Interesting take on outlining novels...

[dm_wyatt]

If you know me, you know that I love Jim Butcher. His Harry Dresden novels are wonderful and the Codex Alera books are addicting, and he sometimes actually posts interesting writing tips on his LJ

Comments

[danceswithgary]

Interesting to read how other people do it. I do not do anything off the computer, no longhand or sketching, but I do outline and plot on the long stories (and even on the short ones depending on what story I'm trying to tell. I don't post a WIP until I know what the ending is going to be, although the journey there may be fluid

[dm_wyatt]

The thing is I always know the ending when I start, whether or not I start posting it...

The ending sometimes changes, but I don't write unless I know where I'm going.

I've tried a couple of times without that and it didn't work, I didn't know where I was going. I didn't have the focus I needed...

Actually, with Superman for Sale, the ending was vague in my mind until recently. I'm pretty sure now how I'm going to end it, even if I haven't worked on it much since my last update.

The idea of that one was just too intriguing for me, I had to start writing it before I knew for sure how it was going to end...

The Clois I'm working on was sorta the same way, I knew the setup but didn't know the ending in any detail. I'm almost done with it and the ending had become clearer as I worked on it.

[jeannev]

I love Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. And from what I know about the man, he's a totally cool guy with a great perspective on writing.

Having said that, I'm upset with him for the ending of Small Favors

[dm_wyatt]

What was wrong with the ending?

I loved that book. I liked it a lot more than the previous two anyway. The last one I truly loved was Dead Beat...

[jeannev]

I didn't like how he quickly wrapped it up. I thought Michael's injury deserved far more attention then it got. I HATE that Harry ended the book casually going on a date.

Just in general, the Michael stuff. It troubled me a lot because I think the character deserved better.

I also thought the Denarians lacked some personality.

[dm_wyatt]

Oh, good points...

If that's the end of Michael's time as a Knight, it wasn't a very good one.

I wonder if Murphy will end up taking up one of the swords.