Is my writing style normal?

Basic writing (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have always wondered if my way of writing is normal, or if I approach things differently than most. I know some writers who have an outline of their whole story, a description of each main character along with weaknesses and strengths, and a clear definition of the arc of the story.

I know others who create storyboards and have everything planned in advance before they begin writing anything. And others who just sit down at the same time every day to create prose. 

I don't write like that.

I start with a fleeting idea - a phrase, a title, a thought. It might be something I read in the news or a billboard, or a comment on television. It might come from something I have been dealing with in my own life and imagining the best possible solution. But wherever the inspiration comes from - I catch the spark... and then I begin writing. It just flows. And then I get stuck.

When I was in passionate writing mode a few years ago, I would not be able to sleep most nights because conversations between characters popped into my head and I simply had to capture them immediately. I would get up and write and write and write. And then try to go back to sleep. But then the conversation would continue which meant no rest for me! I loved every second of it.

Truly I love the process of writing a new book. It is exciting and full of potential. But then once I start with the first chapter and brief sketch of what could happen in the story, it takes me days and even weeks of going around and around in my head the way I want it to go. At that point, I write a bit of a deeper outline (at least as far as I can get) and begin writing again.

I typically will have the beginning of a story idea and a desired message/outcome and ending. It's the middle part that makes me crazy. 

My novel I have been working on today is one I have been working on for years actually. I have a really good feel for the characters (oh, how I love them and if they were real I would call them my friends) but the story line has developed a life of it's own and gone off in a completely different direction than I anticipated. Now I am at a cross-roads. I can re-write the last chapter (which I think is brilliant but takes my main character into uncharted territory) or I can embrace the adventure and go where I think my heroine wants to go. Ah, and there is the dilemma. To move forward into the unknown or to stick to a plan.

This is so much fun!

I'll let you know what I decide.

For any of you out there that write - what is your process? Do you stick with a plan or have to outline everything? Do you let it develop as you go? Do you always have an end plan in mind or do you allow the story and characters to change?

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