So You Want to Write a Book

I've been writing fiction since before I can remember. I used to sit in the car while my mother went grocery shopping and plan epic fantasy novels in my notebook. I had so many ideas and no patience. I would write for hours with no clear path on where the story was going and eventually would hit a wall.

As I got older, I learned the importance of planning your stories in advance using an outline. Before I write anything, whether it's a novel or an essay, I outline. Outlining prevents you from getting "stuck." It also helps with writer's block. I spend anywhere from a week to several months outlining my novel before I start writing. The outline will change drastically over the course of the process, but there are several main plot points, every story should have. Use these as guidelines and you'll never get lost.

• Inciting Incident

• First Plot Point

• First Pinch Point

• Midpoint

• Second Pinch Point

• Black Moment

• Second Plot Point

• Climax

• Resolution

In addition to each plot point in the story, should be a B-story and a character arc. Sometimes these are one in the same and sometimes they are written so subtly they fit seamlessly into the rest of the story. Find a good balance, and you're on your way to a GREAT story.