Without another person to spark off, I need other tools. When I’m outlining alone, it’s a much more introspective affair. When there’s two of you, the sparking of ideas back and forth is very much a dialogue. We do it very much ‘in the moment’ and in a conversational style. The result is a sprawling, chaotic, frothing rainbow of ideas. When Sally (Malcolm) and I are outlining, we usually end up creating a bunch of different Google docs and responding to each other’s comments in new colours.
Outlining with a co-author is particularly fun. but will actually introduce new plot ideas. I love how research will not only inform things like setting, backstory etc. When I’m outlining a historical, there’s usually a fair bit of research going on at the same time (sometimes for a contemporary as well, but never as much). I love the ideas stage, when your brain is popping and fizzing with excitement, and the story is all wide-open potential. Outlining is one of my favourite parts of the process. Some roads, once taken, can’t be retreated from.īesides those practical considerations, there’s a degree of preference here.
You can double back, of course, but not always. After all, what could be more possibility-laden than a blank white page? But in my experience (and ok, it is only *my* experience) as soon as you begin writing – like it or not – you begin to make choices and at each of those forks in the road, you close down certain options. I realise that might sound counterintuitive to some people. It’s also about exploring the possibilities fully. It’s not just about the pain of revision though. If I don’t, revising will be much more painful. If I do that, I will generally have very few wasted words. I need to get, not just the story, but the characters, clear in my head before I start. I write better – and more happily – when I outline and plan in detail. For me, one of those things is advance planning. I’ve written quite a few books now, and while my writing process will probably always be evolving to some extent, some things are fundamental.
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