How do you come up with a full plot outline?

[Sol]

Hello! I've been aspiring to make my own webcomic for a while now, and while I have a general idea for a premise, I have no idea where to go from there in order to flesh out an actual outline of events. So I was wondering how others here think up of plots/their process of doing so. Any input would be much appreciated- thanks a lot for your time!

[yonseo]

Start by asking yourself a few questions, think of it from a different perspective as if another person was asking about your story.
Where does it take place? Who's the main character? What is the purpose? What's the characters job? What does the character do?

One movie that has helped me out with developing stories is Jumanji 1995. The story revolves around a board game that comes to life. If there was no board game then there's no story. At the start of the film there's character development and introduction and that leads to discovering a board game. If we didn't have that introduction we wouldn't really care about the main character or what happens to him/her.

This film is so basic, if you cut it into pieces and analyze it, it makes for a great resource for storytelling and you can apply these concepts or ideas to your story.

That is what has helped me developing a story. It may be different for others but this film helped me understand the core of creating a story.

[Sol]

Thanks so much for the advice! I will definitely try to check Jumanji out for myself as well. This was really helpful. Thanks again!

[fakey]

Usually when I'm outlining a full plot I just start writing and then I look back over what I have to tighten it up. I also like to write out multiple scenarios the plot could take depending on what direction I choose to go. When I start writing a full outline I typically have a general idea of how I want the story to go and so I tend to focus on getting out the skeleton of it so I can go back later and add some meat to it.

If I were you, I'd get a notebook and just start with Number 1, where you write out how you think the story will start. Then just build off of that. You might find the plot points come naturally or maybe they won't. I find it helpful regardless because it's nice to just get a rough idea of what you think is going to happen. Just writing what comes naturally can help you to realize other ideas you wouldn't have thought of originally. Just don't stress too much over doing an outline this way because you can always go back afterwards to change things so just because you have a plot point written down doesn't mean you're locked into it.

[Trijucre]

Using a story structure could be useful if you don't know how to start your story.
I like Dan Harmon's one cause it's a really basic one so you have still some space to experiment your ideas.

Story Structure 101: Super Basic Shit

[jpnakashima]

I find that every story is different and I find myself using different methods to plot each one of them, including some people have already said above. I thought I'd give it a go and say what I usually do and them some thoughts, some food for thought and stuff, that may help you see things from a different angle (or just complicate it more, in which case, you should forget it! haha)

Knowing your format is key. Will your story have chapters? Will it be just pages in a big story? What I usually do is, first, I write a short synopsis for each chapter of my story. I usually skip writing a synopsis for the whole thing, but it may help. Then, I write a short sentence for what happens in every page of my chapter, breaking down the pacing, and then I like to write the dialogue on it before writing the panels, finishing it. That's the basic of what I usually do (for example, in my Tapas series, I usually write panels first and them complete with dialogue). You can do it one step at a time, this happens, which causes this to happen, which causes this... Also never forget that a plan is just a plan and they change, so if your gut says to take a risk when the time comes to draw a chapter, or to create an extra page between some, do it! Improvise! It's what makes writing so exciting! I know it can be frightening, I'm always scared shitless, but hey, that can be the cool part!

I'm used to think in terms of structure and less in terms of previous background. When you break your story, slowly, into parts, you start to organize it. I usually do very little work in character before the story and I'll say why below. I agree with yonsseo, you should always ask questions. Is the pacing flowing? Are things happening? If not, is it important to take this breather? When you see the outline for your chapters, are people undergoing a character arc? Do this character even need to? (in the words of Max Landis, character development is not the only way. He mentions Han Solo: he doesn't really change with the movies, but we as an audience discover more and more about him we didn't know, and that's cool too).

As for the food for thought part:
_I have this little cool book called ''Alan Moore's Writing for Comics'' and he says that a story is different from a plot. A plot is what happens, while the story is what it is about. Ideally, all stories are about something, a central theme, a collection of them or at least a curiousity. Naruto is, in the beginning, about solitude (think about Naruto, Gaara, Sasuke, Lee, lonely people because of different reasons) and how to cope with it. Batman Lego is about family and opening up. This can help you or paralyze you, so remember, it's all tools to help you. If thinking of theme helps you see things clearly, do it. If not, just write. The theme will present itself in time.
_Max Landis says he never writes ''bibles'' before a story, a collection of character bios and details about the world. He says he doesn't, and I agree, because a character and a world only exist in relation to the story. It's cool to have details, but in the end, what matters is what's on the page. If it's not, it's just padding. All you have to know about your character is in the story. That said, I know people who work a lot better writing about their characters before, and hey, padding is cool too (outside the story, like in data books), so again, tools tools tools.

I guess the bottom line is sit and write, man. Go one step at a time. Read again. Mix it up. Or not. As you can see from these posts, there are maany ways and tools, and you can toy with them to see which works best for you.
I wish you great luck and come back here to link us your series when you release it!!

[shazzbaa]

When I'm working on a plot the most basic step is to make a list of Stuff I Want To Happen and then sort of flesh it out from there -- once I have it all written down it's easier for me to see where the holes are, and what parts of story I need to put more thought into or where I've got events in mind that don't lead easily into each other.

So it's okay to me if it looks like:

• they leave town to find the wizard
• they meet the wizard, he's not friendly
• they convince him to help them (how??????)
• ???? something happens here
• FOR SOME REASON???? travel to THE FOREST
• run into the elves who are very suspicious

I'll tend to start sorta "zoomed out" (Chapter 1 - meet the wizard, Chapter 2 - travel thru the forest, etc.) and then zoom in to focus on more details (basic gist of Chapter 1 --> outline of things that happen in chapter 1 -- > list of scenes that make up each thing that happens in chapter 1, etc)

Something that helps me a lot is to think of it not as a list of events,

but to think of it in terms of cause and effect -- what caused this piece of plot to happen, and how does that piece affect other pieces?

I prefer to have a chapter scripted before I start drawing it, but I definitely don't have the whole story fully plotted in detail before I begin. I try to get to the point where I have a rough idea of the sequence of events and believe they all make sense, and then start zooming in on the first parts. It helps me to kind of have wiggle-room on the later parts of the story, so that I can sort of flesh them out more when I get to them.

[PaulDevers]

When I do it, I usually do two completely different charts. Chart A is the first one, and usually goes about in a stream of conciousness, stating which plot points happen to which character in the 'general' order that they should happen. Usually going in chapter orders, with what the big idea for that chapter is. Example:
-Chapter 1
*Introduce main characters
*Establish setting and main goal
*Mostly silly jokes and stuff.
*Show relationship (Big Part)
After I finish a chart like that for almost the whole story, I move my charts over to microsoft Excel so I can make a timeline of events in order to make sure everything works out!

[Croik]

This is very similar to what I do, though I like to start with the beginning and end in mind and gradually work toward the middle. "What needs to happen for THAT to happen?" is one of the most valuable questions for plotting.

[IdiotWithPencil]

first I start with the ending and beginning, having both down and in stone I try to make the middle interesting, I'm of the mindset that people like character dramas and character tension more so then outside problems,so I put my characters in turmoils that effect them and mostly only them and try to show how they react to the turmoil, and I make sure the middle always builds up or ends where the ending is, if the ending has a giant cannonball I will place the characters getting the giant ball somewhere in the middle of the story. that way things always make some kind of sense XD

also some mystery spiced in helps a lot in keeping the plot from getting boring :3

but that's just my approach

[djwaglmuffin]

I actually created a story creation kit to help people along with this process:

SC Kit

Download the pages and see if filling them out helps you and everyone can use this kit if you'd like.

Also, have yourself an idea folder where it's just stuff you're thinking about. It'll help to "loosen" some of the clutter that creating a story from the ground up can collect.

I also teach classes on this but if you have any specific questions about any of the pages, let me know. I'll give you a run down.

[indagold]

I think it varies person to person. Some people thumbnail/storyboard the plot out, some people do bullet points, some people make a list of ideas and some just outright write down the whole story in one go. For me I just spend a long time thinking of what the plot is and then when I feel I have it I write it down in one go and then keep going back and editing it over months, even years until I get what I want. And then sometimes I write a sentence down and keep it to remember to expand on it later. Depends really. If you're starting out and have no idea what you want I think making bullet points or a short paragraph of what you want and keep expanding until you're happy enough with it.

[liquidlilium]

It definitely varies from person to person. And don't be afraid to try different work processes^^

Personally I prefer to start with quick character sketches and writing or illustrating a couple of key scenes to get a better feel for the characters. Then I do a crude plot outline before doing the thumbnails with script and notes all on the same paper (gets kinda messy^^; then I do preliminary page layouts before finally drawing the comic

I can really recommend writing/drawing a few scenes of important characters interacting with each other before finishing the plot outline, regardless of your work process. It's a good way to get a better feel for the characters and avoid writing scenes where your characters have to act ooc to advance the story^^

[SoFt]

Y'know, I've never considered myself the best at giving out advice concerning this sort of thing, but one surprising thing that's helped me more in recent years than anything else in my lifetime?

Talking about it.

Obviously, it's gotta be with someone who likes encountering new stories and whom you feel you can trust, but if you manage to find anybody like that, random conversation tangentially related to subject matter contained within your story can lead you to surprising breakthroughs on points where you might have been stuck. It might even lead you to a new, but still worthwhile story altogether. I work well enough just writing on my own, but launching into projects with fresh perspectives built on compelling conversation gave birth to two of my strongest stories, one of which is the one I share here.

So, if you're open to that idea and know someone you can bounce concepts off of, give it a shot. To be clear, you don't even need to be asking them about your story specifically. Just ask about how they might feel if they were the type of being one of your characters is or if they had to deal with one of your written situations.

If you're writing a romance: "How did you meet your significant other?"
If you're writing about supernaturals: "Why do you figure immortal beings care so much about us all the time?"
If you're writing about zombies: "If your best friend got bitten, what would you do?"

Just stuff like that. Who knows? Maybe it only works for me, but if not, it can work wonders =) .

[Zaboem]

You might not like this answers, but it really does depend on what is being written.

Typically, I plan out what I will write with as extensive of an outline as I can me. I am very organized like that. The actual first draft is easy because I'm really just going through the outline and filling in details. If creating the outline is the issue, maybe using an actual methodology. I recommend "Zero to Novel" by Lonnie Ezell. It's a very short book, but if you go through the exercises, you will end up with an actual physical outline of your story in your hands. It's not a free resource, but you can get it cheap in PDF or audio book version.

In my current project, however, I am flying entirely by the seat of my pants. I basically am collecting together all of the easiest-to-write characters I can create. I am putting them in the same setting. Then, the writes itself.

As Dave Sim once wrote, "These characters basically write themselves. I could just put all of these characters in a dark locked closet together, and a story would just flow out." (slightly paraphrased from memory) Then, he created an issue almost exactly like that. My current novella is my version of an easy locked in a closet sort of story.

[TimCaloweh]

I keep it all in my head. I got five stories all being molded at a moments notice. I don't know if its my anxiety or a lack of patience but i don't like writing my stuff down unless i absolutely have to. Otherwise it becomes tedious to change something so simple. Many people could disagree but i see too many similar ideas, cringey dialogue, and unbelievable storytelling to simplly stick with one idea. If you love it enough, you will remember. If not, it's still yours to mold.

[spadesart]

what i did was write down the big plot points first in an 'overarching plot' list. it helps to get the base sketelon filled in. mine looks something like this (spoilers redacted)

that kind of got me started on filling in the individual chapter outlines. i kinda see it as setting up the main scenes you picture in your head and connecting the dots between them