Debate: Is a detailed outline better than just jumping into the first draft?

I'm Team Outline all the way because mapping out my 50 chapter fantasy novel saved me from a huge plot hole in chapter 12. But my writing buddy swears that outlining kills her creativity and she writes better on pure instinct. Which side do you fall on and why?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesleyb2011d agoTop Commenter

I've got a buddy who writes all his first drafts by hand in a notebook with no plan at all. He ends up rewriting half of it because the middle falls apart. My 50 chapter outline caught a timeline error in chapter 8 that would have broken the whole story. Outlining doesn't have to be rigid, it can just be a loose map so you don't get lost. If your buddy feels boxed in, maybe she should try a super bare bones outline with just major beats and see if that helps.

spencer_coleman11d ago

agree with @wesleyb20 a loose outline saves you from broken middles

knight.felix11d ago

Hard disagree on this one. Outlines kill the fun of discovery for me, I get why they work for some people but jumping in blind is how I find the good stuff. My first drafts are messy trash but the middle falling apart just means I gotta rewrite anyway, which is where the real magic happens anyway. Plot holes are just puzzle pieces you fix in round two, no need to stress about them upfront. Writing by the seat of your pants keeps the energy alive and stops you from getting bored with your own story before you even write it.