Muse & the Marketplace 2019

Writers often hate to outline their novels, feeling the practice constrains creativity and saps inspiration. But why set out on "the long sea voyage," as Melville called novel-writing, without some sort of map to your destination? The Webster's definition of plot is "to chart out in points," and New York Times bestselling novelist Jenna Blum will show you how to chart your book while remaining creatively flexible and inspired.

Why is an outline necessary? What constitutes an outline? Can you think outside the traditional outline format, and if so, how? Jenna will share outlines to her own books, explain how they helped, and provide tips for writers to create their own maps to that ultimate destination: The End.