Using Google Maps Is a Lot Like Writing from an Outline

 

Last weekend, we went to a family wedding. It was just under an hour from home, but we left early. I keyed the address into Google Maps. We were less than 10 minutes from the wedding venue when the directions took us across a cattle guard. For those of you who aren’t from Cow Country, that’s a pipe grid laid into the road. You can drive over it but cattle won’t cross it. 

The problem? We were going to a vineyard. 

As soon as we realized we were in a field of cattle, we backed back up to the main road. Another member of our party keyed the name of the vineyard into Google Maps. Her set of directions and mine were in agreement (mine had corrected) until we got to a T intersection. Mine said “go right” but hers said “go left.” We went left. 

What does this have to do with writing from an outline? Google Map directions generally sound plausible right up until they don't work.

Have you ever outlined a project and had someone else look it over. They agree with you that everything looks fine. You start writing and your word count is adding up . . . right until it isn’t. You are stuck. Your outline has led you in the wrong direction. 

When this happens with nonfiction, I can generally make the course correction without a lot of fuss and bother. Fiction is another thing altogether. I may be able to make one or two course corrections but after that I’m tentative. Is this the right direction? Why am I suddenly surrounded by cattle? 

So what do you do if your outline leads you in the wrong direction? The first step is to make sure that you know where you wanted to end up. If two characters fail to confront each other but the confrontation is essential, put them in each other’s way. Maybe you send them after the same goal. Or one of them might need to betray the other. 

Other times, it is easier to start with the high conflict scene. Write it and then back up. What has to happen immediately before that scene? Then what must happen before that? Step by step, back up until you meet your original story line. 

You may need a break to come up with a solution. Take a walk and get your blood flowing. Other times I need to undertake a hateful chore. If I scrub the shower floor, I will know what I need to do in ten to fifteen minutes. I’m not sure why, but this always works for me. 

Still can’t come up with a fix? Consider where you ended up. It might not be what you intended, but does it work? Sometimes it will. Other times you are going to have to keep backing up and trying again until you find a fix. 

What do you do when your outline leads you astray?

--SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 60 books for young readers.  

• To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.  
• Click here to find her newsletter.

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin again on November 4, 2024. She teaches:

• Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work 
• Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 
• Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults