I can only imagine that by now you’re practically bouncing in your chairs, ready to do some outlining! Even with the aid of my three blogs, however, it the process can still seem overwhelming. Sometimes we need a little more help, a little more encouragement. Here are a couple of longer resources for you:

http://kmweiland.com

Here’s one of her Amazon reviews:
As a writer who has attempted a handful of novels in the past without an outline, I knew it was something I would need going forward with my newest work-in-progress. I wasn’t sold on the idea of an outline at first, though. They seemed restrictive, boring, and frankly too much work BEFORE starting the real work of writing a book. But after reading “Outlining Your Novel” my mind is completely changed. In fact, I doubt that I’ll ever go back to “pantsing” it with novels. Weiland’s guide not only walks you through the steps necessary to set up a functional, useful outline, but it also explains WHY having a road map will make your story better. She’s absolutely right– when I try to write without a guide, I only get so far before I panic and stop working altogether. I would never head to a new city without directions, so it makes no sense to write a new story without a guide either. Both are new, unfamiliar territory. Both can be conquered with some planning.

 One of my favorites:

www.jamesscotbell.com    

This book isn’t really about outlining, but Bell lays out some fantastic guidelines and models for recognizing and identifying the necessary parts of a novel (consider this option your ‘outline alternative’). I read through this book a couple of years ago and blogged about the experience (then I got to meet him!).

Now it’s your turn: what resources have you found that have helped you organize your thoughts, dreams, and closets?