Sometimes I’m late learning a very useful word. This time the word is
Paraprosdokian
— a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising, frequently humorous. It’s said that Sir Winston Churchill was a big fan.
Here’s one I like especially, since it describes me pretty well.
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
More often than not, this is my decision making process. No planning, just responses to what comes my way.
In the writing/publishing life, this is called being a pantser (writing by the seat of one’s pants), not a plotter (outlining the story).
It’s my theory, that in the general population, people fall into one category or the other. For example, how do you approach a dinner party at your home:
a) write out a menu, check off what you have in stock vs what you need to buy, assemble menus, and so on.
b) check out your freezer and fridge an hour or so before, and work with it.
How do you approach a project/hobby? (see above choices)
And so on.
Does your process work for you – whether you’re writing a book or learning a
new skill?
That’s all that matters. The target will take care of itself.