Writing Tip #1 Getting Your Outline

Okay, so I said that I would be leaving helpful tips in random times. Here's the first.
This one is about writing. If you're a writer, especially an unpublished writer, you should definitely take this into consideration.
When you write, I like to just pick characters, pick a problem (which is not really clear), and start writing. It's fun to be like "What's going to happen!? What's going to happen!?" like you do when you read, except you're the one creating the story. Trust me. This does not work.
I have tried so many times to write a story that way. It always fails. You know how your English teachers are (or were) always like "You need to have an outline! Where's your outline? That's not an outline. Get yourself an outline!" and you're always rolling your eyes and going "Yeah, right. I'll do it later Mrs. Brown." Well believe it or not, Mrs. Brown actually has a point!
It's very important that you have an outline. How can you foreshadow and give little hints to your readers if you don't know exactly what's going to happen yourself? Sometimes you have to work backwards.
To write an outline, start simple. Decide the Beginning, the Middle, and the End. Then go in deeper and split the Beginning into it's own Beginning, Middle, and End. See? Eventually you will get to the point where you are explaining each chapter. After that, it's simple.

I like to think of three things that are essential to a good book. This is completely optional to you. As I said before, this is just my opinion.
The Three Things are:
#1 Challenges/Adventure
#2 A dash of romance
#3 At least one traitor, may it be in an individual book or in the series in general
These things spice up the book and make it interesting. But the main one that should be included within your outline is the obvious #1: Challenges/Adventure.

Your story should be filled with challenges and obstacles. The Climax is the last and hardest challenge in the book. Your Rising Action should have many challenges that become increasingly harder for your character. At the end of your Falling Action you could have a new problem arise to become sort of a cliff hanger. For example: the end of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters.
Good luck to you all and your stories!