Settings Develop, Characters Become, Plot Unfolds

The progress on my newest project can be a little daunting at times.

I have no idea how others would approach this, and my way might seem weird to everyone else - but it is MY way, and so far it's working for me. 

It isn't actually quite as disorganized as it would no doubt appear on the surface, were I to try to describe the process - but almost. 

*laughing*

No.  In reality, it's progressing in an amazingly orderly fashion, which astounds me. 

I gripe and complain about the characters 'taking over' but, you know, it's simply that I can and do tap into any number of relevant times, moments, events, experiences, whatever ... people I've known, things I've done, places I've been ... and that part of my INFJ brain that collects, connects, correlates, and coalesces data has been a busy little bee. 

I honestly couldn't tell you HOW all those bits and pieces are managing to fit themselves together into a cohesive unit, but  by jiminy that's exactly what seems to be happening. 

Some of the scenes for this story are events I have never had any knowledge of at all in my life - battles, for instance; not to mention that nobody living could possibly have any first hand knowledge whatsoever of the time I've chosen for this story - but I've known love, and I've known loss; I've known success and triumph, and I've known absolute failure and despair. 

Emotion, challenge, growth and development, physical fatigue, internal fatigue, setting and working toward a goal, faith, adversity, learning - these are without a doubt universally human, along with a lot of other things, regardless of when and/or where a story happens. 

When it comes right down to it, the setting isn't what it's all about.  The characters aren't what it's all about.  The time isn't what it's all about.  The plot or story line isn't what it's all about.  It's the fact that people are people - each and all of us are both individuals and a part of something bigger than any individual.  How it all fits together, how WE all fit together - that's what it's all about.

Still, the story that's developing, becoming, unfolding - it's a fine thing.