Sometimes the best way to finish a story is to think through the entire story in one-line sentences. Then, allow each sentence to represent a chapter. If you already know where you are going with the story, simply by knowing what is expected from each small segment can lead your book to finality.
This is a half list of chapters for my RAISE outline. Part of the book takes place in the Present, the other in 1950s. Some of the flashbacks have not been completed by my Co-author.
It's a great example of how to start a story, nonetheless:
Raise My Town My Love
Chapter 1 The Accident
Chapter 2 The Diner
Chapter 3 The Old Man
Chapter 4 David Unwinds
Chapter 5 Chopping Cotton
Chapter 6 Home Life with the Leathers
Chapter 7 David Awakes---Crystal Comes Home
Chapter 8 More Rest and Art Supplies
Chapter 9 Our Big Town
Chapter 10 Tension: Will It Rain Before Harvest?
Chapter 11 Cotton Trailer Line Wait
Chapter 12 Weigh-In of Trailers and Bales are Formed
Chapter 13 Friend Killed Stompin’ Cotton
Chapter 14 Funeral for a Friend
Chapter 15 Hunt Day
Chapter 16 The Hunt
Chapter 17 Christmas at the Leathers
Chapter 18 Modern Day: Hunt Day Goodbyes
Chapter 19 Crystal at the Diner
Chapter 20 David at Home with Trumpet
Chapter 21 Flashback
Chapter 22 Flashback
Chapter 23 Flashback
Chapter 24 David showers and goes for coffee and to see Crystal.
Chapter 25 The Marketing Expert Stranger
Chapter 26 Conversation with a Stranger
Chapter 27 Tour of Town with the Stranger
Chapter 28 Flashback: The death of Stan Leathers
Chapter 29 Flashback: L.E. our new dad?
Chapter 30 Flashback: Life on the farm
Chapter 31 Day Off---Trip to City
Chapter 32 Meet Marketing Expert for Dinner
Chapter 33 Flashback: Children Begin to Leave
Chapter 34 Flashback: Child #2 Leaves
Chapter 35 Flashback: Children 3 & 4 leave…well kind of leave.
Chapter 36 David dreams of a “last wagon train to Hollis.”
Chapter 37 A Walk in the Park with Crystal
Chapter 38 Tour of Dallas with the Marketing Director
Chapter 39 Dull day back at work in Hollis
Chapter 40 Mexican Birthday Party
Chapter 41 Flashback: The Leathers family takes in 5 strangers
Chapter 42 Flashback: Brothers go hunting together with strangers
Chapter 43 Flashback: Oldest Brother Trey becomes a policeman
Chapter 44 Flashback: Davey becomes a policeman
Chapter 45 Flashback: Hard Times Ahead: Pills...and kids to boot.
Chapter 46 Policeman Dave and the Weird Smell by the Bridge
Chapter 47 David in the Library researching American Roadside Attractions
Chapter 48 David meets friend, Douglas, who helps investigate smell.
Chapter 49 David finds the body of a Latina
Chapter 50 Consoles Crystal. Several days of his following her home.
Chapter 51 Flashback:
Chapter 52 Flashback:
Chapter 53 Flashback:
Chapter 54 Clue: "This ole town, people going down."
Chapter 55 David and OBI meet to discuss case.
Chapter 56 David & Deputies beef-up control of town
Chapter 57 Fashion Shoot in Hollis
Chapter 58 Conversations in the Diner
Chapter 59 Missing Model
Chapter 60 Flashback:
Chapter 61 Flashback:
Chapter 62 Flashback:
Chapter 63 Missing Model found dead
Chapter 64 David is questioned by his old boss, the Sheriff
Chapter 65 David is questioned by the press
Chapter 66 David meets a reporter
Chapter 67 David plays trumpet after reading his "bad press", finds clue.
Chapter 68 OBI reveals a connection and warns of a loose "madman".
Chapter 69 David on patrol
Chapter 70 Flashback:
Chapter 71 Flashback:
Chapter 72 Flashback:
Chapter 73 David follows a stranger
Chapter 74 Killer traps Crystal
Chapter 75 David confronts and kills murderer
Chapter 76 David is cleared, consoles Crystal
Chapter 77 David & Crystal spend time together, magazine spread arrives
Chapter 78 Movie company calls for shoot
Chapter 79 Leathers children return to Hollis
Chapter 80 Leathers new:
Chapter 81 Leathers new:
Chapter 82 David asks Crystal's father for her hand in marriage
Chapter 83 David on patrol, reads positive article about town
Chapter 84 Movie studio comes to town, changing city scape and rundown look.
Chapter 85 Crystal & David become engaged
Chapter 86 David becomes Catholic
Chapter 87 David & Crystal speak of moving
Chapter 88 Wedding Town
Chapter 89 Reality & the town today
Detail of As Seen on Oprah
notice the hand above the head?
Paper & Foamcore Series
As Seen on Oprah
New Paper on Foamcore Series
Fat Woman in My Head
I was once a Giant of a Man
by Ray deMacon
Ode to Teen Angst
by artist Ray deMacon
Plus Time, Taps
by artist Ray deMacon
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One Year Later I weigh Less!
photo taken 7-19-2006 at Pride in Atlanta.
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Cotillion Visionaries Greg, Mark & Mohawked Model
Courtesy Van Michael Salon
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Michael Baum, Yvonne Dwyer & Jason Harris
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Model at Visionaries 4
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"The Visionaries Show" at Trinity Gallery, with fashion by Bill Hallman Designs,Inc.(photo courtesy Flickr's Prudon6, Montreal, Quebec)
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