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My 14 page outline fell apart after character #3 started talking
I spent two weeks planning this fantasy story with a super detailed outline, like 14 pages with every plot beat mapped out. Then on page 6 the side character who was supposed to just deliver a message started arguing with the main character about her motivation, and suddenly the whole thing went sideways. I kept trying to force it back to the outline for like 2 days before I gave up and just let them talk. Has anyone else had a character straight up hijack their planned scene and make it better or worse in a weird way?
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jakewhite1mo ago
And that's when you realize the outline was really just a suggestion... once they start talking they're basically telling you the real story anyway.
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kai_webb911mo ago
Honestly, that's exactly what happened to me once. The "just a message" guy turned into the whole reason the plot worked. I had to scrap three chapters of my outline and just follow him for a bit. It's annoying but usually the right call.
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