Sarah Z. Creates

I have been writing for a very long time. Long enough to know that inspiration doesn’t always follow the plot I’ve intended.

I have two novels published and four short stories alive in the world. 

I have four more novels drafted, and three more started.

All of those *mostly* followed the plan. Or the plan evolved around them (that happens a lot). As complex as my world is becoming, having a plan matters, both for world consistency and writer sanity. So I know which novel should get attention once Selah’s story is complete and published (soon, I promise).

I know what I should be writing next.

But guess which story is calling me?

Not the next one on my list.

Not the one I have planned and outlined and started.

No, the one that’s calling my name is the one that I have only the vaguest outlines of a plot for — more feelings than facts.

But it has characters I fell in love with while writing Selah, and my muse is pretty insistent that I follow that story.

What does that mean?

Selah #3 is just about wrapped: one last set of revisions before line edits and (gasp!) publication.

Then I’ll dive into revising the first book in the First Daughter’s series. Which right now is anywhere from 2-6 books. (We’ll see.)

I’m going to knuckle down on First Daughter #2. It’s the next book I have planned to write.

But in the margins — in ink and daydreams and exploration and scribbles — I think I’m going to follow my muse and these characters I love and see where their adventure takes me.

What about you? Have you ever found an adventure by inspiration rather than plan?