My new project has gotten larger in scope, and I am currently working on constructing a family tree for my main character.  The last two times I planned out family trees, the project turned into a novel.  I suspect the same thing is happening here.

I am working my way through the Snowflake Method to do the top-level planning for the project, and the one-paragraph summary for step 2 looks like novel material.  I am a planner, and one of the things that I like about the Snowflake Method is that it helps me get a handle on the scope of a piece.  I also like it because I end up with a list of scenes to write – almost a writing to-do list.  And I love lists!  More, I love crossing things off lists.  So the prep work is totally worth it for me.

Do lists work for you?