Do you make outlines for when you write or do you just let it flow however it happens?

If you do use an outline do you always strictly follow it or do you allow wriggle room incase something jumps to mind? --Jaysen27

I am so glad you asked this.

In one word, I'm a Pantser.

In multiple words, I write by the seat of my pants.

I hate outlines. For my first novel I immediately wrote the first few pages the moment the idea came to me. I then wrote an outline, though I didn't get all the way through planning my book. I'm embarrassed to show it to people now. Honestly, it's awful. The storyline is atrocious.

With that said I do have certain parts planned and then I have to fill in the story up to that part.

Think of it like this:

I'll have Point A and that's my beginning. Point Z is the ending, but I don't usually have that until the last few sentences of the story are being written. Usually I have Point X. And then I'll have random points like D, F, L, and Q. Then I write from point to point, coming up with what happens pretty much as I go.

I like having a small outline because they help with having some seriously awesome foreshadowing. And foreshadowing makes readers stop, shut the book, marvel at your geniusness, and continue with your story.

To answer the second part of your question, since my outline is pretty thin I usually stick with it. Rarely something happens I didn't plan that will change where I was heading. When that does happen I usually love it, because a main reason why I don't like outlining is because I like my writing to surprise me. It's not fair the readers get to be the only ones to experience the surprises and cliff hangers.

I've referenced Expiration Date a few times already, but it's such a good example for a lot of what I have talked about. I got the idea from a prompt and I just wrote. Once I got the first sentence out of the way the story kept coming. I really couldn't have predicated where it would end up.

Even after all I just wrote to you, the decision is up to you. I say going by the seat of your pants is more fun, but some people are naturally outliners.

Thanks for the question! I really enjoyed answering it!