Writers have an expression. Well, we have lots of 'em. But the one I'm thinking of is my title today: Brain Dump.

It's when you sit at the keyboard or page and just start writing. You let out whatever's in there.

I don't do brain dump. I guess I'm too repressed or something, but I can't just sit and let whatever's on top spill over. I have to know what's coming. At least in general.

That's not to say I don't believe magic can happen when my fingers are flying over the keyboard. I do. It's a wonderful feeling when you're pulling words and thoughts and feelings from your brain and seeing them materialize on the screen. And then it happens: a word picture so brilliant, so beautiful, it must have sprung to life completely formed and was given to you as a gift.

I've been editing and rewriting a rough draft and I've surprised a couple of times by how good parts of it are. Those are the moments that make writing rewarding. Some famous writer whose name escapes me right now once said, "I hate writing but I love having written." *

That pretty much sums it up for me too.

* I did a quick Google search and found it attributed to both Dorothy Parker and PJ O'Rourke.