Hi Terry --Thank you and great question! I'd start by deciding what kind of book you're writing - as in what genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? I've written 3 books so far (none published as of yet, so take my advice with a tiny grain of salt). What I've learned through those experiences is that even though I'm a panther and don't really like doing outlines, outlining definitely helps a lot! Each time I've taken my manuscript to a developmental editor, they've immediately honed in on my need to provide greater structure/organization to my story. Several people have recommended the book Save the Cat Writes a Novel and I have found it extremely helpful. I reengineered my last novel according to their templates and I can see how much better it has become from a reader's perspective. Since you haven't written your first draft yet, I'd suggest taking a look at Save the Cat. I think it would much much easier to use that method than it would be to try and go back and revise something already drafted like I did. It really is a great tool for writers. Hope this helps!