I've always been a seat-of-the-pants writer -- sure, I have a general idea of where I'm going, but things usually change dramatically. I don't understand how some writers can write out an outline and have it come out being anywhere close to useful -- it seems impossible to me, and it makes me jealous.

So I am trying to learn how to do it. There has to be a way, right?

I've seen a few outliners suggest watching a TV show and then plotting it out on paper, as an exercise. I may try that.

But the closest I've come to success with this was when I was forced to write a synopsis for the East Texas Range War novel back when I only had 3 chapters. The synopsis actually came out *relatively* close to reality. But it was also one of the most painful things I've ever done, and it still didn't help me fill the plot holes or fix major structural problems (I could have done it, I guess, but I just didn't know they were problems yet).

So I'm going to try to write up a synopsis for this Urban Fantasy book and see if everything comes out okay. I don't have high literary aspirations for it, and it will do well with a linear plot, so I think this is a good novel to try it on.

The Dao/Good Lord/Great Spirit/Whatever knows that I have to do something to speed up my novel writing process if I ever want to even DREAM of making a living at this.

Any advice out there?