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Originally Posted by kdwentworth When I first started writing, I had a lot of trouble telling a short story idea from a novel idea. I'm better at it now, but still occasionally still start stories that turn out to be too complex for the short form. The best way to control length is to outline before you start, which keeps you to the point. Unfortunately, I'm wretched at outlining. |
Kathy, You say you're wretched at outlining, but when you do outline what form does that outline take? I find that my outline for a novel totals no more than a single side of paper. I'm pretty good at utilising that outline to keep me on track, but I don't really detail the story - I just bullet point the main events that have to happen to make the story work. Are you more inclined towards a detailed outline, or are you a quick sketch and dive in type?