Date
7-31-2023
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Chair
Karen Dodson
Keywords
plot outlining, plot structure, planning stage of writing process, three-act story structure, the Hero's Journey
Disciplines
Creative Writing
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Paul A. Jr., "Exploring Fiction Writer’s Approaches to Plot Outlining During the Planning Stage of the Writing Process" (2023). Masters Theses. 1045.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1045
Abstract
This thesis is about one person’s discovery and growth as a writer of creative fiction that spans decades. It specifically explores and analyzes how professional authors approach plot outlining during the planning stages of the writing process. Some professional authors prepare plot outlines prior to writing their first draft, while others do not. Over the course of the author’s writing life, experimenting with both methods has been instructive to the development of a personal approach to plot outlining. The Artist statement provides background on the author. Next, the Critical Paper examines and analyzes plot outlining and plot structure. Plot structure and plot types are detailed, followed by a comparative analysis of the plot structure of the novels of three contemporary authors. Finally, the Creative Manuscript demonstrates the author’s attempt at effective story structure in the opening chapters of a novel-length work, A Dex Wing Mess.
