Guys, I've just found a great article on the benefits of writing without having plotted your story out first. So for those of you (like me) who fly by the seat of their pants, this is reassuring stuff:

http://www.romanceaustralia.com/articles/brideson%20flim.htm

It's written by a romance author, but the information is valid for any genre.

"I hear you sister!!!!"
What a relief! What a God send! Thanks so much, Lou.

Since I have tried preplotting my novel I have found my passion for writing has soured and gone stale.
I find myself blocked constantly. I thought I should preplot because that way I have control over the story direction, but I hate it.

Up until this time I have always been a "Flimmer" and I have never had a problem. After reading this article I feel my enthousiasm beginning to bubble. I have just given myself permission to "fly into the mist" and forget all the threads I have been trying to force together. I will do what I have always done before - have a vague idea of the outcome a solid idea of the characters and see where that takes the story.

Thank-you, thank-you thank-you, Lou!!

deb

Im so like that it isnt funny! Glad im classified as a 'flimmer' sounds good!

What a great article Lou! "Flying into the mist" is such beautiful way to decribe the way we seem to sit at the computer with a blank page and a blank mind and leap out into the void with no safety net.

Just the way I like it!

I totally agree that if I come up with too much info about the book I no longer care. If I know the last scene or last line too soon, what's the point of me getting there?

So Flimmers unite!

Not sure that I'll be describing myself to people as a "flimmer" (sounds illegal), but I can't seem to write any other way - low threshhold of boredom. And although we shouldn't need someone else to say "it's okay to write that way", when everyone else tells you you have to plot, it can be hard to go against the tide.

But now we have it with authority guys, it's okay to Flim!