Imagine driving to a destination where you want to remember the side roads or alternate routes to get to where you want to go. In this instance, a GPS or a road map would help you during your journey. In writing, an outline serves this purpose. An individual writes down the directions for how to get through a story or an article to assist in remembering the twists and turns the plot must take to arrive at a satisfactory and believable end.
Not all writers see the need to create an outline for their stories. Some have a semblance of their story directions in their heads. They write and tweak their plots as they go along. This approach works for people who do not need help remembering the plot points and subplots that should be in the story.
A writer without an outline is like a driver without a GPS. Before a vehicle operator of this kind starts her journey, she must be sure to recall all the landmarks and signs that will allow her to get to her destination. Writers must keep track of the many actions and moments in their stories.
Storytellers can write outlines on continuous sheets of paper or individual note cards. Composers of written works might find themselves erasing and rewriting sections of their work as they write. They might also move around the stiff paper of story plot points until they are satisfied with the direction in which their stories will go.
Although authors will spend much time outlining how to get to where they want to go, they must be willing to insert and cut sections of their stories as necessary. They should not hesitate to go where the characters are taking them, especially the lead character. In other words, if a writer did not think about something during the planning stage, such a person should include the forgotten information if it enhances or clarifies the plot.
Following characters' leads does not mean the composers of written stories (fiction creators are the chief of them) should allow the people who occupy the world they are creating to get out of control.
The takeaway should be outlining serves a good purpose. It is worth doing. Writers might be glad they try this approach.
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