How I "micro-draft"

Hello again! 

I have talked quite a bit in the past about how I "micro-draft" (basically the only way I can get my "Pantser" brain to plot) and today I thought it might be helpful if I actually demonstrated how I do this!

I have been using these techniques to lay out multi-chapter books... but as this is just a blog post, and no one wants to read through all that, I'm going to demonstrate how this works using one of my Flash Fiction Friday stories from my old blog.

I have to note that, as this is a completed Flash Fiction, this draft is going to be far more complete and clean than most of my actual drafts. As a general rule, I actually have less than a page of notes for a ten-plus-page chapter, but I think this will still get the general idea across.

One quick note on Formatting: I've discovered that I can keep my plot 1,000% cleaner by using bullets, so that is how my micro-draft will be presented here.

Just to make sure we are all on the same page, THIS is the story I'll be breaking down. So... let's get to it!

• Introduce the "destiny-ruled" world
• MC explains the rules directly to the audience?

• MC is VERY smart and talented
• But he hates it
• Maybe he can escape his destiny?

• MC is exhausted from running away
• Needs some rest
• And to find food

• Wakes up to find a kind stranger making food
• and the path is washed out
• MC is so so hungry

• Convo between MC and stranger
• Stranger knows what MC is trying to do
• MC evasive, but hungry, so he listens while eating
• Stranger says MC can't hide forever

• MC stuck on stranger's words
• Even after he leaves
• MC decides to stop running away

• MC later realizes he shouldn't have been afraid to begin with
• And that stranger was right about hiding
• No one can hide from their destiny.

That about does it! Again, this is a tad misleading as I'm working with a finished story, rather than one that is still in my head, but this is basically how I micro-draft.

First, I pick out the bigger details I know I want to write, then add smaller details when I have them, and leave the rest up to Pantsing! For a larger story, I also break down these notes by chapter (more or less) though I often end up shifting where the plot points go several times before I'm finished.

That's it from me, but what about you? Do you plot at all? If so, how do you go about it? If not, would you consider trying it out? Feel free to share your answers below!

Have a great day, and keep writing!