If you're reading this then you're either lost, confused, or my mother. Either way thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it :)

For those of you who are wondering who I am, my name is Felix and I'm perhaps the most irrelevant author here on Wattpad. A bit of an exaggeration, but accurate nonetheless. I write under the username classicoverthinker, however I'm mostly known for my incredibly mediocre graphics (shameless promo begins) aside from that, I'm the author of the short story The Evolution of Katherine Grey, and the burdened soul behind the book of poems: Nicotine. (shameless promo ends)

This is my first ever Wattpad Block Party! (holds for applause) It is truly an honour to have been selected to participate this summer, and I want to extend yet another thanks to the amazing Kelly Anne Blount for giving me this opportunity. To celebrate, this Block Party I'll be giving away three (3) graphics (covers, gifs, etc) to two (2) lucky winners!

Okay, okay, enough talk. Today I will be sharing with you guys How I Outline my Novels, as well as a small snippet of my upcoming novel "Hopeless". I hope you guys enjoy it and thank you so very much for reading :)

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HOW I OUTLINE MY NOVELS

by Felix McIntosh

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As a person who has come up with ideas for countless novels, started twenty, finished two and published none. I have done what can only be described as a whole lot of outlining.

A process that has changed for me over time and after consulting with YouTube, Google and many, many blogs, I finally found a process that worked for me. Now, I don't expect this process to work for everyone, as everyone writes differently and has their own unique and/or peculiar methods. I do hope, however, that you'll find some tips somewhere in this post that will help you as you venture on your own writing journey.

My process is split into -- parts, I will cover each of them separately and I'll try my best to give as much detail as I can.

1. That's a pretty Snowflake

I start off all my outlines using the "Snowflake Method" that I found on advancedficitonwriting.com. This method is essentially starting with something small, and then building up on it until it turns into something bigger.

Let's say that you've just came up with an idea for the most awesome novel in the world. Firstly, hooray for you. Secondly, before you start writing, take about an hour or two and try to come up with one sentence summary of the novel. Here are some tips:

Keep it short Try for 15 words or less.

No character names Instead, try to find descriptive phrases that fit your character. Better to use "a nonsensical politician", rather than Donald Trump.

In the end you may end up with something like this: "A nonsensical politician embarks on a quest to dominate the free world."

This sentence will become really important after you've written you novel. It will act as the hook that sells your book to your editor, publisher, and ultimately your reader.

2. Alpha & Omega, The Beginning and the End.

This is something that started off as a habit for me, before I incorporated it into my method. After I've developed the general idea of my novel I like to think of how I want it to start, as well as the desired ending.

This helps me decide on the event and conflicts that will take them from point A (beginning) to point O (ending).

Advantages: It will narrow the down the paths the story will take. And with your outline being specific your writing should flow easier.

Disadvantages: This might only work if you are a detailed person. If you are an author who likes to go to the flow while writing, then using this process may cause you to feel constricted.

3. Well, that happened

Now this is the fun part of my process. After I have decided on my beginning and ending, I begin to fill in the actual plot outline.

At this point in the process I make very vague and general descriptions of the major events in the story. Using my beginning and end points as a guide. I try to come up with at least 3-4 events. I list out the events that I want to happen at each part of the plot outline: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement/Resolution*

[*If you plan on writing a series, then you may not want to resolve the issue in the first book, furthermore, the issue being resolved doesn't necessarily mean that the protagonist/main character was successful.]

4. Little things happen

If you like to work freely, then you might want to stop outlining there and begin your writing process. (notices the audience members leaving) Hey! Where are you going?

You could learn something from this! *insert Tyra Banks gif here*

Of course you could stop outlining at this point, you already have your major plot points, and a general idea of how your novel will play out. But if you're like me, then you know that this is not enough.

I like my outlines to be as detailed as they can be. After I have written my general outline, I start to fill in the blanks: that is, the minor events that lead up to each major event and the results/consequences of each. I started doing 'chapter-by-chapter' breakdowns. Here I would detail what I'd like to happen in each chapter. At the end of this part, I should be able to read through the outline and pick on plot-holes and other minor issues and details.

5. Are we there yet?

Yeah, pretty much. This is normally where I start writing. Some people may continue and add a few more things that they feel necessary.

And that's it! Hopefully, you found something in here to be helpful. Once again, thank you so much for reading my post and I really hope that you enjoyed it.

See you sometime soon,

— f.m.

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Wow, you actually stuck around to the end of this? Congratulations! Here's your prize :)

And now, the moment Matt has been waiting for, a teaser from my upcoming novel Hopeless.

I take a deep breath, inhaling smoke. That was not surprising, seeing that Chris was smoking right beside me. It was his favourite pass-time.

On the other hand, Hanna, his polar opposite, had covered her nostrils with her scarf, so as to not take in any of his 'second-hand pollutants'. I didn't mind Chris smoking, I didn't mind much about the two. I was just glad for their company.

"You want a smoke?" Chris' raspy voice cut through the silence.

"What?" I was bewildered. "No!"

He shrugged. "You've been staring at it for a good ten minutes, thought you wanted some."

"No. I was just thinking."

"Why'd you have to look at me to think?"

"Maybe Jason's just wondering why you're trying to give yourself cancer," Hanna's sharp-tone joined the dispute.

"I'm not going to get cancer! Why do you always say that?"

"That thing you keep putting to your lips, is going to kill you one day. I just want to make sure you knew that."

"If they haven't killed me yet, they won't kill me anytime soon."

I never interrupted them. They were fascinating to watch, though it always puzzled me how they remained friends. How he was too ignorant to realise that all she did was care about him, how she was gullible enough to still care. There was no mystery in why I was still friends with them. When you have enough, people will want some of it, if not more than what you want to give them. The best way to avoid this, was to find people who have as much as you do. You could function without leeching off each other.

I checked the the figures displayed on my wrist watch.

"Guys," I stole the attention they had previously invested in each other. "We should probably head inside, before they lock us out," I glared at Christopher, "again."

"That was one time," he mimicked my glare. "And it wasn't my fault."

We ended the conversation with the exchange of devious expressions rather than words as we picked up our bags and headed towards the school's doors. Hanna was a few steps ahead of us at this point, not wanting to linger in our boyish atmosphere. She was the most mature of the three of us. I go even further to say she had the most ambition, there was nothing on this earth I think could shake that girl off her foundation.

I look at all the other students in the hallways, and wonder why I never took my parents offer of attending private school. Though the question was easily answered; so much of my life was 'private', I knew I wasn't ordinary, but I was smart enough to know that not being around ordinary people wouldn't help my situation. My sister, however, jumped at the idea of attending private school, she performed excellently there too, not that I was failing. No, just complacent.

"Watch where you're going!" the boy exclaimed aggressively. We didn't bump into each other slow enough for me to see his face. But as we continued in our separate directions I caught glimpse of a petite red-head scolding him. Hopefully for his terrible manners.

Both Chris and Hanna had disappeared from my vision. I was by myself trying to maneuver the crowds. I was trying to put as much focus into what is in front of me as I could, so as to not have a repetition of the previous incident. I shouldn't have to put so much focus into where I was going, it should be a routine I was able to recall without thinking about. Much like my future, it was already laid out in front of me. The classes I take, the goals I should aim to achieve. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I can assure you I'm not. My parents had managed to secure a profitable future for me, so I can understand them making sure I'm not clueless when I get there.

I had made my way to my classroom, without any more casualties— thankfully. I'm not going to do one of those silly introductions, where I tell you all about my teacher and how much of a bitch she is— her name is Ms. Perez, she was fairly decent when it came to doing her job and that's all you need to know. I wasn't particularly the smartest student, but I had exerted the right amount of input necessary to ensure that my output would be sufficient. After all, I wasn't about to give my father any reason to let Sierra, my sister, inherit the company.

I had big plans. I knew I could accomplish as much as I want to, if only I was able to put my mind up to the task.

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