I’m the type of person who generally thinks before they speak. Naturally, I do put my foot in my mouth sometimes and regret it instantly. I do react to certain situations too, but doesn’t everyone. However, generally speaking I’m cautious of the words I use in general conversation. I never deliberately set out to hurt anyone so I think about the consequences of my words and often the thinking takes so long, the conversation has turned a corner and veered in a different direction by the time I want to add my two cents worth. Because the topic has been changed by this time, I often just let it slip and say nothing. I’m talking about face to face conversations only.
In my lifetime, I’ve been called snobby, quiet, withdrawn – and a number of other things, but in truth I’m shy and often don’t think my opinion accounts for anything. I also suffer the affliction that if you can’t say something worthwhile then don’t bother saying anything at all. Although that doesn’t appear to be true with blogging either. 
What’s this got to do with writing? Everything.
I write the same way. I think for a long time before a single word is written down. I plan for just as long. I want to know everything I possibly can about the story and its characters before I advance to the next step. I never actually discover everything before I start writing, but that’s fine and it supplies me with excitement as the words flow and new discoveries are made.
Yesterday, I realised something. I have set a new record for myself. I did something extraordinary and I’m very pleased with myself as a result. I thought about a short story for 1 day, I planned and researched the story for 2 days and I wrote the story in 7 days. I know some people plan and write a story in a single day, but that just isn’t me. To think about, plan and write a story in 10 days is a gold medal performance for this writer.
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