Close to finishing up Chapter 20 of my novel's outline.
The way I'm doing it is making the story more structured, as I can go back and forth in the outline when an idea comes to me. I am for the most part, "sit and write until it's done" sort of writer. Okay for short stories, but not so good for novels. I've been writing the novel for years, but I tend to think, "Hey, this is great, let's throw it in!" The result is a bloated story, with plot lines running every which way.
But outlining and summerizing the story, chapter by chapter, I can keep track of the plotlines (One main and four "subplots") I can make notes and questions I need to know for each chapter (Things I need to research, such as words in German, or what the state's laws are on a subject.) If I think of a character, or a plot point, I can look at the outline and think, "Where do I place this point/character/clue?"
For example, I realized I needed a new character about chapter 13, so I went back, added him to a couple of earlier chapter in the outline, estabishing his presnece and added him to the story. Now he's part of the story and doesn't feel tacked on at the last minute.
And to give you an idea how complex this outline has become, it's over 40 pages right now, with several more chapters outlined. It'll be a monster, but I think it'll be easier to write once I have the outline done.
Oh, and I've sent three revised stories to the BattleCorps editor, and I'm awaiting my first lead author product for the Battletech line. Hopefully, they'll be out before the end of the year.
Craig
