Over at the CBC Books website (an excellent – and sometimes even edifying – time-waster) there’s a debate between my friend and fellow writer Sheila Heti and myself about the matter of outlines. I’m in favour, Sheila against.
As both Sheila and I agree, however, there’s no right or wrong way to write a book. Whatever works for you…works. There’s nothing to debate really. But in the spirit of offering advice that’s worked for me (advice intended for fellow toilers looking for advice) I wanted to make the case for spending more time on the pre-writing phase. Spitballing. What if-ing. Testing. Pitching.
Not only because it helps (which I believe it does), but because it’s such a creatively exciting step in the long walk.