How do you go about writing stories?

[The Gravekeeper]

Hanging around here, I've gathered that some of my fellow members are writers. I write myself (not professionaly, just as a hobby) and I'm always interested in hearing how other people go about it. The way I see it, no method is the right way to do it; there are certainly some broad approaches that everyone falls into, but every writer has their own particular quirks about it.

So...what process(es) do you use when you write?

[akiratubo]

I'll write until it gets late or until my hands are about to fall off from typing.  I do that until the basic story is out.  Then I go back over it time and time again, fleshing it out, fixing plot holes, making sure everyone is in character, etc.

[Skull]

I use a notebook. first I dot down ideas and write a small story for what I want to write; list characters and anything else I need to keep in mind.

then I try to break it into a outline (for each chapters) this is estimated, often times you'll feel if the chapter is nessary or you need to add another. I think I've added 30 more chapters in my first book...

Then I try to write notes for each outline/chapter and try make the chapter stick with the notes.

Then when I'm stuck (writer's block) I jump a chapter or 2.

[Trevor]

I've been writing stories since I could write ~ I have written a book and several scripts, started in longhand, progressed to a typewriter and now a PC. Writing anything ~ like reviews for Andrew ~ lets me exorcise my demons, such as they are and I find writing very therapeutic.

Whether my writing is good or not, isn't for me to say. 

[Jack]

When I used to write stories I'd just come up with some characters and then see what happened to them.  I liked having the characters firmly established in my mind, and then I could fashion a story that those people would probably get involved in.  Rewrites would result in large chunks getting chopped out because I was just meandering around looking for a direction when I wrote them.  My stories were full of smells and sounds and telling details - I really loved establishing a strong atmosphere and making people feel like they were right there inside my environments.  I think describing stuff was my favorite part of writing.

[JaseSF]

Honestly it usually just pops in my head and I write it down frantically. Then of course later I have to go back and re-edit things so it'll make sense...sometimes though I'll get some whole other tangent or other story or poem come popping in my head and I feel the urge to write it down and then have to come back and re-edit again.