I don’t know about you, but when I get an idea for a new book I can’t just plunk myself in front of my keyboard and start writing. For me, the initial phase takes time: time to let the idea gain form or traction in my subconscious, time for me to start mentally building a story skeleton, and time for the characters to flesh themselves out in my mind.
During this time, pretty much NO WRITING happens.
Do you have any idea how agonizing it is to fill in my word count spreadsheet with day after day after day after day after day of zeros?
I know the pressure is entirely my own creation. I know the word count police aren’t going to storm my house and haul me off for failing to meet an entirely arbitrary daily goal. I know no one is shaking his/her head and muttering, “Tsk, tsk.”
But still.
There aren’t enough Slurpees on the planet to get me through these times.
Or peanut M&Ms, for that matter, either.
I know it will be worth it in the end. Once the percolating is done I’ll be able to power through my spreadsheet outline and my daily word counts will start rising again.
Plus, all this suffering means one totally fantastic thing: I have a new book idea!
And let me tell you, this one is seriously wicked awesome… 
If you’d like to comment while I am sitting around and staring into space, I’d love to hear about your routines when it comes to starting a new novel. Am I alone in my percolations? Are you a person who gets an idea and just dives right in?
C.
I’m the opposite from you. The moment I have even a wisp of an idea, I start writing. It’s my way of brainstorming. I basically spew out everything I can think of on the idea, and it ends up with all sorts of crazy and interesting things. By the time I’m about ten thousand words in, I have to stop and start figuring stuff out – the whys and hows and whens of all the actions I’ve been having my characters do. I like to start when the idea is at its fresh and most novel and my imagination is working the hardest. I admit, this does make for a lot of rewriting later on, and I realize how much work I’m creating for myself even as I’m writing, but it’s so hard for me to plan first!
I get the percolating, I just think mine happens somewhere in the midst of things. I like to brainstorm and outline right away, just a bit, then the percolating happens, and hopefully doesn’t turn into procrastination! (But often does I’m afraid)