I've received a few anxious emails about my outline process from several writers who are at work on their first novels.  They're afraid an outline will suck the joy out of writing. They're afraid it will somehow lock them in. They ask, "Doesn't it kill your creativity to know what's going to happen?" The answer is no, not even a little bit. Once you begin working with your characters, you'll quickly realize that your creativity is spectacularly alive. Your characters will constantly surprise you, whether you want them to or not.

My outline only gives me the roughest framework of a scene. For example, for my work-in-progress, my first two notecards read:

ch.1  Maya   2009   In antique mart, thinks pregnant, gets palm read.

ch. 2 Rebecca 2009  Overhears rumor, realizes must flee, sees Brent before leaving, lies to him

I've finished the first draft of these two chapters and it totals seventeen pages--seventeen pages during which my creativity had very free reign. By page eleven, for example, Rebellious Rebecca (my new nickname for her) had already altered part of my story in a major way. You see, I thought a particular character had died of cancer, but she actually died in an overturned bus. Much, much better! Thanks, Rebecca! My outline shows me where I want to go; it's my characters who create the maze to lead me there.

So you don't need to be afraid of outlining. Neither do you need to be afraid that you're doing something wrong if you don't outline. You may be more comfortable being a "panster"--one of those writers who is more productive flying by the seat of her pants. Time and experience will give you that answer. Until then, the most important thing is to keep writing.