Three Weeks Novel Outline - An Early Finish?
Book Outlining, My Projects, Writing Fiction July 11th, 2008
I poured through the rest of the 30-day plan’s worksheets and steps from Book in a Month today. As mentioned before, the plan is designed to help you outline and draft your novel, although right now I’m only using it for outlining Three Weeks.
I scrapped the character note cards I was going to be using tomorrow, and instead created larger character sheets. I also deviated a bit more from the plan (again, because this book has an odd structure), and created my full set of outline sheets (the final outline will be around 78 pages).
I’m at the point now where I’m feeling ready to move on with that outline (which is really just expanding upon each of the scene card sections I’ve already done - the whole story is already mapped out) as soon as my character info and some very minor research is taken care of. So let’s look at it this way: I used the book as a “guide,” and created my own plan based on my style, my story, and my comfort level with the outlining processs. I’ll be working on the character details (many of which are already mulling around in my head) and the research this weekend. I doubt I’ll need more time than that. As things look now, I’m thinking I may actually have the outline completed by the end of next weekend. No promises obviously, but that’s what I’m shooting for - about two weeks to finish the full outline.
This is one of the reasons I’m glad I played with two other outline processes previously. The process is faster, because I’m getting a bit more used to it. And in the end, I think that’s really the point - find what works for you and what lets you work most efficiently. I seem to finally be finding that.
More updates as I move along with this. Wish me luck. I’ll be beyond thrilled if this project gets finished up early. 
