J. Dursky asked Jonathan Maas:

Do you use a specific structure when starting a new project, such as character development and an outline? Or do you just start writing?

Jonathan Maas Great question! Well I have a set of rules when writing:

1) When in doubt, outline, outline, outline.

Outlining saves you a lot of time in the long run. It's not always easy, it's not always fun - but it saves you a lot of time in the long run. Outlining strips the embellishments off the plot and allows you to move that plot forward unobstructed.

Even if you have an mostly completed project and there is one thorny section you can't quite get right, you might consider making a mini-outline and then going from there.

Pure writing can get you in a few pages, but sometimes that runs out and you have to go back to your outline. Still - that's not a problem, because then you ultimately have an outline and some pages so keep in mind:

2) Pure writing can be great too, just keep in mind an outline is always there to help.

Like I told a friend the other day 'Writing is like exercise: You need your routine everyday, but if you're burnt out on the pushups, play basketball for a day."

I.e. writing is writing. He was a bit tired with his long form space opera, and I suggested him to just make something short and completely off the wall, and just start writing.

Even if you're not tired, sometimes the muse is upon you and you have to listen to what she says. Or maybe free writing is your style!

Regardless - whatever you do, know that if you run out of words/plot, the outline is waiting to help.

> Character development

3) My rules for characters are:

* Think about why the reader should care about this character
* Think about what this character brings to the table that the reader has not yet seen before
* Above all else, just think about the character, and all your characters, quite a bit. Your subconscious will slowly work out their details. And if it doesn't, you can always outline:)

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