Kick-start a new writing project, or breathe life into an old one!

Do you have a story idea but aren't sure what to do next? Have you started writing a story, but now find your plot stuck in a corner? Have you lost interest in your story idea because the plot became boring?

Whether you're a plotter who loves to outline or a pantser who prefers to hit the open road without a map, a broad strokes outline can help you avoid the pitfall of the unworkable plot.

Grow a Book: Turning Your Story Idea Into a Workable Plot guides you in creating a broad strokes outline at the "idea" stage, so you get the "big picture" of the story right away and can more easily spot and correct plot problems, such as the sagging middle or superficial conflict, before they become writing roadblocks that waste your time. If you're stuck in a story, the broad strokes outline can help pinpoint where you might have taken a wrong turn and guide you back to the right course.

A little planning can save you a lot of time during revisions, too. And a broad strokes outline, which only hits the high points of the story to keep you on track, won't bog you down with so many details you feel stifled. You can still write by the seat of your pants, if that's your style, but developing a broad strokes foundation before you start writing gives you some boundaries for your story that will keep you out of the weeds and away from dead ends.

As a bonus, the work you do here over the course of eight lessons quickly translates into a brief synopsis and gives you a head start on your query letter.

Catherine Chant

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