Step One: Get an Idea
Step Two: Deliberately avoid writing Idea because I already have a thousand other stories to write.
Step Three: Give in and start writing Idea
Step Four: Write a LOT, but (and this is key) do not finish the story.
Step Five: Writing hangover; reread what I’ve already written to try to kick-start momentum again.
Step Six: Realize that everything I’ve ever written ever is complete rubbish and I should just give up.
Step Seven: Despair.
Step Eight: Avoidance; set story aside ‘for just a day or two,’ until I can be more objective about what I just wrote.
Step Nine: Do not look at story for weeks, if not months.
Step Ten: Reread story, realize that it’s not as bad as I thought. Return to Step Four. Repeat.