We’ve discussed mistake after mistake memoir writers make frequently in this blog and on our channel because we hate to see writers struggle and books go unfinished. We’ve talked about the mistakes we see from trying to go it alone to doubting yourself and neglecting to defining your key message. What we’ve found over and over is that so many of these mistakes come back to the same root cause: resisting giving planning stage it’s full time and focus.
That might seem like a basic mistake to make, but it can be sneakier than you might think. In this week’s video, Amanda discusses three reasons why writers resist this stage, sometimes without even realizing it. Watch or read on below the video for ways to avoid this trap.
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Why Outlines and Development Matter
So many writers we work with want to jump right into the writing. It’s really understandable. After all you have fifty to eighty thousand words to write! Wwhy spend time on something that’s not going to count towards that total? Your story feels alive in your mind, bursting to get out, so surely you just need to start getting down, right? It’s a relatable feeling–you don’t want to lose the momentum and energy that gets you to the page by taking the time to make a plan and an outline. This feeling is why the biggest mistake memoir writers make is so insidious. What you’re afraid will happen if you take the time to slow down and write an outline will actually probably happen if you don’t.
Outlines give you the big picture of your book so you can ensure your key message carries through. They give you a clear structure so you know you’re hitting those important points.They give you a managable to-do list. Each writing session can be as productive as possible, no matter how little time you have to dedicate to it. They also give you a basis for your writing scheduling plan.
Scheduling writing time is so important to making continual progress. An outline + a writing schedule = a clear plan so you know when to expect to cross the finish line. Having clear and realistic expectations is so important to getting it done well.
Reasons writers resist outlines
They want to figure it out as they go.
Part of the joy of writing a story is the act of discovery. Things reveal themselves to us as we put words together. When we put our thoughts to paper, we see them and ourselves more clearly. Many writers resist outlining because they don’t want to lose this sense of playful discovery. However, you’re not going to outline it so thoroughly that this joy goes away. Rather, you’re just going to set the major focus points so you know the general field you’re going to play in as you go.
Consider a dog park. The point of a dog park is that you can let the dog off the leash so they can run, play, interact with other dogs. The thing that makes this level of freedom safe and possible is the fence. You and your dog know it’s a safe place to be, so you can let go of the leash. This is also what an outline does. It establishes the boundaries so you know the purpose and scope of your story. You can play in that scope and trust that you’re also making real progress in your book.
This mistake memoir writers make about outlines may stem from the idea that they only have the one book in them to write. It’s true that you might only write one book–but that doesn’t mean you only have one in you. Flannery O’Connor said “Anyone who survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his life.” Having an outline will ensure that you’re not wondering from one book idea and purpose into another or exploring an area that won’t really advance your book. You contain multitudes, but your book should have focus. An outline helps keep that focus.
They’re anxious to start writing.
Writing is the fun part. If you’ve been thinking about writing a book, chances are you’ve started to string words together, even if it’s just in your head. There is a special kind of delight that comes when you’ve thought about things you want to express and the words seem to come together in that clever and honest way. It’s natural that you just want to get into that part where you’re transcribing all the thoughts in your head and seeming the pages stack up.
Often, we find that when writers start out that way, they can keep up that feeling for about three to four chapters. That’s about how long it takes to run out of that material you’ve been rehearsing and workshopping in your head that comes out so easily. And then…it gets harder. When you don’t have a clear plan, it’s so easy to lose momentum completely as you try to figure out where to go next. Worse, doubts about whether those chapters you have written as as good as they felt to write.
When you dive in because you’re worried about losing that exciting feeling, you might just be putting it off a couple months.
Sunk Cost Fallacy
The sunk cost fallacy is a cognitive bias that happens when people continue investing in a decision or project based on the amount of resources they have already committed. This fallacy leads to irrational decision-making, as people feel compelled to continue with a course of action simply because they have already invested significant time, money, or effort, even when it’s not the most beneficial choice. This is the fallacy that keeps people glued to penny slots or poker tables, and it’s also the fallacy that keeps some writers from making an outline.
Perhaps you have already written those first three exciting chapters and experienced that stall out. Or you’ve written a dozen blog posts that work on their own and were already polished to be published. Or you have three years’ worth of journals. The sensation that this work will be wasted if you outline now is an illusion. It’s not wasted–it just needs a clear plan for how it can be reformed as part of larger cohesive work.
Outlines aren’t contracts
One important way to avoid this mistake memoir writers so often make is to remember that outlines aren’t contracts. When you make an outline, that doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. An outline provides structure and a plan, but sometimes plans need to change. And that’s okay! In fact, an outline can help even when your overall plan changes.
Perhaps you come to a point and discover it will take much more time to cover than you originally thought. Having that outline means you can go back to the road map and figure out what this detour means for your big picture. Maybe that means you’ll take a short cut in a later chapter, or maybe it will mean you need to double up on time at some point in your schedule, or maybe it will mean you’ll get to the end a couple weeks after you originally plan. Knowing how it will affect the plan means it becomes part of the plan. It keeps you in the driver’s seat and makes it easier to maintain your confidence throughout the process.
Resisting the planning stage of writing a memoir is a common and understandable mistake, but it’s one that can have significant repercussions down the line. By dedicating time to outline and plan, writers can maintain their momentum, stay focused on their key messages, and ensure their writing process is as smooth and productive as possible.
Outlining not only provides a clear roadmap but also enhances the joy of discovery within a structured framework, ensuring that every writing session contributes meaningfully to the final product. Remember, a well-crafted outline is your best ally in navigating the intricate journey of memoir writing.
Ready to make your memoir a reality? Dive into The Memoir Method and give your story the structure and attention it deserves.
Happy writing!
