Writing scenes.
Lately, I approched my friend Kelsey Sutton with a question: "How does one outline?" Her answer: "One figures out and writes down the major lines in one's story to have an idea where one's going." Me: "How can I know: the story isn't written yet." Her: "Ah ha! Outlining is not for you, young Padawan." Or something to that effect. She told me, "Tanya, you've written four novels, four (!) and you've never outlined before, why are you struggling to do so now, if it obviously doesn't come naturally?" And she had a point, of course. I blame not writing on not knowing where to go. My fiancé had the same reaction Kelsey did. What bother with knowing where you're going now, when you don't know your story or characters yet? Another good point. He told me the other day that he didn't understand why I was trying to force a whole story out of my head, in the limited time I had to write. Why not write a scene ...