I began writing Beamstar without having a plot or an end in mind, and with the world-building only partially complete. I just thought the story would work itself out in the writing. In fact, it did. So now I know that I can trust the creative process. That’s a good thing to know.
Here’s what I tried so far, and what I want to try:
1. My first attempt at novel-writing was based on the plot-point method. This produced 40,000 words of disconnected “key scenes” and fizzled out.
2. My second try was the make-it-up-as-you-go-along method. It worked, but it was hard, and yes, I did feel lost at places along the way. In the end, I managed to produce a completed and coherent 102,000 draft soon to be revised.
3. For my third novel, I will try the “snowflake method,” invented by Randy Ingermanson, and which I first read about on Mary Garcia’s weblog. However, I won’t be starting this new novel until after I have revised Beamstar. This next novel will be fantasy, and the preliminary ideas are already beginning to come together. I’m looking forward to it.
But not yet.
For now, I’m resting. I went back to full-time work today 
so I have a bit of adjusting to do this week. Also, I think I’d like to write a couple of short stories before revising my current draft. So it may be several months before I’m ready to write this next book.
I’d be interested in hearing what methods other writers use.
I took a plotting bootcamp with Delilah Devlin and her sister Elle Jackson. They are truly awesome, and I highly recommend it. I took it three times to plot three different novels, and I can’t tell you how much it opened my eyes to the storyline possibilities.
Their deal is a step-by-step process to establishing your characters, your 3-minute elevator pitch, your synopsis, plot arc, story development, and conflicts. I have found great success with it. Think I’ll blog about it! Thanks for piquing my blog notes!
KJ
http://interminablewriter.wordpress.com
KJ, I hope you will blog about this. I would like to hear more about it.
You know, it’s funny how things come to you. I know people who sit and think and think and come up with an idea for a novel. Then there’s me. I was rocking my one year old to sleep one night, knowing I’d always wanted to write but just waiting for the idea to come — and it did. I thougth, “Great, I think I could make this into a book.” And then my world grew and ideas spewed forth (good word, huh?) and before I knew it, I had enough to write a trilogy.
Shari, it is strange how it works. I have no idea where ideas come from. Was the idea that came to you all at once just the basic premise? Or was it the whole plot structure?
I have tried both seat-of-the-pants writing and outlines, and outlines definitely work best for me. When I get an idea I brainstorm, then work on world and characters, then write out key events. From this I develop a list of scenes, each detailed by 1-2 sentences only. Then I can sit down and write. If something changes direction midway through, I just revise my scene list and I’m off again.