Writing Without an Outline: I Crafted My Book During Life's Challenges Without Direction

Introduction

Curse of the Shadowshifters started as a freewrite back in 2016, my now husband was working out of town, and I was writing to pass the time during a lonely winter. Once I decided to recreate it to turn it into a fully functioning novel, I never anticipated the result.

I never sat down to outline, develop a plot, or ponder the ending of the story. It felt like I blacked out while writing the entire thing while sitting at my mother's bedside. Then something unexpected happened: my characters began to take over, and once I neared chapter 12, my plot finally came to fruition.

Writing in the Midst of Life’s Challenges

I ended up purchasing noise-cancellation headphones to wear while I created, once I realized this was becoming bigger than an emotional outlet for me. My mom passed away while I was drafting chapter 11, and by then, I had a rough idea of how Curse of the Shadowshifters was going to end.

Writing in the hospital had a big influence on my character development. I poured all of my fear, doubt, grief, and anger into the emotions of my cast. While doing that, it helped me stay steady in the real world so I could show up as a figure of strength for the woman who fought for her life next to me.

Where the hospital harnessed the growth of my characters, writing at work planted the seed that eventually gave my story structure and direction. It is the only space silent enough for me to organize the ideas that constantly race through my mind.

Embracing the Unplanned: Writing Without a Plot

I've always had a passion for writing! People from my childhood would tell you I was always creating random somethings in notebooks, and writing without a plan feels normal for me. I've always done it that way. There's no pressure or stress, just creative energy that will tell you where to go. Writing should be an outlet for expression and individuality. I personally find it more enjoyable that way.

The plot came organically around chapter 12; I was sitting at my desk one day and said, "Yes! This is my plot, and book two will end this way... and book three will end like this." I know this isn't traditionally how it works for many authors out there, but my mind works uniquely.

The main advantage of writing without a plan is that your own story will surprise you. While re-reading, I will often sit down to scribble notes in a notebook and be surprised by the things I forgot about including in the story.

The biggest challenge, though? My notes are so unorganized, so all over the place, that I'm probably the only person who can make sense of them. Occasionally, I will open early draft notes and think, "Is this for my book?"

The Milestone of Chapter 28: Completing the First Draft

Finishing the first draft with 28 chapters in total was a major success! During my re-read through the first 12 chapters of the story, I've had to completely break them down to reconstruct them. Many things happened that no longer fit the plot, and this time around, I know my characters and their story on an intimate and personal level.

The second draft is being continued with much more clarity and intent, making me even more excited for the finished results. I'm anxious to be able to share it with the world!

Don't stress about creating in ways that you're "supposed to" because sometimes, the most rewarding creations come from just going for it! Writing can be many things for a variety of people, and I will continue to write in the way that feels most organic and enjoyable to me.

Until next week,

Liora