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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/39516
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/39516
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Depending on what kind of writing you do, you don't necessarily need an outline. If you're writing a short story of few thousand words, then, sure you can just bang it out.

But writing long form fiction, the outline is useful so you know where the story will be going and most importantly _how to get there_. A big problem is that people often know how to start their story, and know how they want to end, but don't know how to connect those with the story. The outline helps with that by making you think and plan the steps between A and Z.

Now, the plan may change, perhaps you find a better route to your destination. Perhaps you find a better goal. That is ok, the outline is a guide, not a mandate set in stone. It should be a living document. Revise it as needed.

Also, different people work differently, so make your outline as suits you. For some it can be very vague wish list of few story points. For others it can be meticulously planned blueprint that covers absolutely everything in the story. Or anything in between. There is no one set way Thou Must Have An Outline Like This. If you work better with a loose ideas outline, then you work better like that. You don't _have_ to change, unless you want to. The outline is there to _help_ you, not _hinder_ you.

Original score: 8