Well, I've always sworn by pantsing before and never outlined, but I decided to do a short story version of NaNo this month and figured out pretty quickly that if I didn't have a Plan it would fall apart. So I outlined in December.

Turns out I was right. I did four stories with few hiccups. And the fifth one, the outline fell apart and now it's kicking my ass.

But I got my 50K, with days to spare, so it's still a success.

This is extremely reassuring to read.

This would have worked if I'd figured out what my Monster was before I did my outline, and then outlined around that. But I pantsed the monster and then ended up going "whoops." If I'd figured out earlier in the process that the outline was borked and that I should really sit down and un-bork it, I'd've been fine.

Well. That's a lesson learned for when I do it all again in June. :D This is the first time I've tried something like this, and I decided not to pressure myself over it.

Oooh! Why have I never thought of doing an outline of what's already written as a brain jog?!?!?!

My brain just went "click." Maybe I'll actually finish something now. =)