Free Write and Outline for an Informative Paper

Running head: SAMPLE FREEWRITE AND OUTLINE 1

Sample Freewrite and Outline for a Narrative Essay

Greg Gildersleeve

Grantham University

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Freewrite

Getting published at 21. Wrote article for Comics Buyers Guide. A lot of new publishers in

comics industry—idependents, alternatives to Marvel and DC. Tried some of the these comics,

didn’t like them, too expensive, but wanted more than just two publishers. Wrote article, “How

to Improve the Alternate Comics’ Success” and submitted it. Accepted! Yay! Thought I was on

my way to an illustrious career of writing comics. But the article was not published until more

than a year later. Reaction from pro writers not good. One said I wanted to alternate comics to

succeed only in relation to Marvel and DC. Another called my article “ignorant and pointless.”

Editorial comment said they published my article because it reflected an attitude all too common

in fans: narrow and self-serving. So, they didn’t think my article was brilliant. Learned valuable

lessons: I truly didn’t know what I was talking about. Growing up reading Marvel and DC, they

were center of my comics universe. Learned there was a much larger reality and interest in

comics besides super-heroes. But also felt great that real comics pros read and responded to my

work. Contributed to the public conversation.

Outline

I. Introduction and main idea: At 21, I got my first article accepted for publication and thought I

was on my way to a brilliant career of writing comic books. What I learned was not what I

expected.

II. Background information: “Alternate” comics challenged Marvel and DC’s dominance of

comics industry.

A. I read some of these new comics and didn’t like them.

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B. At the same time, I wanted diversity in the comics industry.

III. I wrote and submitted an article entitled “How to Improve the Alternate Comics’ Success.”

A. My central point was that alternate comics needed to be cheaper and to more closely

match the successful super-heroes of Marvel and DC to appeal to me.

B. I said the alternates needed “to put more honey before our noses” to get fans

interested.

IV. Reaction from comics pros was not what I expected.

A. One accused me of wanting the alternates to succeed only in terms of Marvel and DC,

rather than appreciating them on their own merits.

B. Another explained the economics of why alternate publishers couldn’t compete with

Marvel and DC in terms of price.

C. Another called my article “ignorant and pointless.”

D. The editors admitted that they printed my article only because it reflected common

attitudes among fans.

V. Conclusion: Though painful at the time, the experience made me a stronger writer.

A. I learned to see things outside my own limited world view.

B. I learned that criticism of my writing didn’t kill me; it showed me areas to improve.

C. It was a thrill when professional comics writers read and responded to my work!