Writing Series - Outlines, Tmelines or Plots?

So you've at least got your main character or characters and some bit part characters shaped and developed. Starting Lethal Leith Hill, the fourth in the DI Matthew Goodwin series, I already know Goodwin - who he is, what motivates him, aggravates him etc. I also know Boleman, his boss and best friend, who has been visible in all the books but isn't as developed as he hasn't played a major role as yet. Jane his partner has been a key character for the last two books. I have re-read Connecting Trains to re-acquaint myself with the team as they will mostly make a reoccurrance as Goodwin is back in Surrey in this book.

Character notes for the investigation team

So I know the main characters and have to work out the new characters, but that I have to do in tandem with the plot or timeline of the book.

Some authors have a chapter by chapter breakdown of what happens before they start and some feel that stunts the creative flow. I am in the middle ground now and I have been different in each book. For non-fiction I think its important, I need that direction and it ensures I don't miss anything out. It keeps the writing concise and informative.

For my novels, initially I had an outline, timeline and a plot for Thai Die. For Connecting Trains a timeline was completely necessary for ensuring it worked and hung together properly for the type of plot and operation in it. For Aloha Goodbye I felt I needed a plot the most as the timeline was necessarily bounded by the location and constraints of that - a cruise with a destination.

Lethal Leith Hill I am somewhat winging the plot from Chapter 10 onwards whereas the first 10 chapters were again bounded by the setting and event taking place there at the start.

But whether its crumpled back of a fag packet outline, a fully structured chapter by chapter outline or just in my head, I always have an outline - a start, middle and an end and to a greater or lesser extent the flesh around them.

Members can view outlines, structure and plots from my novels.

If you're a writer or an author - do you use any or all of them in your writing?

Have a good week,

Love Helen x