Worse yet, I'm frequently struck with the procrastination demon. I know I can finish this scene; I have all the words ready to fire -- but they just don't want to come out. My attention keeps getting diverted by something else, and before I know it, two hours have already passed and nothing's gotten done. Argh.
Another quirk is when the story runs away. Take the fanfic linked in my signature. Originally, I set out to write something fairly short. Like ten chapters, maximum. Now what I end up is a lot of plot threads -- fourteen chapters, four interludes and counting. The characters begin to write themselves and sometimes do what I didn't plan for them to do at all. It's fun, and writing such a thing provides as much surprise for me as for the reader, but I despair at the indication of my organizational skill.
All good characters want to have input in the story <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> They seem to take on a life of their own inside your mind, and add lines and come up with plans when you don't really expect them to...
I know what you mean about story stretch! You plan on a short conversation, but your character(s) have a lot more to say than you ever imagined and before you know it, you run out of the current chapter and have to start a new one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I tend to just let them get on with telling their story in their own way! The end result is usually better for it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Writing is kind of like freeform acting on paper, IMO <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
