Happy New Year to all. I wish for you health, peace and happiness.
In my own life (the writing part of it) I’m working on a story that seems destined to be written entirely in the dark. First, I was in the dark about my story. I couldn’t find it but I pushed on ahead and created a synopsis. Of sorts. I wrote over 100 pages but every day it felt wrong, stilted, and worse, I dreaded facing the keyboard the next day and trying to figure out what next??? So Dec. 23, I gave up and threw it all out and started again. This time I did two things I know I need to ALWAYS do. First, I made sure I had a clearly definable conflict that put the 2) motivated characters in opposition. Duh. How basic is that?
Still, the story is being stubborn. I can blame the holiday season when it’s hard to pull my thoughts into the office and force them to remain on the words appearing on the screen. Or I could blame it on a touch of the flu. No brain power.  But the last couple of days something miraculous and odd has occurred. When I go to bed, my story becomes a living organism in my head. I see the characters moving, talking, laughing. Like a mixed up dream, I see bits from different scenes. I have to jot things down in the dark. Last night I ended up with four pages of notes that will translate into 20 pages or more in my story. I could complain about missing my sleep but after agonizing over this story, I am not about to whine about that (though I might steal a nap during the day). In fact, I intend to do all I can to nurture this particular event.
It’s like I have fallen back into my childhood when I always made up stories to put myself to sleep. (One big difference-this is NOT putting me to sleep.) It just goes to prove that I can nurture the creative process but I can’t control it.  Not that I intend to trust my future to this method. In fact, I strive always to prepare well for writing a story. I don’t know all the details (in this case it seems I know none of them) but I need to know the major turning points, the emotional journey, and have a feel for the theme (which often changes and develops as I write).  As I said,  I need to have understandable motivation, and then, clearly definable conflict. I have learned the horrible frustration of trying to write a story without and vow every time it won’t happen again. 
Oh yes, a pen with a light in the tip or a little book light at the bedside are absolutely essential as well.

 
Here are the light and pen I use.
 
 
BTW, my newest book, The Path to Her Heart, is out mid January so watch for it.