Welcome!
This is the first installment of “Write the Book Already!” Not sure what this string of blog entries will look like, but it’s going to be “something”. My initial hope is to document the writing of “Golfing with the Labs”. I am going to openly share my creative processes (steps) hoping that “some aspiring writer somewhere, someday” stumbles upon the blog and is somehow inspired to carry on with his/her project.
Usually, when I write I just sit and write whatever comes to mind. However, this approach hasn’t been bearing much fruit over the past 18 months, so I need to try something, anything, so I can continue moving forward. I decided I needed to create an outline.
Yes, I know, and yes, I have been taught to always outline. But, I never ever do. Outlines are too restricting and sometimes I don’t really know how or what is it I want to write, so how in the heck can I outline what I don’t know?? Thus, just sitting down and writing had always worked for me.
But not this time.
I think an outline would help define the scope and layout of my book. It may help define the number of chapters, stories, etc that the book will contain. I guess an outline is the way to organize the thoughts in my head into a meaningful framework on which to build. Yes, I must outline this book.
Here are my initial thoughts:
“Golfing with the Labs”
Acknowledgements 0 stories (Not Written)
Forward: 0 stories (1st draft completed, needs polishing)
Section 1: “The Putting Green” – ? stories
Section 2: “The Front Nine” – 9 stories
Section 3: “The Back Nine” – 9 stories
Section 4: “The 19th Hole” – ? stories
Epilogue – (Can I have one without a “prologue”) 0 stories
Seems reasonable. Looks like the total stories will be at least 20, but more likely, it’ll be a few more.
I have also been toying with an outline similar to this:
“Golfing with the Labs”
Acknowledgements
Forward
Section 1: Bonnie Brook
Section 2: The Club – Glen Flora CC
- Caddy Stories
- Cast of Characters
Section 3: The Holey Land of Green Grasses (Springdale GC)
But think I’ll stick with the top (first) outline which would allow for a better mixing/matching of stories which I hope would be more entertaining for the reader. The chosen outline also seems “looser” so I can just write any story that comes to mind and slot in wherever I’d like. Yes, the first outline it is!
So, now that I’ve got a “functional outline” I guess I better go write. I’ll update the blog next Tuesday (and every Tuesday thereafter) to share the roadblocks and/or progress I have made.
Wish me luck!
Dan’s View 
Hey Dan, this is good. Hmmm, an outline, it’s kind of like a plan, a road map direction. Gee, I wish somebody else would have thought about that. I’m with ya brother!
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Yup. I’m used to “just writing what comes to me”, but obviously, I am discovering that writing a book requires a plan which provides direction. This is going to be such a good experience for me.
Thanks!
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