Thank you for treating us to #FebOutlining!
I didn't get to 1661 on original schedule (editing 1660 took longer than expected, as usual) but it was great thinking about craft and broad plans, and next week I'll be jumping in—1st draft chapter 1 and more seriously plotting the whole of the book!
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #28 - Final Check-In." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
Final #FebOutlining check-in! How did this month go for you? Did you do everything you wanted to this month? What are your next steps for your project? Any final thoughts on outlining and prewriting?
It's been fun reading everyone doing #FebOutlining!
Of course I admire @gunsmile.bsky.social, who's the one who pointed out this game to me! Her methodical and analytical approach to craft is very interesting to read, as someone whose guiding principle is "I do what I WANT!" 🤣
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #27 - Community." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining Who's someone whose posts you've really enjoyed during this event? What do you admire about their perspective?
#FebOutlining Like most of you, I mostly don't share outlines themselves with other people, but I do wind up talking through the problems (and possibilities!) that my outlines present with trusted writer and reader friends.
#FebOutlining
I talk things out with friends—brainstorm with writer friends and ramble at my spouse, who knows all the spoilers whether he likes it or not—but I don't share my outlines because only I can comprehend them😆
What I DID do was share the running first draft with alpha readers… +
#FebOutlining I have some trusted writer friends who I have brainstorming sessions with. I don't normally share my outlines with them, but bouncing around ideas really helps refine them and also makes the pursuit of writing feel much less lonely.
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #26 - Early Readers." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining Do you have anyone with whom you share your work while you're in the outlining or prewriting stage? Or do you prefer not to let anyone see until you have some prose on the page?
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #25 - Summary." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining Write a skeet-length summary of your project. You can craft it like a pitch if you like (there are pitch events on Bluesky!), or just summarize it however feels comfortable for you.
#FebOutlining
"Should I wear shoes or boots to the event, Klein?" asked Alexander, who was considering a blue ribbon against a white one.
"I think you have more pressing concerns, sir," answered Klein, handing him his pistol.
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #24 - Voice Test." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining Do a voice test for one of your main characters! Write a skeet-length snippet of prose on one of the following prompts:
* Shoe
* Wound
* Flash
* Found
* Trash
* Radiant
#FebOutlining
Talking to a human is best for me. Critique group/writer friends are great, but often I come up with ideas just while rambling to my spouse who's like "That's nice dear".
Thinking about it in the morning before a long stretch of non-writing errands can also make an answer pop out! +
#FebOutlining this is an origins question for us. I thrive off of feedback, and really work well with a rubber duck that can talk back. Watson had volunteered to beta in the way back days of #WOTV, and I eventually pulled her onboard to beta #LL&MM in it's infancy because I was *stuck*. [1/3]
[3/?] Amazing! The story, then, is a continuation of my original dream. It now shows growth in my writing process and skill. I hope to continue to grow in my ability to write good character arcs, an engaging magic system, and an intriguing premise that is followed through.
#FebOutlining #WriteSky
#FebOutlining There are two tried and true techniques that I use:
1. Talking with friends to brainstorm ideas
2. Taking a shower
Occasionally, driving a familiar route or washing the dishes works, too.
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #23 - Problem-Solving." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining How do you solve problems when they arise during outlining/prewriting? Do you talk to a rubber duck, or get feedback from a trusted friend? Do you undo your work to a point before the problem and try again, or do you push through and hope the problem solves itself when you draft?
#FebOutlining
1660 was the first long fiction I completed and the proof that I can do it. (Edits still, but it's fully readable and GOOD.) Now all I gotta do is repeat it 8-9 times 🤪
I hope to become more efficient and more confident on the first pass, but I know I have the capability.
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #22 - Personal Growth." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining How does your current project represent a continuation of what you've already created? In what ways does it represent a new direction? How do you hope you'll grow as a writer while you're working on this WIP?
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #21 - Check-In." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
It's our third #FebOutlining check-in! Respond with a GIF that shows where you're at right now (and remember to use alt text!)
#FebOutlining I have a love-hate relationship with tropes. On one hand, I think they're great shorthand for communicating certain expectations. If I say that MageWIP will have an age gap romance, then you get a reasonably accurate idea of what that might entail. However...
#FebOutlining
Tropes are incredibly useful, but not as a goal to aim at. They are best used imo for analysis and collating.
I don’t aim to put any specific tropes in my writing, I just write the thing and if I notice a trope is forming I pause to examine why and if I want to subvert or lean in.
Tropes exist for a reason. We've been writing "the wild man", "brothers-in-arms", and "enemies to friends" since Sumer. Even if you try to avoid them—and again, they're not a negative—you're going to end up using them because you're participating in the human tradition of storytelling. #FebOutlining
#FebOutlining I have a mild aversion to using tropes for the sake of tropes, or emphasizing them in marketing. However, if (upon drafting the story) I discover that it includes Grumpy/Sunshine or Only One Bed or Save the Cat elements, I won't go out of my way to edit those tropes out.
#FebOutlining
I heckin LOVE tropes. Imagine that your toddler dropped a jar of tropes on the ground. I am the dog racing to eat as many as possible before you stop me.
See these graphics I made for WIPPit, LOL.
I think there's something magical about tropes, genre, and even cliché… +
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #20 - Tropes." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining How do you feel about tropes in your stories? Do you try to avoid them as cliches, or have a list of tropes you know you want to hit as you outline, or accept that they might arise naturally as part of your writing process?
#FebOutlining
My outlines don't reach a terribly refined state before I write. I need to know the events/beats to hit and then usually spin connective tissue while writing.
That said, book 2's is in an EARLY state, so I share less to show off and more for comedy, lol. Including some out of context.
#FebOutlining Well, if you insist... 😊 I'm in the early stages of hammering out the scenes list for MageWIP (1st screenshot), though I'm also not in any rush. The first two scenes have been detailed (2nd screenshot), too, because I wanted to get those ideas out of my head.
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #19 - Sample." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
#FebOutlining Show us a sample of your outline in progress! What are you especially proud of? What do you think is noteworthy about how you've put it together?
#FebOutlining
I have three forms of timeline that prioritize different info!
First, I write it out, bullet pointed but narrative, individual/family backstories plus historical events. This helps with cause/effect logic!
Then, there's the genogram for marriage/birth/death date wrangling. +
Awesome question! For me, I have two connected universes where a lot of my works take place, so I have a sort of “internal” timeline for both that I use to keep my facts straight.
But…one is a multiverse, so “timeline” is sort of a relative term in that one. 😂
#FebOutlining #writingcommunity
