Tell Me A Story

To outline or not, that is the question... 

There are authors, who refuse to outline their work before starting – and are often outspoken about their methods. They claim that if they make a plan, and already know what’s happening, the writing won’t be natural. Instead, they start the story with an incident, and let the whole thing develop.

The method undoubtedly works for some - for experienced writers who’ve trod the long and dusty path and understand the problems. 

The problem is, can YOU recognize a quality conflict that will continue unfurling for the next 80,000 words, or will yours be electrifying to begin with, only to end in a blind alley. It’s too easy to start with a bang and a flourish of bright ideas, only to wither at chapter four.