In this episode of Unpublished, Angela and Daniel get into the messy, magical, occasionally panic-inducing process of outlining a novel.

Angela gives an update on writing the first chapter of Eros et Flamingo, including the particular terror of turning a book idea into an actual manuscript. From introducing a main character to building an original world from scratch, this episode digs into why starting a novel can feel so different from writing fan fiction, where the characters, settings, and emotional architecture already exist.

Along the way, Angela talks about worldbuilding, imposter syndrome, fan fiction as a stepping stone to original fiction, the difference between drafting and polishing, and why reading widely is one of the most important tools a writer has. She also breaks down her own outlining process, from Google Docs and timelines to color coding, chapter notes, shower thoughts, and the very real magic of discovering a story as you write it.

Whether you are writing your first novel, outlining a romance, trying to move from fan fiction to original fiction, or just curious about how a book gets built one messy draft at a time, this episode is all about finding the path through the creative chaos.

Plus, we discuss literary romance, comps, character development, why first chapters are so hard, and why using AI to shortcut the actual craft of writing misses the best part.