Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

franhawthorne OP t1_iwd7lck wrote

Reply to comment by IndyDude11 in I’m Fran Hawthorne: I used to write award-winning nonfiction about consumer activism, the financial world, and the drug industry, but now I’m having much more fun writing novels. AMA about writing by franhawthorne

Outline outline outline! I know that a lot of novelists don't use them, but my novels would wander hopelessly out of control if I didn't start with a detailed outline-- for the first draft. Along the way, wonderfully, the characters and plot take on lives of their own and discover trails (and new characters) I hadn't envisioned. So I just add them to my outline. So I guess I'm saying I need a combination of structure and flexibility. (Maybe like making a marriage or relationship work???)

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.

8

IndyDude11 t1_iwd9g26 wrote

Very interesting. Thanks for responding. Are there any books that you know of that are helpful on the topic?

4