"An outline isn't essential. Plenty of top authors don't use one."
In Qiu Wuji's room, Chu Ge-Father God, autograph-requested author, cultivation disciple, writing master, and open admirer-pulled up a little stool beside her and began instructing her:
"The main point of an outline is actually to clarify what story you want to tell, what the protagonist will do, what they'll go through, and what results they'll achieve. List that process out briefly, and you have the most basic outline. If you already have a clear storyline in mind, you don't need one. So, what sort of story do you want to write?"
Qiu Wuji's eyes were spinning. "I want to write a story about a heroine slaying demons and vanquishing evil."
"...That's not a story. Can you repeat what I just said?"
The spirals in Qiu Wuji's eyes began spreading. "What the protagonist will do... My protagonist will slay demons and vanquish evil. What she'll go through... She'll go through slaying demons and vanquishing evil."
Chu Ge said, "And what results will she achieve? Successfully slaying demons and vanquishing evil, right...?"
"Ah, yes."
"That isn't a story. It's just a type of subject matter," Chu Ge said. "Suppose you want to write about a female lead coming out of a book. That's just an idea, a premise, not a story. What happens between Qiu Wuji and Chu Ge-that's the story."
Qiu Wuji seemed to come back to her senses a little. "What do you want to happen between us? You pervert!"
Chu Ge covered his face. "I can't teach this disciple."
Qiu Wuji glared at him, her cheeks puffed out. "You've already felt up my hand."
"...Fine, fine, fine. Let me try again." Chu Ge caught her little hand and stroked it twice.
Qiu Wuji reacted instinctively, punching Chu Ge