Back before the last ice age, when I was just starting out with writing novels, I used to write the whole book offline. Now that I need to do it for Reasons TM, it feels strange not being able to share much with anyone. I promise, something exciting is coming from my fireplace corner to yours, if not just yet.

Anyway, so I am doing my closeted writing. Naturally, I started with an outline. I am about 20K in, and there is that nameless character I mentioned in chapter one for laughs. When I needed an extra in the next chapter, I thought of him. I added him in the outline for that chapter. It looked good, because instead of a nameless goon, we had someone who already had a small altercation with my MainChar. 

Next thing I did...yes, right in the middle of writing my chapter...I opened the outline, reread it, and two more places where the cad can show up popped up at me. Including the place where my Manly Man can kill him to defend MainChar. It would be the 4th appearance by that pest, and I am sure that his death will actually be more noticeable that way versus if I used 4 different nameless goons. Merging these 4 extras into one minor character gives him substance. I can feel it weeks before I get to this scene. Once he is fixed in the Outline, he exists in the book.

That's why I love the Outlines. They help navigate the yet untold story on a few pages versus hundreds of pages when you keep forgetting the details, and end up peppering the longer story with too many extras. In my books, a move from an extra to a minor character is always a solid win. 

So, yes, let's celebrate the outlines, our friend who always talks to us and is always sitting in the docs, ready to help. 

Are you ignoring NaNo or prepping to it? Started already to rebel like I always do? Drop me a line. :)