Take Off Your Pants!

Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing

By: Libbie Hawker

Narrated by: Nathan Agin

When it comes to writing books, are you a "plotter" or a "pantser"? Is one method really better than the other?

In this instructional book, author Libbie Hawker explains the benefits and technique of planning a story before you begin to write. She'll show you how to develop a foolproof character arc and plot, how to pace any book for a can't-put-down reading experience, and how to ensure that your stories are complete and satisfying without wasting any time or words. Hawker's outlining technique works no matter what genre you write, and no matter the age of your audience. If you want to improve writing speed, increase your backlist, and ensure a quality book before you even write the first word, this is the how-to book for you.

Take off your pants! It's time to start outlining.

©2016 Libbie Hawker (P)2017 Libbie Hawker

Great For Structure

I'm new to writing (currently laying out my first story) and this provided me with great structure to get started on many aspects of my story including the story. Really liked this as I tend to crave structure in most things in my life. Can't wait to apply these to my story and see how it all goes.

Very Helpful

I've seen 2 negative reviews of this book, and the rest are largely positive. Heed the positive reviews. The negatives I have seen have one thing in common: a complete and utter lack of understanding as to the purpose of the book. One reviewer went as far as to say "what does pants have to do with this? I couldn't even finish it!" Well. If you got this book to help you write books, and you don't have the forethought to actually consider that if you don't know what pantsing is, you probably need to know more about the craft before attempting a novel. Another review said that they felt abandoned after the instructional for the outline, and felt they needed more help fleshing out the story. Hello...this book is literally about how to write an outline, not how to write a book start to finish. This is a comprehensive, thoughtful, insightful, ever so helpful instructional that not only helps with an outline, but literally gives so much insight into the meat of a story that it can be completely eye opening and life changing for a writer, especially a beginner, a frustrated pantser or someone with writer's block. Excellent purchase, and clearly laid out. This book made some pieces fall into place for me that I had been lacking. It is a game changer.

Great advice!

I had just finished reading Truby's book "The Anatomy of Story" when I purchased Libbie's book. I was very pleased to hear her mention it a few times, as it was definitely the best book I've read on story building. But "Take off your pants" complements it in a great way because it gives you the most important aspects to focus on in a nutshell. It's very actionable and inspiring as well.

Has been such a big help

This had helped me bring my plot line back on track and out of the ditch. Currently listening to it again to help get some of the tips ingrained into my brain, will probably listen to it a third time. Its definitely worth the time to listen to.

I wish I would have read this sooner

This is the most intuitive book on writing that I’ve ever read. Libby Hawkers style not only walks you through the process step by step, but also gives masterful examples of how to apply the process to your writing. This is a must book for any aspiring writer.

Love the Book. Hate the Narration

What did you like best about Take Off Your Pants!? What did you like least?

It is short, sweet, and to the point. It explains outlining in a clear and concise way. A very valuable instructional book on writing.

What other book might you compare Take Off Your Pants! to and why?

Write Your Book From the Middle, James Scott BellStory Genius, Lisa CronRock Your Plot, Cathy Yardley

How could the performance have been better?

I would have given the narration a 5 star review for the voice and reading style.The mispronounciations of the oft-repeated title, "Lolita," and the first name of the author of that title, "Vladimir," killed it for me. Can't listen.

Did Take Off Your Pants! inspire you to do anything?

Yes. It makes me want to be better at outlining.

Excellent book. Ridiculous narration.

This book is excellent but the narration is so irritating. I can handle mispronunciations, but could they at least mispronounce it the same way throughout the book instead of this buffet of pronunciation? Their pronunciation of the word “flaw” is SO off that I kept thinking he was speaking French. How many ways can you say Vladimir? How many possible pronunciations are there for Lolita? I think we’re up to 5.

So annoying!

It took a looooooooong and boring time to get to her outlining system. So much repetition in the first chapters, she repeated the same things, yes, she said the same thing in different ways many, many times. I want this book to be of some value to me, I really do. My outlining system doesn't work well and pantsing doesn't work at all when I get blocked. I didn't mind that Hawker says, maybe to be funny, that plotting is better than pantsing. That's just one of the early examples of things that annoyed me. I go through non-fiction books with no issues, but this time, it's the way the book is written that makes it difficult for me to keep listening. I get annoyed to her "witty" comments every few minutes.

I heard other books narrated by Agin, but his pronunciation of "Lolita" was distracting, and not in a good way.

Halfway through now. I'm gritting my teeth to go through it because it seems to be useful. If I find it useful, I'll come back to give it more stars. As things go, it might be one of the rare cases of DNF books.

Great Writing Book

Loved it. The audio though misread Lolita's name as Laatida. I had no clue the book she was writing about until I looked at my place in the Ebook. Low-li-ta. Cracked me up after I figured out what he was saying.

I Needed This

i will read this book again and again. It is meaty and has the structure that i need.