of the chapter headings. The only things I listed for "instructor expectations" was along the lines of: 'Show up for classes,' 'Participate in discussions,' 'Submit work on or before due dates,' and 'Don't be so stupid as to think you won't get caught cheating during exams.'

Jack looked at me and said, "Guess I shouldn't complain."

I grinned back and told him: "Sure better not since that is two MORE pages of outline than you ever got from me as a student." :D
 
BuckyDuckman said:
Sometimes, I need a scorecard to keep track of my characters in a group sex story, does that count as an outline?

Otherwise, me-thinks MrBates2 is a frustrated English teacher.

Not only do I typically write without an outline, I can give a 30 minute talk on any familiar topic at the drop of a hat. And if you'd like an outline of my talk, I'll gladly provide you with one - after I'm done speaking.

Like it or not, some creative people won't fit your mold. Some sculptors work from life studies, others do not. Care to separate them? Same is true of painters. And let's not swerve into the writing music. I have yet to know of a composer who uses a crutch like an "outline."
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Of course the very first thing MrBates2 posted in the OP was that he doesn't use an outline. :rolleyes:
 
sr71plt said:
Of course the very first thing MrBates2 posted in the OP was that he doesn't use an outline. :rolleyes:
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Correct.

But where he came off badly was when he said that an author would need an outline to write a good novel.
 
Hypoxia said:
That's the recipe for 57% of all LW stories. Have you been passing around this cheat-sheet?
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Are you accusing me of plagiarism?

I demand satisfaction!

I shall expect you in the courtyard at noon with your sword Sir.
 
StrangeLife said:
Are you accusing me of plagiarism?

I demand satisfaction!

I shall expect you in the courtyard at noon with your sword Sir.
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Never bring a knife to a gunfight.

Never bring a sword to a battle of wits.

Never step into a courtyard filled with rattlesnakes.

And never shovel the tide with a pitchfork.

Life sure can be frustrating. Argh.
 
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