I have completed my first novel, polished it as shiny as I can get it and am in process of submitting it to agents.

So now I've sketched out the next story line and I'm happy with it, my question is this would you(whoever you are reading this!) try to sketch out a synopsis now, always given the fact that it could change? Would it firm the story up any in your mind?

I suppose I'm asking the same old chestnut - how much planning should be done before starting the writing?

But to me it's a new question, so I thought I'd ask it! For the last one I did far too much planning, which I then ignored really in the main - the planning is much lighter this time, and because of it the story is forming quicker. Best to write it down now you think? Then accept it is not set in stone?

Any views? All will be gratefully received.

Cheers

Avis

Best of luck with the submissions, and meanwhile, some thoughts in no particular order.

If you've sketched out a story, how much more material would doing a synopsis need? How long would it take you, and if you then departed from it, would that matter?

There's all the difference in the world, between planning out a novel and then ignoring the plan, and starting Chapter One with no plan at all. I think many (most?) writers need to have a rough idea of the direction they're headed in, even if it's only a signpost at Land's End which says John O'Groats one way and Isles of Scilly the other.

Would it be more useful to make a schematic plan of structure and events, or to write continuous sentences, synopsis style, making a story out of the bare bones?

Consider doing the plan in pencil, as it were, and changing it as you go: that can emphasis that a plan is only thinking aloud, and as you say, it's not binding.

Would doing a bit of planning mean that you picked up on some research which would be best done sooner rather than later?

Emma

would you...try to sketch out a synopsis now,

No. But I find it helpful to sketch one out as I go along, and around two thirds of the way through it pretty much settles into something I can just polish off at the end.


- NaomiM

Thanks Emma & Naomi

what I have is a spread sheet of items - one line per chapter. It works for me, so I know the signposts along the way, as t'were.

Yep, you've confirmed what I suspicion-ed - don't lock it in too hard, or there'll be tears before bedtime!!

Last time I wrote 3k-ish words of outline and ignored the detail, so less is more I guess!

Cheers

Avis

Hi Avis,
I know from bitter experience that not enough planning (in my case because I was impatient to get on with the fun part) can actually cost you more time in the long run when you have to go back and change almost everything (as I pretty much did with Book 1).
If you're the type who reads all the instructions on your flat-pack furniture before you pick up the screwdriver you'll probably feel much happier having done at least a half-detailed plot sketch, even if you end up changing most of it later. If you're the kind who picks up the screwdriver straight away, then ends up taking the whole thing apart twenty minutes later, swearing your head off because you've done it wrong (i.e. if you're me) then you won't listen to this advice anyway, but I would say it is a good idea to still do a half-detailed plot sketch, even though you really, really don't want to.
I'm at the planning stage now with Book 2, which is why I'm here on WW instead of getting on with it!
Good luck,
Claire.