How To Outline Your Series!

Do you have trouble keeping track of your plots and subplots, your characters, locations and important information? I do, and until three days ago I hadn't bothered to lay out a full, detailled outline for my series, Finding Pandora.As you will probably know, books one and two (World and Heaven) were released earlier this year. I've been working to release book three (Infinity) before the end of August, but I hit a set back. I haven't returned to the series in quite some time, and these re-releases are all due to a re-write I decided to dive head first into. Big mistake, E! Big Mistake.So here's how I resolved the problem in just two days, leaving this evening to start the important stuff!1) I flicked through the paperback books one at a time. I used post it coloured tabs to mark out each chapter, then opened a Word document at the same time.2) For every chapter, I wrote a brief summary of what happens.- Inbold, I wrote the chapter number/ title, the 'date' the chapter is set in (the stories flick back and forth in time in some places) and any other important information.- Inpink, I highlighted the main sub plots so I could pick them out easily to ensure I have resolved each of them before the next book.- InorangeI highlighted information that is worth remembering, but that doesn't affect the subplot. For example, the meaning of a word in the language I've created, or the meaning of a symbol I have used.- All other notes stay inblack.3) I added images of the symbols and runes I have used with captions and made sure these corresponded to the orange text from each chapter. This helps me visualise what I meant when I refer to the story later.As books one and two had already been released, this was just to clear my backlog of (a lack of) notes so I can start fresh with book three. I am not only editing the novel for errors, but I am also changing from 1st person to 3rd and adding in a complete new storyline which runs throughout the full series.Because of this, I need to know what happens in the background for the other subplots so I can ensure I don't contradict everything, forget to resolve anything or get confused.I also decided that my productivity has been far too low. This has resulted in the process dragging until the other day when I realised how badly I needed an outline! So today I made some decisions.1) Use coloured tabs for chapters in the paperbacks so I can flick quickly to the page I need. My Pandora series will beyellow. Other books can have different colours.2) I purchased some post-it notes invariouscolours(squares) so I can make notes in the paperback copies without ruining my pages.3) I purchased a 'page a day' diary from my local supermarket (super cheap but a gorgeous black soft diary with a ribbon) so I can keep a writer's journal. I want to jot down my progress each day, what I've done/ wordcount, targets and goals achieved.4) I purchased somepinkheart post-its so I can highlight something I have done every day that brings me closer to a goal. For example, reaching 600 followers on YouTube! I want to see heart post-its everywhere in that journal so I can feel good about my writing, even when the sales dip or I don't feel inspired.4) I will be appointing a writing pal to check these goals and decide if I deserve a sticker that day. If I get a sticker every day, at the weekend I get a reward or a treat. This can be anything I like, a Starbucks coffee, a day off writing, a glass of wine or whatever. This is to be my motivation.So that's it! That's my outlining process, my latest purchases and my plans for the next few weeks. Wish me luck and cheer me on!E. Rachael Hardcastle