Eureka! (With only one exclamation point)

I've found it: finally. I know these posts are only days apart, but this process has taken well over a year. I apologize for the lack of cohesiveness in the timeline, allow me to explain.

This novel has been an inkling of a spark for nearly a decade. I wasn't confident ten years ago, but I'm more than equipped to pull this off now. That's not really been my issue: the hangup feels like so many things, but I've narrowed it down. I'll say more about that later, but for now, I'll get back to the 'eureka.'

The process can't be grueling, under any circumstances, yet it must also be challenging. This happens naturally, but it takes discipline not to get stuck in the weeds of the details while writing a first draft.

But I've discovered that by writing the first draft loosely, the details come without being forced. Ideas that are even better than what I originally pictured! All that planning and outlining be damned.

I believe this phenomenon is a combination of letting go of my preconceptions and trusting my skill and experience. I am not new to this, but even if I was, it would go better for me if I kept hobbling along this way.