Spring has sprung. The crabapples bloom heavily, the songbirds perching on a dogwood branch and pastel colors of apple green, yellow and variation shades of pink flowers between multi-colored tulips are a feast for my eyes. The sky is so blue, without any trace of clouds and the wind is cool amid the hot sun penetrating my skin.
This is a perfect spring.
I read about this debate all over the place – in the forums or in “how to” books for writers.
So what exactly is an outline? It’s defined as a statement or summary of the chief facts about something.
Now if you’re already a writer and you know your preferences, you either outline your novel first before you write or you’re a seat-of-the-pants type of writer – based on intuition or experience - rather than a plan.
If you’re a first time writer and want to write your first novel you should continue reading. Then you can decide for yourself if you’d like to outline first or you prefer to just go a head and start writing.
Read! Read! And Read!
Sorry, but it’s not a secret at all. And this is what I’m doing lately. I am reading a lot – nonfiction and fiction from my favorite authors. From mystery writers to romance novels, I search the ones I like best.
I am a voracious reader. And this causes me trouble. I often borrow books from the library longer than I should (and this is even after being renewed three times!). My DH (Dear Husband) always becomes the one who rescues me from the “sideways look” of the clerk at the library. And when I thought I was safe, my DH whispers giving me the sideways look. “Why is it that whenever I return your books they always have fines on it?” Witnessed the scene, the clerk gave me a sour look.
I knew I wanted to write and get published when I first got my grubby paws on the romance novel – you know, the ones with gorgeous river pilot on the cover: tall, dark, muscular and handsome hero with beautiful heroine – when I was 16 years old.
I said to one of my best friends, Sylvia, “I’d love to write my own novel one of these days.”
She looked at me. “Like this one? No. You can’t be serious.”
I tried to hide my mischievous smile.
“I don’t believe you,” she said with bulging eyes.
“Watch me,” I said.
She laughed. “All right. The glint in your eyes convinces me you’re up to something.”
Someone clears his throat. “You two, did you finished your work?”
After completing my short story a couple of months ago, I managed to write another short fictional piece (750 words) and a short memoir (1,500 words). Between editing my manuscripts, I became overwhelmed with ideas coming down like rain. I felt practically pelted - so to speak.
So, amid rewriting I’ve stopped, grabbed my note pad and started to jot them down furiously. Now I have a couple of dozen ideas ready to be turned into fiction - or do I? Well, it happens that these ideas are, you know, just ideas – I couldn’t turn them into fiction.
I wondered why that is? After analyzing the situation for a while I think I knew the reasons. Here they are:
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