Netyjnd

I've been struggling for a long time to tell a story. In any medium really. I've read a lot of writing tutorials and read lots of writing sites. I've also read a lot of books on writing. However in spite of reading and watching those tutorials I still haven't written a book / script or created a comic or animation. Which are the areas I've been learning.

The biggest advice is "just do it" and I've been doing it. However I feel like my goals aren't achieved since my stories aren't finished and I am an internet creator. The book Show Your Work by Austin Kleon says to tell good stories if you want to be noticed.

And then we have the question I'm asking. Should I outline or discovery write my stories?

For those who don't know discovery write means just writing the story as you go along. The thing is I want to show people my stories rather than just talk about them and showing my characters on my art page.

However many writers say that you should outline your stories. However I sometimes struggle with the outline since while I do know the ending of some of my main stories I still struggle for the beginning and middle of my stories.

Plus I want my stories to be shown. I'm tired of seeing other storytellers be talked about while I have nothing to show. I'm not trying to sell out, I just want feedback and my stories to be just noticed by a small or possibly large audience.

So should I discovery write my stories? Or outline them?

Currently I'm discovery writing my comic but that might change.

Outlines are a tool. Nothing more. Should you use it? I don't know, that depends on you.

Does the added structure help you focus and develop your story? or is it needless distraction that you frequently go off-script from anyway?

Does building an outline help you brainstorm and develop your creative ideas? or does it feel like a chore that seeps motivation?

Writing an outline takes time up front. So on the one hand it will slow down the whole "just do it" approach. But on the other hand it can save you countless hours of frustration down the road when you already have a plan and strategy in place for how to get around a certain obstacle.

I personally like outlines when I have a complicated plot. I need it to keep track and make sure I'm not botching the continuity.

And all of this doesn't take into account an underlying factor in the approach. If one is writing a plot based story then they may outline it. Chances are you know what you want to happen anyway, so outlining allows you to document your ideas and save them.

However, if you are writing a character driven story you may spend your time deciding who your characters are. Then you throw them out in the world and discover what choices they will make. The characters themselves help write the story. You don't want to outline too much because you don't want to paint them into a corner. Let them be themselves.

Remember it is a tool. Use it only when it makes sense to use it.

It depends on you. Until I joined this site, I didn’t know the term, but I have been a discovery writer for many years. Anytime I try planning a book, my characters run away with it and make it more interesting.

I start with a character, get to know him or her well and then start placing my creation in situations. How will X respond? X does something and I write it.

Who is your story about? What happens? How do they react? What happens next?

The less I plan, the more smoothly it flows. It takes time, but my novel (volumes one and most of volume two) is at 650 pages. I started a prequel which is growing nicely and has announced to me that it will not be the selection of short stories I thought it would be, but a novel.

There are writers here who plan every scene and know exactly where their plot is headed and how it will end. That is not me; my characters create tension and do things, they meet people and say things. I keep up.

I liken my process to a billiard game. My characters are there, waiting - some have yet to be revealed. The cue ball strikes the others and they go spinning off in many directions, creating opportunities for more action. I observe this and choose which path to follow. I write another scene which opens up different possibilities and onward I go. I am often surprised by choices my characters make.

I also consider my novel a river. It flows at different speeds, changes direction and when there are no obstacles to overcome, it becomes languid and peaceful. Obstacles can create white water, but the rapids can only last so long before the river turns and slows. It is always approaching its destination, even when apparently sidetracked.

Just write your story and it will come to you naturally.