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@mariam: I did a bit of OYAN too!

Well, like Princess Foo said, I do think there is a fine line between plotting too much and losing your steam and just having at it without a direction. When I get a brand new story idea I want to build on, I like to base the plot off of my character arcs- so basically I’ll get a very basic outline done (with just the Acts, Plot Points, Midpoint, Climax, etc.) then leave it be and work on my character arc. When I figure that out it’s kinda just like connecting the dots. After making the basic outline and character arc, I work from there just writing it out following an outline- and not planning out every scene to the final detail. I mean, it’s a 1st draft; doesn’t need to be perfect. That’s what revision is for.

One thing that I’d suggest for a brand new story idea is having an ‘insider notebook’ (I have one for every single story I’m serious about writing) for all the random stuff you think of when you’re not writing/typing out the actual story. So, I’ll have mini outlines, drawings, maps, quirks for my characters, scene ideas, charts, fun little things that have nothing to do with the story, ‘behind the scenes’ concepts, brainstorm sessions for myself, yadda yadda. Things fall into place a whole ton for me when I’m just having fun writing down the most random things about my story in my notebook and it’s almost like you’re working on your story… but not. (LOL that makes sense to me but I have no idea if it’ll make any sense to anyone else. XD) But I think an insider notebook develops the story a whole lot and I think it’s super effective. Then, when I’m writing the actual story, things seem easier to write down now that I know the little stuff I figured out in the notebook. ;p

So yeah that’s what I do… I don’t know if it’ll work for you or anyone else but it sure works for me!