One of the things I get asked about most from readers and fellow writers is whether or not I outline my books before I start writing them. Well, my answer is complicated, because it's been different for each book.

I did my best to explain this recently in a piece for my friends over at Writer Unboxed.

To outline or not to outline? In the writing world, it's a surprisingly controversial topic. I understand both points of view well--because, in fact, I've lived each them. Now, to be honest, I'm...