Finding My Own Path

I have a solid 3K words. It's not a lot, but it's a victory, and I no longer feel stuck.

I am not here to judge the processes of any writer; I understand how useful extensive outlines and planning can be. And honestly, I wish I was one of those writers that could operate with dedicated journals and mind maps and all those other fancy tools that make me want to punch my own teeth out.

This is a character driven novel with a lot of dialogue. I've always approached characters with the kind of respect that can only be given with a little improvisation. So why did I think my outlining process would be different? By trying to over define things, I ended up putting them in boxes. I can't speak for other wordsmiths, but in regards to me, compartmentalization is where my creativity goes to die.

In order for me to be free, I need to let my characters be free. I am taking notes AFTER the characters have spoken. They will tell me what I need to know about them: nobody wants to be controlled, not even by the omniscient writer.