This is K.M. Island and you are listening to the four hundred sixty 465th episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors

Podcast.

You may remember that last week's episode was about how I organized my outline notes for best use when it comes time for me to actually write the first draft.

The timing on that was slightly coincidental since last week was one of the first in which I've had to stop actively working on my outline for the third book in the Dreamlander trilogy,

so I could transcribe the notes I have so far.

I do this periodically throughout my outlining process usually whenever I find myself

having a hard time keeping track of whatever I've written so far. This is particularly important in the early phases when I'm all

over the place. I will often start out trying to figure out one part of the plot or answer one question about a character only to realize that first I need to know something else, which eventually makes me realize I need to first know something else and on and on. Eventually there comes a point when I have to stop,

organize the random mess I've made so far, so I can get a bird's eye view of which questions

I've completely answered, which are only half answered, as well as

whatever new questions may have risen as a result of all the new information.

I always own right as I get to take a little vacation from the hard work of outlining and revisit everything

I've done so far in the story.

So that's my task right now.

And today I hope you enjoy this week's podcast helping authors become

artists. In view of my website and this podcast's title, it's not surprising that people often ask,

what's the difference between a writer and an author?

And usually I admit it's a cheeky sophistry since there is no true distinction

save for the common connotation that an author is somehow more professional. A writer is just someone who scribbles, an author is someone who has arrived, probably by having been published.

At any rate, the title has always indicated my intention that this site and the podcast

should encourage growth among writers, myself, first and foremost.

Unintentionally, my blog and my podcast, have become something of a chronicle of my life.

...