Do you Need an Outline in Writing? |
MANY guides recommend preparing an outline before writing a novel. Outline is seen as an equally important part to complete the whole story. Some even argue, if you have arranged an outline well, it means we have completed 80 percent of the writing.
Is it true?
If you read the book "Creative Process, Why and How I Compose" which summarizes the creative process of dozens of authors across generations from the first volume to the last, we will find each writer has a different way, including in treating an outline. There are writers who consider the outline important in writing novels which incidentally is longer than other types of writing. However, there are also those who write directly without the need for an outline, including writing a novel.
Actually, how important is an outline?
Outline or general framework or summary or guidance is needed for guidance in writing novels. In the outline, we already know in broad outline the story per chapter, starting from the first chapter to completion. Good or not a novel can be seen from the outline. Some references mention the outline also allows us to maintain the "emotion" of the story from beginning to end. There are times when a writer is too gratuitous in the early chapters, then tired in the middle or final chapter. An interesting novel is able to maintain the emotional construction of the guard stay awake from beginning to end.
Outline also helps writers to avoid obstacles in writing or written block (this problem, we will discuss in the next chapter). Writing a novel that requires a deep breath, must be guided with an outline so that the writer is focused, not out of line. It often happens, when we have written an outline, in the middle of the road we find a new idea that looks brighter. If you change the outline, you have to revise the story that has been written, maybe replace, add or reduce characterizations. Meanwhile, if it does not change, we are too fond of the new idea.
Well, how to deal with this situation?
A friend of a novel writer who was equally invited to the 2012 Ubud Writer and Reader Festival (UWRF), Guntur Alam, claimed to often face such situations. He has no standard choice in overcoming these conditions. If the new idea is relevant to an existing story, he uses the additional idea to strengthen the story that has been written. If not, even though the idea was truly extraordinary, he chose to record the idea but was not used in the story being written. Maybe that idea can become a separate story. By noting, we tie the idea so that it is not forgotten.
Because writing a novel takes a long time, it is very possible that new ideas "disturb" the basic ideas. We are often tempted to change stories. Suggestions often make peace with such conditions by noting all the new ideas that come in and looking for relevance to the story I'm writing. For shorter writing such as a short story, I chose to write another story because the conflict in a short story is usually single.
Can we write a novel without having to outline it? Of course, I can. Everything depends on each other's habits. If I can share my experience, the novel Alon Buluek (2005), which was once the 3rd winner in the Grasindo National Novel Competition - Radio Nederland, I wrote without using an outline.
However, for all other novels, I need an outline as a guide, even though in practice I treat the outline in an elastic way. That is, there is always room to write a different story from the outline if that choice reinforces the whole story. If the outline makes us confined, not free to imagine, why should we force yourself? But remember, other writers do not agree with this principle and that is fine. Each writer has their own method. Find your own method and that's the best.
One of the writers that I like, Haruki Murakami, in an article claimed not to write an outline, including for the terrible 1Q84 novel. According to him, the outline was in the head before it was written. Haruki contained the idea to maturity before writing it. So, the story that was born is not an instant work. Do you want to imitate Haruki? It's better to develop your own method.
If you're just starting a novel, it's best to start with an outline. Like people who want to walk far, it is better he prepares provisions so smoothly on the way. As a wise man said if you have 10 hours to cut down trees, use 8 hours to sharpen an ax. The remaining 2 hours are used for felling. So, an outline is a map or the process of sharpening an ax to make it sharp.
If you write a blog like in Hive, do you need an outline or not? Everyone must have their own formula. This formula we find with constant struggle, through pain, and discipline. If you just start writing for a year or two, it's hard to get Lailatulaqadar suddenly to have a formula that can produce cool writing in an instant.
Posts on the blog that only a few paragraphs, of course, do not require an outline because everything is written is drawn in the head. But if you are confused about writing what and how there is nothing wrong with trying to outline even though the writing is short. At least you don't fumble and only stare at the monitor for hours.
In assigning assignments to students, I often ask them to make writing outlines in the form of mind maps or thought mapping. The writing concept developed by Tony Buzan was very helpful in making the outline. I read Tony Buzan's Mind Map smart book published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama (2007) repeatedly when stuck in writing. It is not always a way out, but it becomes an option.
Please try it...!
