I finished my first screenplay without an outline. It's the best work I've ever done. (remember first) I wrote an outline for my next project several months ago. I decided not to use it while writing. Why? I thought that if I couldn't write it from my memory that I didn't know the story well enough. I'll go to my outline when I finish my first draft. I'll make adjustments then. Have any of you ever done that? Any thoughts?
Screenwriting : Out with the Outline? by Alan B. Cox
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I don't do a prose document. I do a stack of cards, may be I'll write a few questions (these normally contradict each other). I may even write a scene or two. Once I understand my character and the world they live in I can start. I could just start but then rewrites would be the real writing.
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Do whatever you want on your own Time and without deadlines. Nobody cares about your individual process to finish a spec script. However if you are serious about writing for a living, practice doing outlines. TV Writers must do outlines. Screenwriters write outlines / detailed treatments for assignment gigs.
The outline/treatment/synopsis is supposed to save Time and Everybody wants to be part of the process.
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Thanks for all the comments on using outlines. My point was that I wrote one and then decided not to use it to see if I knew my story well enough. Thanks again for the comments. ABC
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Rock on!
I once wrote a novel without an outline, but I found that I rushed through some scenes in a rush to get to the end. I'm now writing my second novel with an outline, and it is a lot easier because it can be easy for me to forget some important details.
I'm sure that an outline is the best way. I'll use my outline to improve my script during my first re-write.
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I seldom use an outline because I like to just sit in front of my computer and start writing. I am sure it is not the best way but that is what seems to work for me. Everyone is different that is for sure.
Well, Alan, if you wrote an outline and then didn't use it I wonder if your script follows the outline nevertheless or why you found it so remarkable not "to use" the outline. Actually, your question is saying you first wrote an outline and then wrote a completely different story - or did I miss anything?
Perhaps working more from a mental outline versus a written one? ;)
Elisabeth, I did write and outline first. I'll let you know if it follows the outline when I finish. That was my point. I wanted to see the difference, if there is one. I'll use the best parts of both in my next draft. Remarkable??
I've found that every writer has to find their best way to work. Personally, I can't stand outlines. At most, I might note some plot points and make my way towards them.
Alan, thanks for explaining. So far the way you act is very normal, not remarkable. Each story has it's own character and sometimes you write an outline and treatment before you begin and it's yet hard to write the whole thing and sometimes you write without checking your outline again. But as already mentioned here: You have to write outlines as soon as you write assignments. Best of luck for all of you!
Sometimes I use an outline, sometimes I use bullet points, it depends on how I feel at the moment.
I ALWAYS outline. I find it virtually eliminates writer's block for me since all the heavy lifting is done before I start page one. In addition, almost all of my work is on assignment and THEY want outlines. Much easier to change things at that stage rather than after the first draft.
Outline is very helpful. It is for you not to concentrate on the irrelevant but keep good closeness to the relevant subjects you should make detailed in your script. You will never know that you have omitted a great deal of the ideas you want to put down when you are writing without an outline until you finish.