Writing Tip - Pre-Writing

I've been reading a lot about outlining this week. First, in an email course I got, and then from a question I had from a student.

I've said it before, I'm not a "pantser", a seat-of-the-pants writer who is so stinking creative that everything just flows out in perfect order. I know some of them, am in awe of their abilities (and their memories), but I could never hope to be one.

Because I have a lousy memory and because the

Friend or Character?

I was at a meeting the other night and we were just chit-chatting about life, inspiration, etc. One of the gals said she was with a couple of "normals," (her word for non-writers) and she explained a story that had happened to a friend of hers. she got to the end of the story before realizing that it wasn't