Today’s word count: 1839
Today’s writing: flowing, thanks to a new round of inspiration
My energy level: moving slowly

Praise be to the muse, who kindly gave me new ideas to work with.

I found the next part of Wren’s story by making lists. I wrote down what needs to happen: she needs to find clothes and food before she can start on her journey to Pepin. Then I made a list of all the different people she might meet and what might happen. People included bandits, fishermen, and talking beasts. Happenings ranged from being enslaved to rescuing someone else.

As I played with the ideas I liked most, a ghost who compulsively collects things turned into a dragon with a town under siege. Suddenly, I knew the next act of Wren’s story, even though I didn’t know exactly how it was all going to work. (To be clear: I still don’t.)

I had forgotten that one of the big challenges to NaNoWriMo is generating enough ideas on a regular basis to keep writing. I admire the people who outline before writing their first draft, but I do not know if I will ever be one of them. I don’t start playing with outlines until I have lots of raw material and a much clearer picture of the story I’m trying to tell. I guess I need the pieces in hand before I can put the puzzle together even if it means some of the pieces I make don’t fit and get thrown away.

Once again, I am flying by the seat of my pants. But that works for me, and I’m grateful that something does, even if it is a little hair-raising at times. I am back to being able to see where my story is headed for the next few days, and that’s enough for now.