Teaching Point: Outline? WTF?

The last thing I would have ever done, EVER, is outline a book.  I've written four, by just sitting down and writing, so why should I outline now?

Umm, because I'd really like to sell a book that isn't about my life.  

This year, as I make the full transition out of CNF (creative non-fiction) and into fiction, a transition I have been trying to make for several years, I also learn the fine art of the outline.

Frustrating?

There are no words for how frustrating it feels. 

The artist in me desires only to throw words on the page and make them sing in beautiful combinations.  But another part of me, the part being developed by exploring the power and the potential of the pre-work like the outline, needs this skill. 

I've gone from a deep year of study on story structure models in screen plays and in fiction to the evolution of outline charts like the Milo Structure Chart (the one many of you saw last week).   This week, I evolved another chart, thanks to a fellow writer (who is also amazing with outlines) and sat down for two hours today to hammer out my whole book two full times.  Again, agonizing to the part of me who adores the art of composition, but satisfying to this new part of me. 

I trust that these outlines are a tool to save time.  And I also trust they are the place to make the mistakes I don't want to make within the scenes (which take hours and hours to craft).  Last, I know that if I don't do this heavy lifting now, I will be pushed back into a revision by my editors/agent/readers who will spot (and point out) the holes I overlooked. 

No, it's not easy.

But damn, is it rewarding.  Or at least I hope so.

Goal:  Finish draft of this novel in two weeks.  April 1.  More realistic end:  June 8 (the day the kids get out of school).