Q

sbradycalhoun asked:

When writing an outline do you use outlines or some other prestructure device? I always start strong and then lose my way. Suggestions?

A

Ignoring the suggestion, in your first sentence, that you may be chemically over-refreshed in some manner:

KNOW YOUR ENDING.

If you’re outlining a story, and you don’t already know how the story ends, you’re screwed.  

When all else fails, try this: write the numbers 1 to 10 down the side of a notebook page, one number to a line.  Then write ten things that need to happen to get you to the ending.

You probably won’t fill all ten out, but it’ll get you thinking, and it’ll expose the gaps you have in a way you can take action on.  As in, “fuck me backwards I have no second act at all” or similar.

Nov. 26 2012
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