On Monday 31 December 2007 03:54:28 Typhoon wrote: > Since there seems to be some interest in this, I would like to offer my > alternative experience. > > I am a great believer in outlines for anything longer than a letter to > Mum. I also use them the way that Steve talks about - outline - write - > outline, etc. >
I'm also a fan of outlining. For the last year or so I have a been using a "mind mapping" tool called Kdissert. You can see some of its output in this posting (scroll down): http://www.unmusic.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=29 The great thing about outlining graphically, is that you can put an idea down on the page without having to decide where it appears in the structure. This is useful for forgetful people like myself as I don't have to keep things in my head. The problem with this tool is that editors don't usually accept pitches in graphical form. This means that the process of pitching an article consists of mapping it out and then writing it up, which is rather long-winded. For this reason, like Steve, I've started to wonder if LyX itself can be used for outlining thanks to the new outlining sidebar. In the case of a detailed pitch, outlining and composing the pitch can be combined. I hear that 1.6 may contain folding section features? If so, this will make LyX even more plausible as an outliner. For the book that I am writing, I am hoping that I can start creating chapter outlines from my written notes using the graphical tool. Once this is done, I can start writing the actual chapters by flitting between the written notes and the graphical mind-map. -- http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, writing, music, gender, geek sitcom etc.
