1. Which outline format will you use? Will you use a grid, traditional vertical outline, or some other format? (2 points)
I could not use the grid (it was reader only) but I got the data off it and put into Notepad and then into here.
2. Build and fill out your outline. You may CLICK HERE to fill it out online and/or print it, or you may draft your own.
Beginning/Stasis : The main character is perched on a ledge – full of potential. This stage includes the “hook”, which creates interest and dedicates the reader to reading your story. Some stories begin with a “bang” and seemingly skip the Stasis stage, diving straight into the “hook” and next stage.
Main Character --
Woman who works in a book store. Maybe Barnes & Noble (because I'm fond of Barnes & Noble). She loves working there; she is fine being around people, assisting them, and loves being around books. She also gets a discount on books so win-win.
Trigger : This stage prods the character to action. It can be anything, including an event, request, item, or even a memory.
She wakes up one morning and she can see and hear ghosts. (They see and hear her, too. Goes both ways.) Other stuff has happened too, other 'abilities' or something. (No idea right now of what.)
Quest : The character embarks on a quest and leaves their known world behind.
She decides to use this new-found ability to help police solve crimes. Many ghosts, after all, were murdered or involved in suspicious deaths. She figures if she can talk with them, she can help figure out who did what.
Bolt : An unexpected event or realization hits the character like a BOLT of lightning.
She discovers that ghosts tell LIES. They are the same as they were before they died. Becoming a ghost, being dead, does not mean they change into a truthful person. They might be pathological liars or just plain lying to get someone else in trouble.
Shift : The character’s perception has changed and/or the quest’s direction shifts. This might come in the form of a plot twist.
Defeat : The character reaches their lowest point and suffers a major defeat and/or loss.
Shift and Defeat are sort of all part of the Bolt. This shocks her, tremendously. She'd always sort of figured that once a person died, they changed into someone without the 'nasty', the 'evil' (I don't have a word for it at the moment) which characterized their alive personae. That they would only be truthful, 'good'.
Power : The character musters/discovers/asserts enough renewed power to continue moving forward.
She finds out that they CANNOT LEAVE -- cannot 'go on' -- if they are liars, if they lie.
Resolution : This is where everything is (mostly) resolved.
So she has to learn to accept that folks lie and sometimes believe their lies but the 'Universe' has an auto-detect thing which stops them from going on until they say what is true.
The True Shall Set You Free (The Truth Shall Set You Free)
Extra Credit #2 – Get Ahead
Identify and list your main characters. Include your main character, villains, and group of minor characters (they can be identified as “other characters” in your outline). Name and briefly identify each character, and share 3 of these characters here using between 50 and 75 words per character. (10 points)
Main - woman, late 20s, mid-30s - works in a book store. Enjoys her work a lot. Lives (probably) by herself - ie not with 2-legger -- has dog or cat or something with her. I've not looked at that. Not married/no relationship with 2-legger at start of story. I don't know what will happen right now. Likes to jog, goes to the track and sometimes runs on the trails around the area.
Minor/supporting - friend at book store. Woman. Someone MC can talk with, share some stuff with. Might have a tendency to 'psychic' abilities herself, which helps her to believe what is going on with MC. Similar age probably but dissimilar background. Maybe in a happy relationship, wants MC to be in a happy relationship (besides with her 'dog/cat'.)
Minor/supporting - someone at police station. Probably a Sergeant or Captain (as she'd have to get in touch with, interact with, someone of authority who could give permission for things to happen).
Minor/supporting -- someone who got killed. Told truth, went on when what they wanted was done.
Minor/supporting -- someone who got killed. Told truth, went on when what they wanted was done.
Villain - someone who got killed and lied and lied in order to get someone in trouble. MC listened to him/her and told the police about it, and the usual stuff went on but then found out that the person accused had a VALID alibi and couldn't have done what the Villain said and the Villain gets off scott-free and MC has huge 'validity' crisis. (See Shift/Defeat).
Villain / Not Villain - someone who got killed and lied and lied and then chose otherwise and told truth. Went on
Identify and list your main settings. Be sure to include physical locations, times, key seasons, and moods. Will the story shift settings? List all that you can think of, and continue keeping track as you write your story. Share 3 settings here using between 50 and 75 words per setting. (10 points)
Book Store -- in medium size town, not a major city. Someplace small enough that the people sort of recognize each other by face if they see them often enough. ie not Seattle size city. I will probably make up a name for it, the book store and the town/city.
Police station -- smells of coffee and paper and weapons. Sweat. Some fear (from those brought in). Not brand new, has been around for a while. Brick and wood construction. Maybe the setting will be in a 'canyon' town, where there are pine trees (ooohhhh). It congeals as I write -- I think it will be somewhere like where I used to live, in California -- canyon country. I totally loved that place and know it well enough to write it.
MC's home -- small dwelling far enough away that she has to drive to town to work in the book store, but close enough that it's not a long commute. Just a small house; she wanted something she could afford and make the 'reasonable' payments on it and still be able to live and indulge her hobbies / chosen lifestyle. Has a little 'land' around it; it's out in the boonies a bit and the house itself has enough for a yard, small garden, privacy.
Where and when does your story begin and how do you hope the story will end? (Don’t be surprised or distressed if these details change after you begin writing.) Try to keep your answer between 100 and 300 words. (10 points)
The story begins with MC looking over the shoulder of a customer, at someone else in line. Thing is, she can see the next person who is in line, but when the customer turns to look, no one is there. A minor bit of confusion, MC says, oh, I'm sorry (or something), I thought I saw someone. the transaction continues.
Later on, she's talking with her friend at the bookstore, at break, and describes what happens. Her friend smiles, and they chat a bit. (IE I've no idea but am writing because I know that is the first scene.) I think it is here that there is reference to the police -- to going to the police station after work, to discuss 'Sylvia' with the Captain.
Then it goes to where MC goes home, and relives what happened. How it all changed. That she woke up one morning with some 'new abilities'. ***************** Oh, I see that you said keep it between 100 and 300 words. *counts words************* [152 words to there]