Outline Like J.K. Rowlings

Old news, but with NaNoWriMo starting I thought I'd share this.  A copy of J.K. Rowlings handwritten outline for Order of the Phoenix has been floating around the net.  You can click the image for a full size version.  Anywho, so I played around with a spreadsheet and tried to mimic her method.  If you are interested you can download, use or alter the excel spreadsheet to your heart's content.

Click here to download

It seems to be a very rough outline, listing Chapter numbers, names, dates, plot, and numerous subplots.  Whether this method works for you, only you will know.  It will be here if you need it, enjoy.

NaNoWriMo Report Card

To keep with the NaNoWriMo theme, here is a simple spreadsheet for those of you that want a handy way to track your NaNoWriMo progress.

All you do is fill in the blanks of any yellow shaded areas and then the sheet will track your daily and monthly achievements for you!  Click the photo for a larger image.  You can download a copy of the NaNoWriMo Report Card here.

Don't forget to grab you're copy of Scrivener just in time for NaNoWriMo.  Use the Scrivener Coupon Code to get 20% off today and get those creative juices flowing.

You'll be able to track

• Daily word count
• Monthly word count
• Number of scenes written
• Number of writing sessions per day
• Words per hour
• Words left until goal
• Average words per day
• Tomorrow's goal
• And much more!

I hope you can make use of it.  Feel free to change and alter as you wish.  Only one month to go.  Have fun and keep writing.



Be sure to check out Scrivener to make your life easier during NaNoWriMo Scrivener Coupon Code

Using One Note in Fiction Writing

I like to research my ideas, flesh things out until I feel they are ready.  Yes I outline, I plan, I brainstorm, all before I finally sit down to write.  My ideas come in snippets.  A piece of dialogue, an interesting creature, a location, a scene.  I need somewhere to throw this jumble of ideas.  Before One Note these ideas filled napkins, the backs of receipts, notebooks of all sizes, whatever I could grab at the time.  I actually remember writing a scene around and around my paper coffee cup.  Truth be told, if in a bind that is where they still end up, at least until I get home.  Now every idea has its place, and if it doesn't it gets one.  I organize stories into the following:

• Ideas
• Outline
• Characters
• Locations
• Chapters
• Research

Many of these are subdivided into pages.  Chapters each get their own page, as do characters and locations.  I also keep different sections for Mythology, lore, fairy tales, legends and such. You can click the image for a closer look. Yes, I know if you look closely Baba Yaga is incorrectly placed under Celtic Mythology, but that's where she's staying. And that is because you can use this as you wish.  Revel in the order or disorder, whichever you are more comfortable with.  This is merely the template I use.  It is useful for me.  You may find a different method of organizing your ideas, and if you do I'd love to here about yours.  Whether it be with One Note, Excel, Word, or some other non-Microsoft software; or are you still like I was, using paper scraps and notebooks?

The screen shot to the left is a sample of what I use.  It is an older picture, but I still use the general ideas presented.  Mine has just grown larger over the past year.  I hope you find this useful to help organize your ideas and research.