Outlining Vs. Not Outlining

This is going along with my post for notebooks and computers, I'll be writing a few like this. I hope you enjoy.

Up until not very long ago I thought that I wasn't an outline-er. I still don't really think I am, here's my philosophy for outlining.

I only outline when I have a good idea of where I'm going with the plot and I know what I want, then I write it out so I don't forget it. If I'm not quite sure about some things, I don't outline the book. Sometimes, I'll go through what will happen in my head and that's sort of like outlining, but not really.


In defense of outlining: Outlining can get you pepped about a book. It's nice to see where you're going and have it all worked and that's helpful for a lot of people. There are really simple, easy outlines that allow a lot of things for you to make up as you go along, or you can outline something really in-depth. Outlining can also help you not go in detours because those can be annoying and you might edit them out anyway. If you outline, then you're more likely to stay straight to the point.

In defense of not outlining: Not outlining has a certain mystery about it. You can pick things that you want to do as you go along and change them without effecting the entire story and shifting what you thought was going to happen. When you don't outline, characters can take control and write the story themselves instead of you pushing it on them. But it all depends if you're plot-driven or character-driven. When you don't outline, I think there's more room for inspiration because you don't have a set plan.

So sometimes outlining is a good thing and sometimes it's not. There are things that you'll like about it and things that you won't like about it. Remember that you can change things about the outline. I prefer not outlining, but I think I get more done when I do outline.

Which one do you think if better for you?