Scott,
How ironic that you should mention talking to the characters as I did that for the first time in my life just last night when I was brainstorming. Only I did so in a fit of frustration: Okay, Laura, you're terrified, how do you respond? The best part was answering that question as Laura.
Great stuff, man!
Don

Don, that's great. Years ago, I read an interview with the great playwright August Wilson and he pretty much said that he didn't write his plays, his characters did. My experience of writing at the time led me to interpret his characters "talking" as having to be metaphorical. But over time, as I allowed myself to trust the writing process, allowed myself the freedom to veer from the outline, to 'sit' with my characters and watch for them, look for them, listen to them, they started to come 'alive' in this almost metaphysical way.

It sounds like what Neil Simon experiences, per your quote from an earlier post. Except that his characters yap it up in the script rather than a diary, telling Neil where they want to go. Either way, it's nice to have a committee help you with the tough choices.

I must say that I'm always a bit suspicious of the "I don't prepare much before I write" writers. If you dig deep enough, you'll find comments like this from Neil Simon: "I make an outline only in my mind." In your mind, on the page, it's still an outline -- which means prep-writing.

The point is a writer needs to do whatever they need to do in order to get in touch with the soul of the story and the characters who can help lead the writer deeper into and through the writing process. And if they're a "committee," absolutely -- any writer could live with that arrangement!

I like the idea of a script diary. I find it an easy way to ease into focusing on the story itself.

Thank you for this post, Scott.

Following your characters makes total sense. I know exactly what you mean. One of the most wonderful parts of the writing process is when my characters come alive, and start revealing themselves to me, and start doing and saying things as if on their own accord, and I'm the writer AND the character at the same time. It's exhilarating.

Very good idea. I will be using this for my next project.