You’re right; it would have been much more expensive if I’d made my discovery at 65,000 words. And yes, I write character-focused (not quite driven) fiction. Despite the potential pitfalls of the organic method, it’s the best method for me. As you said, both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. I can see the benefits of outlining, but the part of me that writes refuses to stick to outlines.

Like you, I still manage to foreshadow because I usually see major events well in advance of them happening. I just don’t write them down.

I’ve yet to experience writer’s block (*knocks on wood*).

Thanks for sharing how it works for you!

Unfortunately, you can occasionally run into the situation where you don’t have a completely understanding of your main character and his or her motivations. This is the main downside to the organic method, as it can be quite costly (try encountering the same issue you did at 65,000 words instead of 2,500). Having said that, I encounter writer’s block the more frequently I know the exact outline of things to come. The more I outline, the harder it is for me to actually write it (since it feels like I’m regurgitating the same thing over and over again). This also complicates the process of revision and/or rewriting (as the case is with the 65,000-word bungle).

All in all, the psychology behind how people write will always fascinate me, and I always like to hear from people about this particular dynamic.

Cheers,
– Ryan Fitzgerald

Thanks for dropping by!