Anonymous asked: How does your typical fic-writing process go? From how you get inspired/get ideas to posting. I want to start writing castle fic, but am stuck and figured hearing how one of the greats does it might help :) Thanks!

Thank you, Anon. That’s very sweet of you.

I hope this is helpful. I’m actually in the planning stages for a new story, so I think I can do this in a coherent fashion:

Ideas are a nebulous thing for me. Sometimes they just drop into my head, while others come from conversations or suggestive things in episodes—like Ryan’s wedding being the perfect place for a dance. 

AU ideas are completely random. I think with OFI I was thinking about some line from the show about how they met, and I just saw Kate sitting with Alexis on the bean bag.

From an idea, I generally write the scene in my head, and let whatever’s up there come out, good or bad. After that, I assess the idea to see if it has enough to it to flesh out into a full story, or just a one-shot. 

For really long stories, I try to outline for myself. I did that with OFI, and it kept me very much on track, and helped me keep command of all of the minutia of that universe.

Conversely, with Partners, I know where I’m going, but each chapter is sort of free form, surging toward the fight they just had. 

After the outline, I write, a lot. Everyday, if I can. And some days it’s great, and others it’s not. Sometimes I deviate from the outline; OFI is 10 chapters longer than I initially thought it would be. 

Overall, I just try to have fun and keep writing. That’s really the best advice I can give you. If you’re not enjoying it, chances are your audience won’t enjoy it either. And always write your story. Don’t let other people tell you what to do, or let their opinions change your vision (unless they give you great ideas; that’s totally different).

Happy writing!