There is the rub - how to coax a novel out of an idea. There are probably as many methods as there are writers. Any method that produces a coherent story can be considered valid. Which way to go depends heavily on the writer's personality and preferred creative process.

In my writing, I start out very organically. An idea comes to me and I play with it mentally. I start to imagine scenes with my characters and they reveal their problems and their situations. If I am lucky, I am fascinated by the characters. I then record the scenes in a notebook or a word processor. At this point, I still have no idea if I can generate a full novel or even a short story.

Next, I start asking questions about my characters and let my imagination play with those questions. How did they get to this point? Why did they get to this point? How does this end? My mind plays with the questions and more scenes are suggested. I give the characters free rein in my head. Rather than telling them what to do, I let them tell me what they did.

Eventually, the issue of story structure comes up. I know I have some sort of story but do not yet know how this story is going to be told. Will it be chronological? Will it be a flashback? Whose point of view will I use? The question of structure becomes a creative roadblock until it is answered. It is not unusual for this answer to change somewhat throughout the process.

By now, I must have an ending in mind, or that will become a road block too. At this point, I still don't have a formal outline, although I do have a good idea of the story's arc. It is time for specifics, and I start writing. I will start anywhere within the story as long as I have inspiration for that part. In practice, that usually means the more emotionally charged parts get written first. I learn details about my characters as I write, which often suggests new parts of the story.

I craft my outline as I go, in what must be a completely backwards process. With my first novel, I wasn't sure I had enough for a novel until I reached 35,000 words. At 50,000 I was again unsure. At 60,000 I began to worry that I wouldn't have enough words left to tell the story, that I would reach 100,000 too soon. It has reached the editing stage and hovers around 98,000 words. Some of it is online here: http://thehalfofit.wordpress.com/

Rationally, before writing it would be helpful to have an idea of a story arc and at least a general outline. However, every time I try to impose this kind of structure on the process, I end up blocked. I learned not to worry about it. All of the pieces will come and the problems will be solved. If I want to write a book, the key is to sit down and start writing whatever comes to me. I have folders and folders of story snippets on my computer. I may never use them, but someday a snippet might become a seed for a story. I have learned that unless I actually write, the next story won't get written.

That's my process and I recognize that it is not the most efficient one. I do not wish to cast aspersions on those who outline meticulously first. Actually, that is something to which I aspire. There is much to be said for that kind of organization, and this version of it can answer the question "Is it enough for a novel?" before any time has been wasted in the writing.