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That creative writing teacher who told me to stop outlining
Had a writing professor in community college say outlining kills creativity. Told me to just sit down and write whatever comes out. Spent 4 months producing garbage that went nowhere. Finally went back to my old method of a 3 page outline before starting a story. Much better results. Anyone else find that "pantsing" advice actually made their writing worse?
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barbara_sanchez8812d agoMost Upvoted
Have you ever thought maybe it's not about outlining versus pantsing, but about what stage you're at as a writer? In my experience, new writers need structure to learn the basics, while people who have been doing it for years can get away with being more free. Your professor might have meant well but gave advice that works for some and totally flops for others. I've seen so many people hit a wall because they took the wrong advice at the wrong time. Your mileage may vary, but I'd say stick with what actually helps you finish stuff, even if some teacher says it's wrong.
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