| When I wrote a 1,000 word article, I don't need | | | | - Sometimes, I use colored backgrounds in slides. |
| an outline. I can keep everything straight in my | | | | Colored backgrounds make it easy to show |
| head. In fact, in many cases, I create an outline | | | | different chapters, and I can use a colored |
| and then flesh it out. I can't possibly keep all of | | | | background to indicate when I'm thinking about |
| the twists and turns of a novel in my head. I get | | | | getting rid of a point. |
| lost. When I don't have an extended outline, I can | | | | - When I use colors as backgrounds, green means |
| lose my way, or worse yet, spend many hours | | | | I really like the idea, yellow indicates caution and |
| writing material that I throw away. | | | | red means probably delete |
| You can easily create a stepsheet in any word | | | | Ironically, some of the ideas I like best get thrown |
| processing program that provides outlining | | | | away first. That's because they don't advance the |
| capabilities, and you can also create a stepsheet | | | | premise of the story. The premise is the driving |
| using special programs that you can buy on the | | | | purpose of a story-the test that each and every |
| Internet. You'll know what's right for the way that | | | | page, paragraph, phrase, every sentence, must |
| you write. Here's why I sometimes use Microsoft | | | | advance. |
| PowerPoint to create a stepsheet: | | | | Example: For my forthcoming book The Occluded |
| - It's easy for me to drop in one item on one | | | | Emerald, the premise is "Evil and Love can never |
| screen. | | | | be destroyed, but evil contains within it the seeds |
| - I can set Microsoft Powerpoint to display a slide | | | | of it's captivity. Love, does not." |
| show that displays every slide automatically, or | | | | Sometimes, I use a design template. I feel more |
| any number of slides--like the slides that comprise | | | | relaxed when I'm not just using a plain white card. |
| chapters 1, 2 and 3 only. | | | | Sometimes I use PowerPoint's outline view. |
| - I can make a voice recording for each slide, and | | | | Sometimes I save the file as an Outline. I can use |
| have the PowerPoint show read me the | | | | Word to edit and add to the outline, or overwrite |
| stepsheet. In this way I can hear as well as see | | | | parts of it. |
| the spreadsheet. | | | | One of the advantages of using a PowerPoint |
| - I sometimes export the spreadsheet to a | | | | stepsheet is that the space allowed for writing |
| Microsoft Word document, and use it to write my | | | | comments automatically limits the amount that I |
| novel. | | | | type. |
| - I can color some of the text to indicate where I | | | | Another advantage is that it makes me feel like |
| want to have dramatic | | | | outlining, and not writing dialogue. |
| It's easy to create a stepsheet in Microsoft | | | | I sometimes like watching a slideshow. It lets me |
| PowerPoint. All you need to do is open a new | | | | see how my novel will progress, and if I want I |
| PowerPoint presentation and start typing. | | | | can record my voice and listen what I'm intending |
| However, these tips make it easier for me to use | | | | to write. |
| the stepsheet that I create. Perhaps, they will also | | | | Another advantage is that I can easily rearrange |
| help you. | | | | the order in either PowerPoint's Outline View, the |
| - I place the main thought in the title bar | | | | Slide Sorter or on a slide-by-slide basis. |
| - I expand my thoughts in the box that appears | | | | Also, sometimes I include pictures that help me to |
| under the title box | | | | visualize my writing. "As he slid down the water |
| - I might indicate I want to write in a narrative | | | | chute, Barry closed his eyes and starting laughing. |
| voice in blue. | | | | The water swirled around his body tickling him like |
| - I might indicate areas that I think are very | | | | a million feathers... " came from writing while |
| important on in green. (Green is the color of | | | | looking the photograph. |
| leaves in spring.) | | | | Use the ideas that make sense to you, and good |
| - I might indicate areas that I'm not sure about in | | | | writing! |
| brown. (Brown is the color of a leaf that is dying.) | | | | |