On Outlining A Novel

Tingin ko nagsimula akong mag-outline noong fourth published book ko na. At hindi pa pormal. Parang notes lang sa ilang piraso ng papel. 

Madalas ginagamit ko yun kapag mag-e-edit na. Para mai-set yung flow ng story at makita ang loopholes (pero kulang pa rin kaya sa kasalukuyan ay ipinapabasa ko ang ms ko sa isang subok ko na ang pagiging kritiko pagdating sa PHR novels). 

Lagi ding sa kalagitnaan ng kuwento ko ginagawa ang outline kuno na ito. Pero ngayon, naglaan na ako ng isang notebook para sa outline ng manuscript na tinatrabaho ko. It can be a summary of a scene, or detailed dialogues itself. From beginning to end. And it can always change for what I think is better. 

Sa gitna ng notebook ko ito isinusulat (feel ko lang), tapos may arrow pababa indicating lang na next thought or scene na. It's really helpful.

Akala ko dati ay mai-spoiler ako kapag nag-outline at tatamaring magsulat pero hindi naman. You actually gain more control of the story that way. You have the power to choose or delete scenes.

Sa outlining, mas madali ring sundan ang kuwento sakaling naiwan mo nang matagal dahil may guide ka pa rin. Outlining saves you the time spent staring into space, thinking about what happens next.

There are different ways to outline. You can even invent yours. Try whatever works. Be open to whatever can make your writing better, or more tolerable, or what can make you keep writing. 

-----

Ang pagkakaiba lang ng isang writer na sa isang nangangarap na maging writer ay isang FINISHED STORY. Finishing a working draft is half the battle. I consider writing as a battle. May times na ayaw mo na, may times na gusto mo ng blood and gore. Pero isa lang ang goal mo: TAPUSIN ANG KUWENTO. Then you can edit and find your publisher.

If what we took with us when we started to write didn't work, it's time to find other strategies. We entered writing with certain egos, comfort zones, or expectations. We'll lose some, keep some, or learn some. Find what works for you. ;)

Btw, I'm the type who gets bored with one single habit or quirk so I shift gears from time to time, find another blackmail or threat that works to keep the word production on quota and to wrap up a manuscript. More than talent, writing is the effort to keep doing it because you just can't not do it. `Wag kang masyadong mag-isip kung destined ka bang maging writer o hindi. Kung may talent ka ba o wala. Bawat isa ay may unique na imahinasyon. Ilabas mo lang. Enjoy mo lang.