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The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 3. The Outline
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Many writers starting out on their first book are put off by the idea of writing an outline first. Indeed they object to anything at all that isn’t actually writing the book. Most understand that they will be writing a draft at first and that this draft will then be polished into something suitable for publication. So, they say, I have my story idea, why can’t I just start on the first draft? Why can’t I just write “Chapter 1” at the top of the page and just start?
Well, you can try it if you like, but it will lead to a long hard road and that road will probably be one that will never end. The great majority who try this become so frustrated and so bogged down that they never make it to publication. Most, actually, don’t write anything - except “Chapter 1”.
Writing an outline is not the nasty chore that some assume it to be. Your Outline is the most helpful tool you will have. Writers write in different ways, but that aside, the great majority need some sort of outline as their guide. Even those who know a great deal of detail of what they want to be in their book from the beginning to the end, still find outlining their ideas an invaluable tool.
If an outline is done well, once you start your first draft you will be so grateful. Your outline can be used to keep you moving forward - momentum is important when you are writing.
An Outline is like a map. If you haven’t got a map you are most likely to become lost. You will never get there if you don’t know where you’re going.
Author
Robbie McCauley
When Robbie McCauley retired early from a varied working life, which included the duties of Secretary to Members of Parliament, Researcher, Primary School Teacher, and Bank Manager, she began to take writing classes and discovered the joy of writing short stories. At the same time Robbie decided to study for the Bachelor of Arts degree she had always wanted. This was the start of a new world. She now has many degrees including a Masters in Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism and a Post Graduate Diploma in Writing. Her qualifications provide an excellent background for story writing. At present Robbie teaches a writing class called "Let's Write a Book" with the University of the Third Age (U3A) and is happy to have finally written her own first novel, The Eleventh Hour, which is planned to be Book 1 of a trilogy. Robbie lives in Australia, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. She is divorced, has one lovely daughter, an excellent son-in-law, and three exciting grand children.
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The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 3. The Outline - Robbie McCauley
The Handy Little Book for Writers Series
BOOK 3
The Outline
Robbie McCauley
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2014 Robbie McCauley
This book is available in print at most online retailers
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
CONTENTS
About This Book
Chapter 1 - Why Start With an Outline?
Chapter 2 - Writers Write in Different Ways
Chapter 3 - How to begin
Chapter 4 - The Snowflake Method
Chapter 5 - Some Other Methods
Chapter 6 - How Big is an Outline?
Chapter 7 - An Invaluable Template
Chapter 8 - Summary And Good Luck
Resources
Other Books in this Series
The Author’s Writing Websites
About the Author
ABOUT THIS BOOK
The first book in the Handy Little Book for Writers Series gave detail of how to set about writing your outline. In this third book I will go into more detail. In particular, more will be said about The Outline and why it is important for you to use one, and I will also provide a range of methods and some templates.
In book 1 - I took readers quickly through the process of beginning
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