Outlines

I never really gave outlines much thought. Sure I had to do them in school. I am not particularly bad at writing them. The problem is who wants to actually spend the time and energy to make an outline? Near the beginning of the month I started writing a story (started with the title). I've done some writing and a little brain storming on the story, but I am unsure how I want to precede. It is one of the moments were I have the thought in my head but I can figured out exactly how I'm going to get the characters there. 

So I decided today, before I get any farther I'm going to make an outline. It might seem like a step backward, but when you have a story that is as complicated as thing one is in my head, it makes sense. Actually every time I had to make an outline in school, my teacher or professor would say that outlines actually make writing easier. I always thought of outlines as a step that I did not really need. But then again I've never written about parallel universes, nor have I done a murder mystery either. This story is a bit of both. 

I also am very glad that I kept a couple of my writing books from college. A lot of the books I purchased for college were not much help, nor something I wanted to hang on to. But there are a couple that have come in handy. In this case "The Creative Writing Guide" by Candace Schaefer and Rich Diamond. It is has a lot of practical ideas and writing exercise that I continue to find helpful. Also it has everything from poetry to fiction to nonfiction to drama. I don't tend to write in iambic pentameter, but it is helpful to be able to look up meter and cadence, when I'm feeling the particular need for more rhythm. And its also helpful to be able to remind myself about the parts of a story, the importance of character and conflict. 

So I'm off to write an outline... which will probably take a while, I'm going to be spending a lot of time arguing with myself the best way forward.