The Importance of Outlining

Pantsers don't actually exist. True story. Don't @ me.

"But A.P., I am a pantser and I exist!"

No. You don't.

Okay, maybe you do. I'm talking to you, so you must exist.

But, come on! There has to be a point where you outline! At some point, in all your editing and rewriting, you have to outline! I just do not believe that someone can go from idea to published without outlining.

You may start by writing-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, but I believe, wholeheartedly, that there is a point at which all writers must outline to continue.

Prove me wrong.

Of course, my statement is tainted by the fact that I've spent the last several weeks re-outlining my novel. Yes, the novel that is currently in its third draft form. The one that I started out without an outline and have re-outlined a dozen times.

The good thing is, I have a final outline for my final revision. I finally believe it is in a place where everything is tight enough, the plot progresses smoothly, and I'm hitting the story beats in the right places... and now it's May.

Time to get back to actual writing. Twenty eight chapters of rewrites.

Here we go.

If you're a pantser, don't lie to yourself. You aren't.

Or maybe you are and I hate you.