Improving Your Craft discussion

These are really spot on. Try to write a book that has 24 different critical characters, in a country you have never visited, or a world that may or may not exist...start at the beginning with zero plan and see what happens when your manic, overly-creative brain decides to tell your fingers to type "The End". I have done something similar with a story I was preparing to submit to a magazine...on a deadline...and let's just say it saw the circular file and never left the vicinity of the burn barrel soon after. It was a disaster. Micro-managing every tiny detail may be a little much, but basic outlining is a must if you want people to be able to understand your thoughts as they read the words you've placed in front of them. Great thoughts, Michael. Where was I, again?