My dad's actually done a lot of research on composition, and he agrees that the ideal method is to start with an idea and then iteratively work your way down to a complete work. It's also how you write music, incidentally.

Echelon wrote:Is writing not the music of thought?

Well said, Echelon. But yes, Trykon, I agree with this -- although I don't always follow it. I find my stories 'write themselves', with no plan, although with some I do follow this sort of model.