Every writer has a process. Sometimes, I get an idea for a plot. Sometimes, a character walks into my office, pulls up a stool and starts talking. Sometimes, I get flashes of scenes and eventually, the plot and characters evolve. Yeah. Weird. I totally understand this, and it’s also why I complain that my Muse, Iffy, runs with scissors. Thing is, at some point, a writer–even me–has to figure out what I want out of a book, how the story ends. And then I have to do the whole BICHOK thing to type out the words to form sentences, turning them into paragraphs and chapters. Just like the Universe says…
It’s kind of strange, Silver, but first you have to know what you want, defined in terms of the end result.
And then you have to physically move toward it, without defining the hows.
At which point, the thing you want actually starts coming to you, on its own terms, from a direction completely unexpected.
Not unlike a cat,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®Just carry on, Silver, detached from the details and timing, and perhaps act like you just couldn’t care less.
And like cats, Muses–especially Iffy–and words can be damned arrogant, aloof, and ignore/irritate the snot out of you. I think I’ll find some tuna. See if the hows will figure out a direction and I can finish my projects on their own terms. I’d sure like a dog–all slobbery and ready to please–every once in awhile. 😉
How about you writers? Is your process a cat, a dog, or a unicorn? And readers, do you ever wonder about a writer’s process?
Silver James 
As a writer, I like hearing about other writers’ processes. As a reader? Eh, not so much. If I was just a reader, I would just want a good story no matter how the writer got it to me.
Sometimes, I think my muse is a sloth. Plodding along and won’t hurry up for anything. Or a mule. No amount of pushing or pulling will get it where I want it to go, so I have to either go with the carrot or the stick. Maybe a carrot on a stick would save time – dangle the carrot and if that doesn’t work, turn it around and give it the ol’ stick.
I hope you find some tuna to coax your cat-like Iffy out of hiding.
Iffy’s being a total cat! Arrogant and finicky. Stupid Muse. She’s also sleeping. A lot. Frustrating. I hope your Muse becomes less sloth-like. 😉
Its always intrigued me to see how a writer does their magic from outline or not to what comes next and all that comes with words on the pages?
Do they have a ritual before they begin and what their spot looks like mobile or stationary!
Its not just writers, I subscribe to Where Women Create, Inspire and Business Works, and In Their Studio.
Everybody has what works for them, but sometimes, it could help another, who might have lost their way.
Have a great day.
Maybe I need a witch’s spell or some sort of ritutual. 😆 I wish I had a magic formula. I pretty much just stumble along in the dark. 😉 Hope your day was creative! 😀