How I Use Index Cards to Outline, Pt 2

October 17, 2011

This post now available here:

http://rebekahloper.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/how-i-use-index-cards-to-outline-pt-2/

Category : Contests, Gyti, NaNoWriMo2011, Writing Life

Tags : fantasy, fiction, nanowrimo2011, outline, writing

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16 thoughts on “How I Use Index Cards to Outline, Pt 2”

3by3 writing method on October 17, 2011 at 3:38 pm said:

love the cards. Love the outline. Publishing is incredibly easy and cheap. Selling a book is hard.

Good luck

Rebekah Loper on October 17, 2011 at 3:57 pm said:

Thanks!

Lesann on October 17, 2011 at 3:40 pm said:

I also notecard to develop an outline. I tried so many different methods, including the famous “no method at all” technique and finally pulled together something that works for me. I like having a roadmap without feeling bogged down so if I change my mind about something later I won’t feel like I have to jettison a bunch of hard work.

If you’ve never tried it – the vertical approach is fun too: tape the cards to a wall and move them around. I started on the floor but when my son began crawling…up on the walls they went. Fortunately he learned some self-control before he shot up in height or I’d be posting on the ceiling by now!

Rebekah Loper on October 17, 2011 at 3:59 pm said:

I thought about using the wall, but I wouldn’t have had enough space, and we also rent, so I’m trying to avoid pulling paint off the wall 🙂

We have a cat, though, and she likes to lay on it as I work. It’s very interesting at times.

Outlining on the ceiling would be fun! 😉

Nellie on October 17, 2011 at 4:59 pm said:

I have a whiteboard that I can hang up. Not sure if that would help. Like you, I’m more a visual person myself. I think it’s more that when I wrote, I never really learned even the note card plotting. And even though it’s written about all over the place, it’s that whole written vs. visual.

Well that and sometimes I don’t always have a plot all the way out.

Rebekah Loper on October 19, 2011 at 2:46 pm said:

My main problem is that a whiteboard isn’t big enough – ever. If could stand the feel and sound of chalk, I would have an entire wall painted with that chalkboard paint in my writing room one day . . . if I could have an entire wall of whiteboard, that would be awesome!

Barbara Evers on October 18, 2011 at 11:54 am said:

Funny, I have a very organized personality except for when it comes to writing…outlining bores me to no end because I’m also a big picture person. So I know where it’s going, and for the most part, how I’m going to get there.. I spreadsheet details as they develop, and that seems to work for me.

Rebekah Loper on October 19, 2011 at 2:47 pm said:

I think the most important thing is that each person has a system that works for them – none of us think exactly the same!

Jason A. Beineke on October 18, 2011 at 10:51 pm said:

too much work!! I would never be able to keep the cars straight and then the cats would run off with them and chew them to bits or something, hehe

Rebekah Loper on October 19, 2011 at 2:55 pm said:

lol, my cards are all numbered, so that helps. I also had a couch to line them up against evenly. And I’ve only got one cat . . . with multiple cats, I can easily see how that would be a problem.

Tameri Etherton on October 24, 2011 at 1:55 pm said:

Love, love, love your index card idea! It’s way more detailed than I make mine and I’m going to incorporate some of those details. Thanks for the awesome posts!