Outline Wealth: A Guide to Prosperous Planning by David Farland
Unleashing Your Writing Genius with the Best Books on Plotting and Outlining!
Hey there! Let me spill the beans on an amazing book that's been blowing my literary mind league! Million Dollar Outlines by David Farland. I chanced upon this gem during one of his "Writing Enchanted Prose" classes at Fyrecon last year, and it's been a game-changer ever since!
You see, outlining isn't exactly my forte. So, I nabbed it because I wanted to make my life easier when writing the sequel to Demon Fall. I was aiming for a smoother writing experience, especially since I'd be participating in National Novel Writing Month.
And guess what? This book hit the bullseye! It's perfect for teaching scribes like me how to create in-depth, workable outlines that can serve both personal use and book proposals. It breaks down the process, making it less daunting – a struggle I've always faced.
I've been employing the methods described in the book, like crafting a conflict/resolution page for each character. This technique has been phenomenal for brainstorming plot points and discovering thrilling detours my tales can take.
Farland also dishes out fantastic ideas on narrative techniques that can help amplify emotions. He illustrates these tools with compelling examples, showing their impact.
To top it off, the book concludes with the transcript for the planning meeting for Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's fascinating to see how messy the process can be when outlining a bestseller and all the ideas Lucas, Spielberg, and Kadsan went through to craft their masterpiece.
If you're a fellow discovery writer craving to learn how to outline, I can't recommend Million Dollar Outlines enough. As a pantser myself, it's been a blast learning about the outlining process and realizing I can combine it with my discovery writing superpower to become an even more prolific wordsmith. To put it simply, it's gold, baby!
For me, the book's examples of practical applications really sealed the deal. I learn best through modeling, and reading the excerpts Farland included helped me imagine how these tools can be wielded effectively.
Lastly, the diagrams in the book are to die for. In one section, Farland describes "story shape" and provides some killer diagrams to demonstrate how characters' plots intertwine and unfold. He includes relevant examples from popular books, exhibiting how each character arc meshes together to form the complete plot. It's ignited a fire within me to uncover how I can apply these insights to my own work!
Now, tell me, what book on writing has had the most profound impact on your craft? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Relax, afternoon reader! If you've enjoyed this, don't skimp on checking out these writing wonders:
The Hero's Journey: Death of the Mentor2021 Goals and IntentionsLTUE Writer's and Illustrator's Conference 2020
Need more guidance on outlining and story structure? These books are rock solid:
Three-Act Structure
Although it's not a specific book, the Three-Act Structure is fundamental to many writers. It divides a story into Setup, Middle (messy middle with rising stakes), and Climax/Resolution, with specific beats that maintain narrative momentum and clarity. Writers grappling with plot pacing or structural issues often seek guidance from this model[3].
The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson
This method espouses a sequential approach to outlining, starting from a single summary sentence and progressing to a detailed scene-by-scene outline. It aids writers in creating complex narratives methodically without overwhelm, setting it apart from plot organization frameworks like the Three-Act Structure. It emphasizes gradual story development and character depth[5].
Next Level Plot Structure (Helping Writers Become Authors)
This isn't a traditional book but rather a resource/audio program. It transcends basic plot beats to expose hidden patterns that power unforgettable stories, catering to writers who aspire to delve deeper into story mechanics and elevate their plot structures[4].
Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
This book is a must-read for breaking down the fundamental components of story structure in a manner that's easy to grasp and implement, making it suitable for writers of all levels. It covers the building blocks of story structure and leads readers through the process of moving from turning point to turning point, combining sound theory with practical application. This book is known for its ability to significantly boost storytelling skills and is frequently hailed as a game-changer for writers aiming to create engaging narratives and impress editors and agents[1].
To sum it up, alongside Million Dollar Outlines...
- Story Engineering by Larry Brooks and the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson are highly commended books/resources for writers aiming to master outlining and story structure.
- The Three-Act Structure and advanced plotting concepts like Next Level Plot Structure also complement these works by offering frameworks and pattern recognition, aiding writers in crafting powerful narratives[1][3][4][5].
[1] Story Engineering by Larry Brooks: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Engineering-Mastering-Six-Core-Elements/dp/0757316988[2] Practical Guide to Outlining: https://www.dummies.com/education/writing/book-writing/how-to-outline-a-book-in-10-easy-steps/[3] Three-Act Structure: https://www.study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-three-act-structure-definition.html[4] Next Level Plot Structure: https://jamiemackenzie.com/next-level-plot-structure/[5] The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson: https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/the-snowflake-method/
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Check out these awesome writers conferences! (Opens in new window)The Hero's Journey: Death of the Mentor (Opens in new window)2021 Goals and Intentions (Opens in new window)LTUE Writer's and Illustrator's Conference 2020 (Opens in new window)
- Exploring the realm of education-and-self-development and entertainment, the books Story Engineering by Larry Brooks and The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson serve as exceptional resources for novel writing.
- Enrolling in the education-and-self-development domain, these books on writing, Story Engineering and The Snowflake Method, promise to enhance your learning during the novel writing process.
