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Writing into the Dark: How to Write a Novel without an Outline (WMG Writer's Guides) by [Dean Wesley Smith]

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Dean Wesley Smith

Writing into the Dark: How to Write a Novel without an Outline (WMG Writer's Guides) Kindle Edition

by Dean Wesley Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

300 ratings

Part of: WMG Writer's Guides (24 books)

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With more than a hundred published novels and more than seventeen million copies of his books in print, USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith knows how to outline. And he knows how to write a novel without an outline.

In this WMG Writer’s Guide, Dean takes you step-by-step through the process of writing without an outline and explains why not having an outline boosts your creative voice and keeps you more interested in your writing.

Want to enjoy your writing more and entertain yourself? Then toss away your outline and Write into the Dark.

“Dean Wesley Smith’s blog gives both a slightly different view of the publishing world than I’d seen before and detailed hands-on “here’s how to get from A to B” instruction.”
— Erin M. Hartshorn, Vision: A Resource for Writers

Print length

70 pages
Language

English
Publication date

May 10, 2015
File size

428 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Considered one of the most prolific writers working in modern fiction, USA Today bestselling writer Dean Wesley Smith published far more than a hundred novels in forty years, and hundreds of short stories across many genres. At the moment he produces novels in four major series, including the time travel Thunder Mountain novels set in the Old West, the galaxy-spanning Seeders Universe series, the urban fantasy Ghost of a Chance series, and a superhero series starring Poker Boy. His monthly magazine, Smith’s Monthly, which consists of only his own fiction, premiered in October 2013 and offers readers more than 70,000 words per issue, including a new and original novel every month. During his career, Dean also wrote a couple dozen Star Trek novels, the only two original Men in Black novels, Spider-Man and X-Men novels, plus novels set in gaming and television worlds. Writing with his wife Kristine Kathryn Rusch under the name Kathryn Wesley, he wrote the novel for the NBC miniseries The Tenth Kingdom and other books for Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. He wrote novels under dozens of pen names in the worlds of comic books and movies, including novelizations of almost a dozen films, from The Final Fantasy to Steel to Rundown. Dean also worked as a fiction editor off and on, starting at Pulphouse Publishing, then at VB Tech Journal, then Pocket Books, and now at WMG Publishing, where he and Kristine Kathryn Rusch serve as series editors for the acclaimed Fiction River anthology series. For more information about Dean’s books and ongoing projects, please visit his website at www.deanwesleysmith.com. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00XIPANX8
Publisher ‏ : ‎ WMG Publishing, Inc. (May 10, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 10, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 428 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 70 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #142,084 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #80 in Two-Hour Education & Reference Short Reads
- #110 in Authorship
- #148 in Writing Skill Reference (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
300 ratings

About the author

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Dean Wesley Smith

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At the moment he produces novels in several major series, including the time travel Thunder Mountain novels set in the Old West, the galaxy-spanning Seeders Universe series, the urban fantasy Ghost of a Chance series, a superhero series starring Poker Boy, and a mystery series featuring the retired detectives of the Cold Poker Gang.

His monthly magazine, Smith’s Monthly, which consists of only his own fiction, premiered in October 2013 and offers readers more than 70,000 words per issue, including a new and original novel every month.

During his career, Dean also wrote a couple dozen Star Trek novels, the only two original Men in Black novels, Spider-Man and X-Men novels, plus novels set in gaming and television worlds. Writing with his wife Kristine Kathryn Rusch under the name Kathryn Wesley, he wrote the novel for the NBC miniseries The Tenth Kingdom and other books for Hallmark Hall of Fame movies.

He wrote novels under dozens of pen names in the worlds of comic books and movies, including novelizations of almost a dozen films, from The Final Fantasy to Steel to Rundown.

Dean also worked as a fiction editor off and on, starting at Pulphouse Publishing, then at VB Tech Journal, then Pocket Books, and now at WMG Publishing, where he and Kristine Kathryn Rusch serve as series editors for the acclaimed Fiction River anthology series.

For more information about Dean’s books and ongoing projects, please visit his website at www.deanwesleysmith.com and sign up for his newsletter.

Customer reviews

5 star		68%
4 star		20%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Kindle Customer

Agile Writing

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017

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An interesting take on writing. Some people seem to be rather upset that this book takes a different tack and advocates writing in an iterative aproach rather then doing it in terms of writing an outline and then writing to that outline and then editing after you are done. In programming terms the traditional outline driven method is a waterfall approach, and here Smith is advocating an Agile process, where you write just enough and move on to the next scene and if you find you need more you go back and add it.

Presenting the alternative is valuable and a refreshing change from all the outline books out there. That said I felt that the presentation could have done with a bit more depth. And it did feel a little on the short side for the price, especially when you coanisder that 1/5 of it is taken up with a sample chapter from a completly different book. This is why I'm bumping the book down to three rather than four stars.

55 people found this helpful

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D Boy

Great book but HUGE caveat

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2018

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I like this book but I think it needs to come with a HUGE caveat. I think the information provided is freeing and will produce better stories than most outlined novels GIVEN that the author has INTERNALIZED the CRAFT of storytelling (all caps for emphasis, not "text yelling").

This book seems to come from the angle that you can just start writing into the dark from the getgo, from the first words of fiction that you've ever placed on the page. Sure, you could do that but the result would probably be terrible. In no other field would you tell someone to "just have at it, you'll figure it out" without any training whatsoever. And that's where this book rings a little false for me. If this book was marketed to advanced authors with several books under their belt who were getting reviews that their books are too rigid, then that would make more sense.

Personally, I don't think I'm there yet. I think if I wrote into the dark today my novel would need a huge overhaul. I know that because the last novel I wrote was written into the dark (before I read this book) and needed a huge overhaul. Eventually, ten books into my career, sure I'll probably be able to write in the dark no sweat.

Also, I feel like I should add that I mean no disrespect to Mr. Smith as he is a prolific author and obviously knows a thing or two, I just politely disagree with assumptions this book makes.

33 people found this helpful

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HSS

Excellent book for new and struggling writers.

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

Excellent book for new and struggling writers.

Plotters v. Pantsers

The writing world is divided between them.

Plotters - Plot before they write. Pantsers just write.

There are hundreds, (thousands?) of books on plotting (outlining); the different ways to outline, beat sheets, three-act, seven-act method, character sketches ad infinitum. Many writers will agree, even argue that this is the only way or the true way to write. They consider themselves Plotters.

On the other side are the Pantsers. Writers who write by the seat of their pants, or as Mr. Smith calls it 'Writing into the Dark'.

This is the first book I have found that embraces writing without an outline. Mr. Smith does not say his method is the only way. He does say it is the only way for him because it works for him. Then he explains how he does it. He gives writers a 'methodology' for how it's done.

But more importantly Mr. Smith gives succor to those writers who write into the dark but have to justify their writing method to the majority of writers who plot.

As a writer, I have been to many conferences and read many of the hundreds of books on plotting. I have heard heated debates at conferences and writer's groups about the pros and cons of plotting versus pantsing.

This book is an important addition to the many how-to writing books out there. New writers need to be exposed to the many ways to write. There are as many ways to write as their are writers. Until you write, you will not find the way that meshes with the way your brain works. But, writers need to know that writing without an outline does work. Mr. Smith has done a great service to writers with this book.

16 people found this helpful

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Shawn Deggans

Hey, this is how I write

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2015

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It's actually nice to get affirmation that you're doing it right. What I've always called Looping, Dean calls Cycling, but they're both basically the same process.

I've tried multiple times to outline large complicated novels only to find I can't complete them. Same goes for short stories. The moment I plan too much, the playful part of my brain gets bored and wants to give up on the 'work.' It's nice to see a process explained that takes advantage of the playful part of the brain, channels that playfulness into useful sets of tools, and then gives you permission to write in a way that doesn't feel dreadful.

Understand, this isn't a long book with some complicated process, but it's worth every penny for the freedom it gives.

I tell myself to always trust the process. Knowing someone as prolific as Dean faces the same process challenges and has learned to embrace them as features and not see them as roadblocks really gives me the encouragement to keep doing what I'm doing; detailed outlines and 11 redrafts are out the door.

Now I'm going to go have some fun and write a new story.

39 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Period equalled End of!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

I like the idea of writing without an outline. I disagree about not rewriting. Some of us will have to rewrite - a little bit, maybe a lot. I gave the book two stars because of the number of times he said "Period." That statement, not the word per se, and "End of" really get on my nerves. I didn't finish the book. I tried, but I came across yet another "Period" and couldn't go any further. If I manage to pick it up again I'll update this review.

7 people found this helpful

Paul J. Fleming

Enjoyable, casual and refreshing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2020

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I've been scribbling out small tales for over ten years while mentally gorging on various texts from noted authorities in the art of writing. I have tried to apply various methods to my craft but found myself wanting when that cursor blinks out from the screen and my mind goes a curious shade of blank. In contrast and at other moments, I have sat and scribbled (or typed) out whole scenes from one nugget of an idea with little planning or forethought. I've just gone with the flow and with no real intent of it going anywhere or to fulfil.any criteria.

This is, I believe, what Mr Smith is speaking of here. In those latter moments I let my creative brain have control. It seemed to work and flow better than when I allowed the critical side to try and forge a path.

Enjoyed this book and will probably invest in more of his work ;-)

One person found this helpful

DavidJones

Being more creative is the best way to write.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2019

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As a writer, I thought my method of writing, what's normally referred to as being a "panster", was not the normal way to write as everyone else is always going on about needing to write from an outline. After reading Dean's book, I'm pleased and relieved to learn that my method of writing, the same as Dean's, is the best way to write stories. Trust in your creative side, is the message that Dean gives, and goes on to explain why in this eyeopening book. Read it and you'll be asking yourself why you've been constrained to outlining for so long. Using your creative side of your brain to write is not only a liberating way to write but also makes you a more enthusiastic writer as you'll want to find out what happens next in your stories as you write them.

One person found this helpful

Mark Treacher

A great no-nonsense approach to get you writing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2015

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I have to say that this is probably one of the most practical how-to writing books I have read to date. It's a seat-of-the-pants approach to simply sitting down and writing. If you're someone who needs to have a very clear plan and structure before you get started then this is not the book for you. However, many successful writers have simply sat and written with only a vague idea of where the story is going. This has produced some very fine work indeed.

I have agonised for years about how best to write and with the practical advice offered here I have come to see that the most creative way forward for me is to start with that basic idea and run with it. See where the characters and take me and it eventually becomes they who determine how the story will go.

6 people found this helpful

Sacha Black

Great book for shifting mindset

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

As a hardened plotter this book was a real treat to read, I certainly feel more freed after reading it, I'm not sure I'll ever abandon my plotter ways but I am determined to try and write into the dark for at least one book. It's opened a can of worms and really given me food for thought. I wish it were a little longer though :)

2 people found this helpful