What do you do when you can’t outline and can’t be organic

11 Mar What do you do when you can’t outline and can’t be organic

“Write your Novel from the Middle. A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers, and Everyone in Between.” By James Scott Bell.

I love to collect books on writing that will help me create a cohesive story. This one is probably good for some, and I got some good suggestions, but it truly shines if you happen to be a pantser.

Many people can’t start a book until you know how it ends. I am that way, but I use an outline program called outline 4d and I vaguely know what I want to accomplish at the end and build my books chapter by chapter.

I have seen many a pantser struggle, firmly committed to the idea that good writers don’t need an outline. I would suggest this book to you, not because I think you need to outline, but to give you an ideal place to start then you can work backwards.

James Scott Bell puts out a clear and succinct argument about starting in the middle. He states that if you know where you book is going the beginning is easy. This approach can work for people who are stuck on beginnings and want to use the method to understand the outcome of their characters actions.

He postulates that by knowing what is going to happen in the middle or end of the book before you start the beginning will allow an organic flow of action and give you something in which to build tension.

I applaud this book for trying to get that age old question, to outline or not to outline, to be looked at from a different view point. He has many good suggestions especially for pantsers. However, it was just an average book for someone that works from outlines. Read it, gather a few nuggets of wisdom, it is worth the money, as this little book is very affordable. But understand that this is just an average book with average new information.