Writing Process or, Learning to Fall

My writing process parallels my skiing process.

I let the idea stew in my mind while I take the chair lift up the mountain.

I jump out, and start weaving down the mountain, maintaining good speed and control.

Then I think, what if? And I point my skis straight down the mountain and FLY.

And the flying is amazing.

Until I realize that I'm completely out of control. I freak out, scream down the rest of the slope, circle behind the weird red building at the bottom, and fall.

I lie in the snow, and consider why I (and my manuscript) wiped out.

And then I do it again.