Outlining
First off, I’m proud of you for turning to a page with the name Outlining. Many people absolutely HATE the thought of having to do an outline. They find themselves transported back to first-year English (high school or college!), having to cobble together an outline on a research topic they have absolutely no interest in.
But, stick with me for a minute.
I don’t usually outline; however, it can be a good way to put down some initial ideas, especially if you have some vague notions regarding the plot structure for a story or a personal essay that you know is going to need some research.
I also want you to try thinking about outlines in some new ways.
Have you ever used an outline to revise your work? Outlining after the fact can help you see if you are actually making the points you wanted or to verify you are keeping your poetic metaphors straight.
An outline, if we argue for those visual learners again (or for the first time if you have not been to that page yet!), can also be a more picturesque endeavor if you want it to be. How about making an outline in a presentation tool like PowerPoint, Google Slideshow, or Canva?
When you make a presentation, you need to consider what is the most pertinent information to have on each slide, how many to include, and in what order. It allows you to SEE what you are working on. Could we argue for a literal showing versus telling here?
And, visual outlining, could also be a way to start a new project with a bit of visual free-writing / creating.
What’s next?
2 - Go back and try another pre-writing technique
5 - Do you want to add speaker notes to your outline presentation?
12 - Speaking of visuals . . .
14 - Go for a sort in the “Junk” drawer?