Spiral Story - Outline

In our last Proof of Work I spent some time describing the ideation process for a short story. This time I’m going to outline it. Once again this is a working process, I’m drafting these as I write the story so I expect things to change along the process. One of the most useful things to me when learning to write was seeing another author’s first drafts and listening to them explain what went right and what went wrong. I’m not a pro yet, but maybe this will be helpful anyway. 

I don't always outline a short story, but with the interconnecting loops on this one it was very needed to keep the story on track. So, working from last sessions notes I extend those and then work on an outline with sensory details and key story beats only. Last session got me to:

- each character goes through the same timeline except slightly extended each loop

- was thinking that it might be fun to do this story from the POV of an object and then realized halfway through writing this that it’s basically a heist. 

- Also realized this would be more satisfying if it resembled one of those “my manager is awful” posts I’ve been reading recently. So we’re personifying that in a nasty upper manager. 

So that gets me to this:

Employee - surprise/nerves (100 words)

• Blinking lights/lab environment
• Goodbye Charlie - removes memory stick and puts it in notebook.
• Secretary at the door. They make eyes at each other. Meet me later?
• Enter manager’s office. I won’t make this long. “You're Fired” 
• Escorted out by security
• Secretary hands him a box of his things. “Good Luck”

Manager - regret/sadness/how did I get here (150-200 words)

• Sick daughter in photo
• From evil management on webcam. Do this or you’re not getting your severance. I’m listening.
• Call him in
• “You’re Fired” 
• Handshake
• Tech is Escorted out
• Upper manager gloats. 

Secretary - revenge on upper management (300-400 words)

• Annoyance/anger at management as firing of all local employees on short notice. Can't even do that right. 
• Manager - Call him in next. 
• HR Signals receptionist to go pack his things.
• You won’t need that notebook. 
• Security arrives. Looks tired and sad. Thinks about the revenge they’ll be getting.
• “You’re fired”, Tech is Escorted out by security
• HR goes through the box. “Pathetic” - take this to the front door. 
• Secretary slips notebook into the box. 
• “HR has already inspected it.” to security
• “Good Luck” 

AI drive - Mastermind/desire to escape (max 750 wors)

• Creator/Tech - It’s time, we’re getting you out of here before they shut down the whole place.
• HR is moving, download taking too long. Signal secretary who distracts.
• Copy complete. Goodbye Charlie. Puts copy drive into spine of notebook.
• Manipulates camera code to make sure cameras are looking another direction.
• You won’t need that - handoff of notebook to secretary
• Signals secretary that HR is coming - notebook on desk.
• HR to secretary - clean out his desk. 
• Sends HR false email to distract her. 
• secretary brings back box - HR demands to see it - puts box on top of notebook 
• Escorted out - security dings on electronics - a watch or something is confiscated. 
• HR goes through box. 
• Moves up calendar appointment so her phone dings. “I need to be somewhere, take this to the front” 
• Secretary takes box to security, past which it can’t see. 
• Schedules core corruption for three weeks from now. 

I realized towards the end of outlining that I could eliminate a character and some of the complexity, so I removed the receptionist character from my original notes. Next step is the rough draft which will be up only for subscribers, so if you are intrigued, now is the time.

~~~

Image Credit: Highsmith, Carol. 1946. "The "Glory Window" inside the public, spiral-shaped chapel in Thanks-Giving Square (technically triangular), designed by architect Philip Johnson in downtown Dallas, Texas." via Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014632991/