The Relief of Outlining and the Joy that Follows

Have you ever tried to remember a recipe you thought you knew, but your creation didn’t turn out so well? I did and ended up leaving out the baking powder and a key flavoring that makes the recipe especially yummy. 

We can sometimes shortchange our writing like this when we don’t plan ahead or stick to the “recipe” before we start on a project. Typically, an outline makes the best product because of the thought we put into it and when we follow the outline, we don’t leave out key ingredients that really make our writing sing with as much taste as a recipe.

Have you ever wondered: Why should I create an outline if the idea is already in my head? 

• An outline shows us where we are and where we want to go. We can help ourselves if we don’t have to go back and take out portions of our writing and include it later in a book because we knew at the start of our writing where we were headed through the use of an outline. 
• Our writing can actually “breathe” more if we outline ahead of time. If we write an entire book without an outline, we often depend upon an editor removing a section or taking it out altogether because it doesn’t fit. An outline assures us (and our editor or agent if we’re working with one) that we know what should be in the book, where it should be placed, and how it should be shared.

Fiction writers have often worked carefully on an outline because they typically plot an entire novel either before, or as they write, and they know what comes next or how the story will end. 

Non-fiction writers often sit down to write and start putting content in chapters without really having an outline.  Developing a systematic listing of the most important points of the subject of the book ahead of time helps greatly for the cadence, hook, and main theme that needs to be carried throughout the book—not just frontloaded into the first chapter and then lagging or missing after that.

When outlining, we can use the typical outline format that many of us used in high school. I found this outline structure that is pretty standard. It’s more for your benefit than anyone else’s. Some people like to outline their books using sticky notes on a wall. Whatever works best for you is the method you should use. 

Not only is it helpful for you, but it’s helpful for those considering your work for publication, endorsement, or promotion to see where you are headed, since most of the time, industry professionals and endorsers don’t have time to read an entire manuscript before they make a decision to accept or reject your idea. An outline shows a publisher, literary agent, or acquisition editor where the book starts, how it develops, and how it ends or ties the content altogether.

As I work with writers, and as a writer myself, I see how much relief and joy there is when there’s an outline. Sometimes we forget what we wanted to write about, especially if there are longer periods of time in between writing. An outline quickly helps us remember where we are and where we’re headed. We shouldn’t look at an outline as an exercise without room for any adjustments. Rather, it’s a guide to keep us on track.

Why would someone not choose to outline? Some writers think an outline will cut off creativity of “letting the manuscript go where it needs to go” or that it will take too long or be too much work. 

But I’ve seen how having an outline is beneficial:

• It saves the author time. 
• It helps to eliminate the “writer’s block” or brain fog that many authors get. 
• It allows us to collect quotations, anecdotes, statistics, illustrations, and other support material ahead of the actual writing of a chapter.
• It creates an opportunity to work on chapters that come more easily first and to go back to chapters that will require more research later.

If you’re on the fence about outlining, consider it important to help you remember how you will plan promotional efforts for when your book releases. What are the highlights in the book that you can quickly access for social posts, interviews, and podcasts? An outline will help you there. May outlining become your new go-to this year and bring you joy rather than frustration in your writing!

Question:  Is outlining a challenging or a fun part of the writing process for you?  How has outlining helped you to become a better writer or speaker?

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1. Ellis, Matt. “How to Write an Outline in 5 Steps.” Grammarly.com. Sept. 26, 2022. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-outline/