Sometimes you just need to dive right in . . .

I try to be one of those writers who meticulously plans, outlines, plots out, etc., a story before I start writing. I really do. And I admire those who work that way. It's got to be a lot less nerve-wracking to already have the road mapped out before you get into the car.

I've tried. Oh, lord have mercy, I tried. I can usually get about half-way before I just decide, to hell with it, and turn that key.

So, I started a screenplay for a movie version of my idea, Harvester of Faces.

And, so far, it's coming along surprisingly well. As I'm writing things occur to me, characters, story situations, and the like, as if my subconscious has already plotted out a lot of it before I even get started. Which may actually be the case--in my experience it usually works that way.

Will I manage to finish this thing? Who knows? So far I'm pretty happy with what I have. Hopefully, the momentum I've established will be enough to propel me all the way to the end.

For the record, though, I did sit down and plot some things up. A lot of the back story had to be sorted out so I could have the motivations for all of the characters. That really helped, too. Stuff that I thought was superfluous but would be nice to have is now essential. I thought I was going to need to eliminate on of the central characters but it turns out that she's essential to the story, which is good, as she's the reason I'm writing this in the first place.

Anyway, so far, so good. I got bogged down on this thing when I tried it as a novel. Hopefully, as a screenplay, it'll lose enough fat to be more manageable.

As I say so often, we'll see.