[novosel]

I agree with you. That is also my personal mode of operation. I see the value in the outline approach, but it is, in my opinion, limited to a certain kind of writing. Where the work of thinking about the subject is already there. But there is also times when writing IS the thinking. There is a work being done when writing, not simply reporting.

And, I also think this is not an either_or situation, text can be locally structured by outline method, and then at other places marked by nonlinear growth, or progressing by lists. And these domains can overlap, and be of different sizes. Nor do I think there are only these three methods. Text can accommodate vastly different approaches.