When starting a new project, short or long, an outline is usually the best method for me to get started off in a direction.

The question is always how much to outline. It’s easy to get caught up and outline to the smallest detail but then never actually write the story.  For me, I can’t get a feel for the characters in just an outline.

I find it much easier to build a general outline with some ‘key’ turning points and then jump right into the story. I see the early drafts as a way to get to know my characters and if I need a couple of revs to get the plot moving where and how I want it then I consider that time well spent.

If I get stuck or write myself in a corner I will go back and re-outline the story. In this case the visual helps see where I went wrong.

But then there are times that the story, or a few key scenes, are pushing me to write and I throw the whole outline out and just write – wherever it takes me.

Either way, it usually works out.