tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post1607239062214637728..comments2024-03-22T23:59:37.332-07:00Comments on Les Edgerton on Writing: OUTLININGLes Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-79197777121772764432022-01-11T21:39:05.091-08:002022-01-11T21:39:05.091-08:00The blog is very well written and has an impressiv...The blog is very well written and has an impressive collection of data. Many thanks. You might find this profile interesting <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Clicker%20Counter" rel="nofollow">Clicker Counter</a>. This profile contains information about your clicking speed, which you can measure.<br />Rosemarie Cozarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15355483134259426113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-55993130934381999682010-05-21T10:18:04.340-07:002010-05-21T10:18:04.340-07:00Hope it helps, Ransom! Ever since I stumbled upon ...Hope it helps, Ransom! Ever since I stumbled upon this, it's helped my own output tremendously.<br /><br />The difficult thing is to understand that it's the opposite of comp outline topic sentences and isn't the beginning of the action but the result. How you get there gives the writer complete freedom.Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-83803448485073508042010-05-21T08:40:45.169-07:002010-05-21T08:40:45.169-07:00I see what you mean about outlining. I'm going...I see what you mean about outlining. I'm going to be attempting the 15-20 words now. Whee! <br /><br />I'm amazed how many different ways there are to go about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-82132503078664395772010-04-20T12:37:19.107-07:002010-04-20T12:37:19.107-07:00And I get the award I gave to the Journal-Aftertho...And I get the award I gave to the Journal-Afterthought for my error in repeating the Ray Carver stuff! But... this isn't a newspaper... it's just a blog. Even so, I apologize!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-52261722590135241662010-04-20T12:35:17.315-07:002010-04-20T12:35:17.315-07:00Caught me, Jean! I did say that, didn't I? I&#...Caught me, Jean! I did say that, didn't I? I've changed my mind a bit. That's why nobody, including moi, is infallible. Why John Gardner told Ray Carver told Ray Carver to forget everything he told him! I won't do that, but I have changed my mind on this a little bit. I think if you figure out a resolution to your surface problem, by the time you get at least halfway through the novel, the story-worthy problem that it's symptomatic of will at least begin to appear. Of course, if you can figure out the story-worthy problem in the beginning, you're really ahead of the game. Does that help, I hope?Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-13576308591999480792010-04-20T08:10:51.686-07:002010-04-20T08:10:51.686-07:00Thanks for your responses.
In "Hooked" ...Thanks for your responses.<br /><br />In "Hooked" you wrote: <br /> <br /><i>And if you don’t do the work of figuring out your character’s story-worthy problem before beginning your story, you stand a good chance of ending up with a story that’s too slight or superficial</i>.<br /><br />I thought that was a very good point. But I take it it's not always possible. <br /><br />Best of luck with the novel. I liked the "Credit Arranger" short story and am looking forward to see it expanded in a book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-83903727285871093322010-04-20T06:13:33.225-07:002010-04-20T06:13:33.225-07:00Jean, to answer your questions:
1. The 92,000-wor...Jean, to answer your questions:<br /><br />1. The 92,000-word novel is titled THE GENUINE, IMITATION, PLASTIC KIDNAPPING and is as yet, unpublished. However, it is being read by the editor of a new imprint from Little, Brown at the moment, and I anticipate a sale, if not to him, then to someone. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!<br /><br />2. I just list the resolution of the surface problem. Reason? Because many times the author--like the protagonist--doesn't yet know what the story-worthy problem is nor its resolution at the time of creating the outline. Many times, it takes getting further along in the writing of the novel for the story-worthy problem to reveal itself to the author. It's always the "real" reason the protagonist is struggling to resolve the surface problem, so eventually the author will know what the real problem is, but there are times when the writer, just like the character, only realize it near the end. But, the outline works anyway, since he or she is driving toward the resolution of that problem. Make sense? Hope so!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-61202381531195704512010-04-19T18:28:27.453-07:002010-04-19T18:28:27.453-07:00Q1: Where can we find the 92,000 word novel you me...Q1: Where can we find the 92,000 word novel you mention in the post?<br /><br />Q2: In "Hooked" you clearly draw a distinction between the surface problems and the story-worthy problem.<br />How does the story-worthy problem enter the 20-word outline? <br />An example would be great.<br /><br />Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-49748517111905747022010-04-14T11:19:33.512-07:002010-04-14T11:19:33.512-07:00Thanks, Wayne. I'm familiar with Franklin'...Thanks, Wayne. I'm familiar with Franklin's book and have it. The 15-20 word outline was from someone else though. But, Franklin's is a good one, also. I'll think of who came up with it and post it so the proper person can get credit.Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-26258518507454832482010-04-13T17:49:56.395-07:002010-04-13T17:49:56.395-07:00The 3 word outline was in Jon Franklin's book ...The 3 word outline was in Jon Franklin's book "Writing for Story." He used it for non-fiction articles.Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00161253579873004088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-12248973098921528552010-04-11T02:20:10.101-07:002010-04-11T02:20:10.101-07:00I got half way through my wip and realised I shoul...I got half way through my wip and realised I should have outlined. I then got yWriter and backtracked with a basic outline. It worked, and I moved forward a lot faster than I had anticipated.<br /><br />Interesting post, thanks Les.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-82995744852296750302010-04-09T14:01:00.196-07:002010-04-09T14:01:00.196-07:00COOL!Tiffany! You go, girl. When am I going to see...COOL!Tiffany! You go, girl. When am I going to see some new pages?Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-82325561104459330522010-04-09T13:34:51.630-07:002010-04-09T13:34:51.630-07:00I just did the outline for my book. Fifteen words....I just did the outline for my book. Fifteen words. You learned me! Thanks again.Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17111064354616483882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-5121143215654287132010-04-09T05:17:49.339-07:002010-04-09T05:17:49.339-07:00Try this kind of outline, Kari. I think you'll...Try this kind of outline, Kari. I think you'll find you start finishing more stories--short fiction as well as novels. It's been a life-saver for me! And... it's easy. I'm all for easy...Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-57537788058895354412010-04-08T22:03:44.142-07:002010-04-08T22:03:44.142-07:00Les, this is almost exactly what I'm working o...Les, this is almost exactly what I'm working on with my current WIP. I'm also one of those people who have a great idea then I fizzle out while writing it. I figure if I have an idea of where I'm going with my story then hopefully I can work on finishing :)Kari Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07568153229230329211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-12322693327470187252010-04-08T16:25:41.584-07:002010-04-08T16:25:41.584-07:00Shannon, I just wish I could remember whose book i...Shannon, I just wish I could remember whose book it was that outlined this. It wasn't my idea--it was his, and it's worked extremely well for me. Hope you try it and report it did for you, too!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-55898146218613368672010-04-08T15:59:07.288-07:002010-04-08T15:59:07.288-07:00I would never have imagined an entire novel with o...I would never have imagined an entire novel with only a 15-20 word outline. I appreciate the time you took to clarify each step of the process. This is one I'll have to print and save in my writing folder. Thanks, Les! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.com