Outlines

There are millions of ways to make an outline, but here is how I've been doing mine for my writing.

I make a general chapter online, as easy as possible with what I think will be the key events to happen in the chapter.

For example, if Uncle Joe is gonna die, that's a key event.

Chapter One General Outline

I. Uncle Joe dies

Beneath this I simply list questions I'm going to ask myself that are important to this event:

Chapter One General Outline

I. Uncle Joe dies
- How does he die
- When does he die
- The shirt Uncle Joe is wearing
- Mysterious doctor visit he didn't tell anyone about when he got home

I outline all the key events and anything I can think of that will help me develop and detail the event and then take note of anything I might need to research.

After the general chapter outline, I make a very detailed outline of each "number" on the outline, each key event.

Chapter One - Uncle Joe Death Scene

I. Uncle Joe goes to the doctor
A. The night before
a. Is very worried
b. Has heart pains

B. The day of
a. Is nervous
b. Has suspicions he has heart problems

My general outline for my first chapter has six parts - so I will develop six outlines.

It works well for me thus far, but I haven't gotten very far. I'm not even past the first detailed outline yet!

If you try this and it works for you or doesn't, I'd love to hear about the process.

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Secret Agent Man

I've been reading a lot on whether or not a writer really needs an agent. Some say yes, some say no. I must admit to being dreadfully afraid of the "slushpile". I lived in a winter climate for many years. It wasn't the cold I minded. It was the snow I had to shovel. It was the god damn slush that I hated. When it got to the consistency of bad truck driver stop diner mashed potato goo. When it began to look like it had been peppered and then doused in gravy. I couldn't stand it. I'd sit at my window lamenting I had to go out in that mess.

Who knew I'd one day be willing to be considered slush myself?

I've decided to make a go of it without an agent. Why? For one a very well-connected agent told me it's not necessary. You won't get the same full on attention your MS would get if it were given to an editor by an agent, fine. They'll grab you from the slush and read you as if scanning a resume when there aren't any positions open anyway. So, in light of this, I think a good enough writer has to stand a chance. I hope I'm good enough to get my chance. To get my 60 seconds under an editor's eye. Maybe that will be enough.

Since I haven't finished a single novel yet, it's not actually that important. In other words, I have nothing to actually show an agent. So, first it's try to do it the slushie way. Once I've finished the novel then I'll give myself six months to a year. After that, I'll hopefully have something.

In the meantime I'm going to study a bit, use some books. I want to see my weaknesses. I want to join writing groups. I plan to join about three and work a set number of hours every day. Just writing about crap. Writing about the things I hear, the things I see, the things I do. Keep on writing I say.

Let's see how this goes for now, eh?

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