11
Unpopular opinion: Outlining destroys the soul of a short story
I wrote three stories last month using a strict outline first method and they all felt stiff, like paint-by-numbers. Then I tried a freewriting approach for a dark fantasy piece and the words just flowed into a twist ending I never planned. Has anyone else found that planning too much kills the creative spark in your drafts?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
the_emma18d ago
Honestly, that paint-by-numbers feeling is exactly what I get with strict outlines too. It reminds me of how people overplan their weekends with packed schedules and then feel more drained than if they just let the day happen. The twist endings and surprises come from trusting your gut, not forcing a map onto something that should feel alive. Ngl, freewriting lets the story breathe in a way that strict planning never can.
3