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Honeydukes (Creative Writing)Indulge in the sweetest of stories! Share, read, and discuss an array of creative writing, from poetry to one-shots to epic sagas.
Some writers carefully map every twist and turn before the story begins. Others step into the page with only a spark of an idea and discover the path as they go. This thread is where we unwrap that question: do you outline your stories, or do you discovery write your way through them?
Perhaps you sketch detailed chapter plans, character arcs, and plot points before writing a single line. Maybe you prefer to dive in with only a vague concept and see where the story carries you. Or perhaps you keep loose notes nearby to guide the journey as it unfolds.
Do outlines keep your story on track, or do they make the process feel too rigid? Does discovery writing bring exciting surprises, or occasionally leave you wandering through the chocolate aisles without a map? Here you can share your writing approach, talk about what works best for you, and compare methods with fellow storytellers.
Whether you are a meticulous planner, a fearless explorer, or somewhere delightfully in between, pull up a stool and share your process.
~ Mrs. Steve Harrington ~ Claimed by Bits ❤️ ~ Queen of Typos ❄ Magical Mosh Pit ❄
For me, it's a combination of both. However, I wouldn't exactly call my planning meticulous because my brain would not let me usually sit to detail out a idea. Once I have one, I find that figuring out the detail becomes easier once I start to write; as long as I keep my idea in mind, then arriving at that point eventually takes place However, during the course of the writing, new ideas spring up and that's when I write them down. Maybe they'll be useful to the current storyline? Maybe they'll be used for another? Who knows!
I am, at my core, a discovery writer. I tend to just have an idea (usually just a specific scene, even) and run with it. In my most recent/current work, I did a very vague/loose outline… mostly because all the writing advice I see/have been given throughout my life is to outline. It’s been helpful. I think? But still, I know that in my heart I am a “let’s just see what happens” writer.
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Do you outline or discovery write? 
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However, during the course of the writing, new ideas spring up and that's when I write them down. Maybe they'll be useful to the current storyline? Maybe they'll be used for another? Who knows! 
