Let it flow!

There are two basic theories of writing. Each writer belongs to one of two camps.

The first group believes in carefully planning out the story, each character and each twist of the plot. I've heard of writers who produce flow charts, or page after page of writing in a special notebook. This approach suits some writers very well, and has produced some good books.

But it's not me. I tried it once, and I became so bogged down in the details that I was completely unable to write the story.

I belong to the writing-by-the-seat-of-your-pants school of thought. Which is strange, because in every other aspect of my life I love planning, crave it actually, and feel uncomfortable with too much spontaneity. (Ask my husband, who by day functions efficiently as a well-organized administrator but by night becomes Mr. Spontaneous.)

When I write, I let it flow. Take Echoes, for instance. I started, as I said earlier, with a simple premise. A mother and a son. The son, who had a wild youth, becomes a Muslim. The mother cares very much about appearances. Put it all together and stand back to watch the fun.

I started with Joshua. I knew his character and how he would react in a given situtation. I established a "voice" for him. Then I let him go. The results were amazing. At times, Joshua put himself into situations which I heartily disapproved of. But Joshua is spontaneous, and he loves to surprise me.

(Okay, before anyone calls the men in the white coats, I don't hear voices and none of my characters has actually appeared to me, as in Secret Window. I do watch that movie periodically and take it as a cautionary tale.)

Recently I was stuck with a character who plays a major role in the fourth book of the Echoes Series, Ripples. I couldn't decide how he would react. Would he be mature and responsible, or would he go completely off the deep end? I wrote different versions of the story, and was never quite satisfied. Finally I just stepped aside and let the character take over his own fate. I have to say I am pleased with the results.

The neatest thing about my style is that it works, often beyond my wildest dreams. I am highly intuitive, and when I come to the end of the story I realize the different facets have pulled themselves together with very little conscious effort on my part. I knew what was happening, but I didn't need to think about it or agonize over it. It just worked.

For those writers who require organization, I say, Go for it.

But as for me, I say, Let it flow!