To outline, or not to outline? That is not THE question, but it is a question.

When starting a story, most writers find that they cannot write without an outline. This could be an outline of the entire book, of the characters of the book, of certain events they wish to happen during the book, or of the conflicts that drive the story. Other writers choose the less common but still viable path of freewriting. This is the name I give to the style of writing that uses the most minimal of outlines, if any at all.

Freewriting is used by writers for many reasons; perhaps they are too lazy to come up with an outline? Perhaps they feel rebellious and want to write off the beaten paper? (Off the beaten path. Path-etic, I know.) Or maybe they actually enjoy writing without having planned what they're writing? The thrill of creating anew each time you put your fingers to the keyboard, the exciting feeling you get when you sit down to write and at the same time start planning what you're about to write.

I freewrite with almost everything I write - just about the only thing I outline is the world, as in worldbuilding, and I don't even fully outline that. The story itself, the characters, and everything else I develop as I write. My favorite thing about freewriting is that I feel as if I'm telling myself a story, and therefore I look forward to writing all the time, and rarely get bored with the story. I feel more compulsion to continue the story, because a) I don't already have it outlined, so if I want to make any progress at all I'm going to have to write, and b) I want to know what happens next! I create the story so that not only other people can enjoy it, but me too.

The most crucial aspect of being a good writer is that you love and enjoy what you are doing. If you do, it will be evident in your work, and you will feel more driven to write, and write better when you do. If you feel the need to draw up an outline before you write - do it! If you feel the need to freewrite, to start without much prior planning - do it! Whichever process works best for you, use that process. I may have Fillius write up a post about using an outline some time, because, as he is an idea man, he outlines like I drink Di-hydrogen Monoxide. And I drink a lot of Di-hydrogen Monoxide.

Time for the prompt! Actually, since it is 4:32, it's really not "time for" anything. The time for the prompt is just whenever I happen to be nearing the end of writing the latest post. So here it is: If you are an outlining person, write up an outline to a short story - lets keep this brief. And only an outline. If you are a freewriter, like me, freewrite for a bit. I can't say how long it should be, or what it should be about, but you'll know when to stop. Just write the beginning of something, the first chapter maybe, and don't think too hard about it before you begin. Happy freewriting, and

• Good
• Luck
• Outlining

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As for last week's prompt, which was about worldbuilding, and basing the world around its geography, I received a wonderfully written, story-styled worldbuilding piece from one Alexander Penn, titled The Creation of Mist.

"Tell me a bedtime story, Father."

"Alright. How about I read from 'The Book of the Learned'? That sound good?"

"Yeah!"

"OK. This story is called 'The Creation of Mist.'

"A long time ago, before the natives dwelt in the Deep, the Cliffs used to be their homes. To this day, their faces are filled with empty holes and passageways. They have been empty ever since the inhabitants left when it became too dangerous to live in the caves.

"They used to be happy, living in their Cliffs. They found passages under the water that connected each cliff to its neighbors. They had built bridges to take them above the water as well. The tops of cliffs were reserved for their temples, since they needed to see Skaia's light through the glass bubbles. Their boats traversed the surface of the Deep, and they used to have tremendous barges with glass bottoms to view the depths. Their maritime celebrations were legendary, and festival ships were in high demand.

"Far below, in her underwater cave, Sphinx grew restless. She knew that I was coming, and that I must never find Skaia's light. With the help of the inhabitants, I would certainly have made it much faster. To rid the land above the water of its inhabitants, Sphinx inhaled deeply, and then let out a Vast Screech. It shattered the natives' stained glass structures, and the glass dust scattered in the breeze. The Cliffs rocked, snapping the bridges. She Screeched again, and the dust broke down even smaller, into microscopic particles. She let out a final Screech, and the glass became tiny photons, particles of multicolored light.

"But Sphinx was not done. She emerged from her lair, and the inhabitants saw her for the first time. They were terrified by her form. She had a woman's head, a lion's body, two enormous wings, the tail of a monstrous fish, and seemed to be made entirely from stone. She flew up high, higher than the greatest cliff, then plunged straight into the water below. Upon impact with the surface, the water turned into vapor, which mixed with the glass photons, creating the Mist.

"The Mist blinded the inhabitants. It floated throughout the land, obscuring their vision with shimmering light. They often tumbled off the Cliffs and fell into the Fathoms. It became too dangerous to live in the cliffs. The natives packed up whatever they had left, and began rebuilding, under the water, the only place where the Mist could not harm them. They fashioned new glass bubbles for their buildings, and adapted to life underwater. Away from me, the only one who can save them from Sphinx."