10 Left
I have only ten more chapters to outline. Woohoo!! 
Yes, I plan out my books including how many chapters and how many pages per chapter. I generally write 11-15 page chapters and want at least 360 pages, so I’m planning 28 chapters–broken into three acts, with act two get twice the amount of the first and third. Just like movies.
So I have 3 chapters left at the end of act two and then act 3 to map out. I may just get that done by Monday. I had to change my shopping day from today (which is why I got so much done) to tomorrow. But I also need to come home, put everything away (which usually takes a while ’cause I’m pooped–yes, grocery shopping is an event here) and make homemade tomato sauce with mini meatballs.
So whatever I can get done in the morning then at night. I also need to do some research, so that may slow me down. And I really want to write the first scene, at least, BEFORE Monday. So lots to do, but if I don’t get the rest of the outlining done no biggie. I have much more than I did a week ago, or even yesterday, and that’s all that matters.
Night! 
April 5th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Wow, you’re super organized! Do you usually stick pretty closely to your outlines once you start writing?
I’ve done outlines, and find them helpful in sequencing the order of things and what I want to include. But, inevitably, something I think was going to just be a few hundred words as a small part of a chapter ends up being several thousand words and a chapter all on it’s own.
Maybe I’m doing it wrong?
April 5th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Hey Kathleen.
It actually depends on the outline and how well I fleshed out the suspense and the romance to begin with.
When I first started plotting, I had no clue. It’s taken three years to get to a point where I finally know what works for me, and that continues to change.
The last book I completed I wrote to the outline. I still have to polish that one up. Being this organized helps me see things clearly and know where I’m going.
I don’t outline each scene in extreme detail though. Sometimes it’s a few sentences to remind me of what I was thinking, and sometimes it’s just a scene title. I use to write in complete detail, but when it came time to write the scene, I had no desire.
I’ve also tried not outlining, and then I just sit there staring at the blank screen not knowing what’s going on. LOL
It doesn’t sound like you’re “doing it wrong”. There really is no wrong. It’s what works for you. Maybe those areas need to be fleshed out.
Definitely trust yourself, and do what works for you.
Thanks for stopping by, Kathleen.