notes, notes everywhere, and not a plot to work

[marycatelli]

Keeping a collection of random notes on a story is wise. Something that may work out brilliantly may yet have no place in an outline because it's not situated in time, and you don't want to lose it.

The last collection of ball bearings that I am trying to herd into an outline came up with some stretches of story time. Then I have to mortar in the gaps. Preferably with new ideas, of course, but as one heroine is trying to coax another, shy, young heroine into trusting her by talking of what she can do -- I write it out, and then I remember that the talker doesn't know of the existence of the character whom she is offering to help.

This is the charm of outlining. Working in the large structure before you get to the details. If only because if you get the large structure wrong, all the details are apt to be discarded in the fix.