1. Outlining

Making an outline for your novel: a checklist.

1. Decide that you are going to write a novel.
2. Think for a while about what you want to write about.
3. Realize you should be taking notes.
   1. Find an envelope that doesn't have too much writing on the back already.
   2. Jot down some notes. Like, three sentences.
      1. You think they call that an elevator pitch.
      2. But is your novel too high-concept now?
      3. Stop getting in your head.
4. Okay, you know roughly what you want to write about. Time to make an outline.
   1. Do you really want to make an outline or do you just want to start writing?
   2. The writing is the fun part, after all.
   3. Outlining reminds you of high school.
      1. And specifically that one English class where you had to turn in notecards–
5. You get some notecards. You forgot how much you actually liked writing on notecards.
   1. You get to shuffle them around on your desk. It's fun.
   2. Doing it in Freeform just isn't the same.
   3. Wait, you should write the outline before you start with the notecards. Notecards after outline. It's not like that high school class where the notecards were for taking notes – one notecard per citation.
   4. When you're writing, the notecards are for expanding on the first outline and shuffling ideas around.
   5. Wait, why are you doing the outline before the notecards? You can't shuffle an outline around like you can with notecards.
   6. Maybe you should write the outline on the notecards.
   7. No. Write the outline, then do the notecards. You can make another outline later. This is just a first draft.
6. Write "OUTLINE FIRST DRAFT" at the top of the env–
7. Your pen is out of ink.
   1. Go refill your pen.
   2. Notice that you have dishes waiting to be done.
   3. How long has that tea mug been there?
   4. Don't get distracted.
8. Doodle something in the corner of the envelope to see what the new ink looks like.
   1. It looks good.
9. Okay. Now write "OUTLINE FIRST DRAFT" at the top of the envelope.
10. You should really have a cup of tea while you're doing this.
    1. Go make some tea–
    2. Go wash out that mug.
    3. Then make some tea.
11. Text three friends about how you're finally outlining your novel while the tea steeps.
12. Back at your desk. Finish writing "AFT" at the top of the envelope.
13. Hang on, what's the highest level of line prefix?
    1. It's Roman numerals, right?
    2. All the lists you've seen on the internet start with numbers, though.
    3. What does Google Docs use?
       1. Numbers, numbers with parentheses, Roman numerals, capital letters, numbers with capital letters–
          1. wait, how is that last one different
          2. oh, the letters in the first one are lowercase, got it
       2. Well, that's not helpful.
    4. You're pretty sure it's Roman numerals.
14. I. 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌
    1. A. ...
    2. Beginnings are really hard.
15. Oh hey, your friend texted you back.
    1. They're going out for sushi and want to know if you can come.
16. What were you doing again?