I think I came up with a pretty cool way of organizing information before taking Chris Outcalt's method of blocking.
1) To start, obviously look over all your notes. Write next to them what kind of category they fit in, such as: personality, disease, aftermath, etc. Highlight, scribble, and circle. Helps.
2) After you've done that, notice the kinds of categories you've got. Take out a blank piece of paper and list all the major themes you've gone through. Little details are okay, too. For my most recent story about a 3-legged dog, I put a bunch of random things under Themes: how he interacts with people, Demeritt mascot, disease limitations, owner, etc.
3) After you've got a list (it should be pretty long) and you've scribbled down notes and ideas and maybe quote ideas next to some of the themes, notice which themes seem most important. Which sections have the bulk of the information? -- That's where your story is.
4) Look through the theme list and pick out the most important information that the reader should really know. The rest is fluff.
5) When you've come up with that condensed list of what your story is about, then you're ready to block it and organize it, Chris-Outcalt style.
Maybe this will work, maybe it won't. I'm trying it for the first time right now; so far I really like it and it's giving me a very clear head about what I need to do and what I don't need at all. As you prolly know -- I'm a little wordy sometimes.
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