I'm so sorry if you've answered this question, or similar before. But I was just wondering what your outline process is once you've come up with a story idea. Do you just let it flow, or do you use basic points or do you outline in detail? I used to just let things flow and this still works well for one shots, however I'm having trouble completing any of my numerous chaptered ideas. Hope you're having a nice day!
Oh, don’t apologize! I love talking about process!
So, I do this “make shit up as I go along but on a trellis” kind of thing where I don’t plan any of my plot points out (which makes my first readers basically saints because shit just… changes) but I work against a spreadsheet that tells me what major beats I want at certain word counts.
This is the spreadsheet (well, Apple Pages) I am using for Aubryn. I’ve got the boxes filled with formulas that will prefill word count goals based on what my target word count is. The beats in bold (like “Plot Point” or “Adhesion” are taken by mashing the three-act structure and the breakdown of romance novel beats as found in Romancing the Beat into one messy thing.
The next chapter I’ll write will be 11. I know the character arc is “more falling in love stuff” and the plot stuff is “dinner with Garret’s sister, meet Thomas” but what plot stuff happens in chapters 12 and 13 and 14 and so on I have no idea. I’ll figure it out as I get there.
I wouldn’t suggest aiming for a 70K multichapter first. Try going from one-shots to 20K type things so you don’t get frustrated.
I hope that is at all clear!
ETA: I just realized looking at this I never mentioned that I fill in details in “plot/purpose” after I write that chapter. I don’t fill those in ahead of time.
