Switched from outlining every chapter to just a loose bullet list

I used to plan every scene down to the dialogue beats for my sci-fi novel, but it killed the spontaneity. Now I just jot 3-4 plot points per chapter and let the story find its own path as I write. Has anyone else tried going minimalist with their prep and seen better results?

2 comments

2 Comments

smith.anna27d ago

My bullet list turned into a grocery list once, lol.

mary61427d ago

I was actually reading about how our brains work when we are tired or stressed, and it's wild how easily things can get mixed up like that. The article said your brain's filter system gets weaker when you are running low on sleep or energy. So your "to-do" list just kind of merges with whatever is in your fridge or pantry. It's basically your brain taking a shortcut and grabbing whatever comes to mind first. Honestly, it makes me feel a little better about the time I wrote "milk" and "eggs" next to "finish project report.