> you also need a well-thought out outline for any larger work like a novel Hasn't been the case for me so far. Every story and essay I've written started with

> you also need a well-thought out outline for any larger work like a novel Hasn't been the case for me so far. Every story and essay I've written started with an idea. If there is an outline, it gets thrown away page 2 and never returns. On my second novel and this still hasn't changed. My writing is actually better this way because I start with characters and plot emerges as they deal with the forces around them. I never know how they will react until they do. I program the same way. Write a bit, revise, write a bit, revise. Drives some people nuts if they see the process, but the end result has been just as good or better than my coworkers throughout my career. (I'm a huge fan of tests. My revise step includes adding tests.)