I get the feeling that the way I write would drive some people up the proverbial wall.  It’s messy, disorganized, driven by the moment and not by some overarching master plan. It’s like a bloodhound walking through the forest and suddenly tearing off under the thicket after a rabbit.  It’s a method of continual discover and wondering (and wandering).  It’s a sudden thunder storm on an otherwise sunny day.

And that’s the way I like it.

I admire writers who can plan out in detail where exactly their story is going, but I like taking the route of discovery.

My ideas come in waves.  One brilliant idea takes me in one direction for a while.  While wrapped up in fleshing out the details, another bout of inspiration takes me on a detour I had completely not anticipated.

Of course as more of the story gets fleshed out, I start to envision the silhouette of the final form of my project, but it is shadow puppetry – you see the form, but not the clear image.

I’m still in the (relatively) early stages of my second novel.  It’s about a recluse storyteller who uses the ordinary folk from her apartment building to tell these far-out tales which ultimately reveal her own hardships.  I’m at about 18,000 words and I actually have no idea how this story is going to turn out.  But every time I sit down to write, I’m surprised (and usually very happy) at where my ideas and words take me.  It’s so much fun for about 2000 words and then I dry up, set it aside and wait for the next bout of inspiration.

That’s how I do it.  Is it strange?  I don’t know.

I’d love to hear how you approach your writing.