Omigod, it's a forest!

[Lester Curtis]

Omigod, it's a forest!

The trees were just getting too thick . . . I needed a better perspective on my ongoing project (to which I've added quite a bit).

So, today, I made this . . . the chapter titles (indicating Leeta's age) are underlined all-caps; the sub-chapter segments are indicated with an asterisk.

It's helped me already -- you'll see the chapter labeled FOUR YEARS -- well, its two subchapters were under the previous chapter until only a few minutes after I finished this outline.

The long view really helped me today.

Now, I have to come up with some material to fill in between years four and eight.

Maybe someone else out there can benefit from something like this.

*****

CHAPTER BREAKDOWN Oct 9, 10

MINUS TWO MONTHS

Humans have captured Ketenn . . . her physical description is given.

ZERO

Leeta's birth

THREE YEARS, ELEVEN MONTHS

* Col. Grainger gets news of the escape; shoots messenger.

* Leeta is discovered by picnickers.

* Aboard Eddy's ship, approaching Ramoth -- Alfred gets drunk; Leeta discovered alive. Eddy advises Alfred to tell Ketenn how he feels

* Phone conversation between Consul-General & David Chu.

* Aboard Eddy's ship, just after landing . . . Ketenn asks Eddy to take her back

* Another phone call between Consul-General & David Chu . . . Alfred identified -- military stalling

* Aboard Eddy's ship -- morning -- breakfast, walk into Ramoth, meet Mother

* Phone conv. between Kohler & Col. Grainger -- 'carrot & stick' -- Grainger starts plans against Kohler

FOUR YEARS

* David Chu visits Leeta at Institute just prior to Leeta moving in with the MacAllens

* Closed-door meeting with high officials -- general tells them about Blackships

EIGHT YEARS, ONE MONTH

* David Chu lands on Ramoth -- lunch with Alfred & Ketenn -- videos from Leeta -- opening of gifts from Leeta -- siesta time; David starts reading Alfred's files

* Leeta's private birthday party w/ MacAllens -- trip to spaceport, ride with Cpt. Okeke -- recommendation for flight school for Leeta

* David on Ramoth, reading files -- end siesta -- David interviews Alfred & Ketenn