March 17th, 2008
Creative Outlining - Not An Oxymoron
The first time I was asked to write an outline, I balked. Stifle my creativity with Roman numerals and chapter titles? The process was like pulling my fingernails out. Not only had I never tried to summarize the scenes in my half finished book, but deciphering what should be detailed and what could be omitted was almost as difficult as creating the dreaded synopsis.
Although the assignment was a monumental struggle, it taught me a valuable lesson. With direction, with the upcoming events in my novel detailed, I felt motivated to write the last scenes that had previously eluded me. This worked wonders for a novel that was nearly completed.