There’s an idea that you “puke out the story” first, then go back and fill it in afterward. Personally, if I’m puking something out, I’m either pushing the lever on the porcelain throne or I’m grabbing a mop and am not in the best of moods. I prefer a different metaphor, though I’m not sure if I want to formulate it: giving it a voice or defining it is kind of like boxing it in, making it final, like an equation. Saying “This how I did it:” versus This is how I do it:” is a subtle difference where you’re not beholden to your statement. “This is how I do it:” gives your subconscious (or at least mine) the directive that you must follow the guidelines you stated, versus the freedom of saying “This is how I did it:” which means you can refer back to what you did but still gives you the option of trying something different. It reminds me of when I was writing music: I’d want to write a piece that was hard and driving, and sometimes a catchy country western tune would spring from my fingers. I’d fight to get back to the hard-driving prog-rock genre tossing out what could have been an interesting piece in it’s own right, the intended music would come in time, just not this time. If your muse wants to sway to a country western beat, go ahead and dance with them: they’ll love you more for it and won’t go off and dance with someone else, leaving you alone in the middle of the floor.
35473 words, ~ 1000 WPH