Colophon asked Luke Feistamel:

How do you outline your novels? What do you do before the first draft?

Luke Feistamel Good questions.
If I ever think of a good concept, I'll usually really quickly, over the next few hours, think out the basic storyline. I'll write that down, as a kind of outline, with just the basic points that are essential to the plot. Usually, I'll leave out any details, unless they are important. Then over the next few months, or years, I'll add more to it, if I think of something that fits. I usually have several of these going, so when I think of an idea I like, I can find which novel it would best fit into, and add it to the notes I've been building of that particular novel.
When I'm going to start a new novel, I usually look at which one I've been taking notes on that seems the most complete, or has the best concept. Though, for Glowbug I did not begin writing it for at least three years after I thought up the original concept, because I thought I wasn't a good enough writer to write it at first, and I knew it was the best concept I'd ever come up with. So there are things like that to take into consideration.
Then after choosing my next project, I'll read over all my notes, and try to refine them down into as simple an outline as I can, usually just in bullet points. I'll also try to flesh out the characters really well (though I already have come up with them by that point), and to make sure I have a good setting that is well defined and I can work around in it.
One thing I have realized over the years, is if you have a good premise, good setting, and good characters, the novel will basically write itself.

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