*nods* that makes sense. I think because of the boundaries put around my writing by the whole jelly bean thing (NOM!), I'm sort of forced to think terms of 'the story' - it has boundaries by definition, I can touch it and prod it and feel it (they have texture, smooth or furry or whatever, although thankfully not smell. that would be weird ;)) and I know what goes into it and what doesn't.

I think I have a tendency to write from outside a character, which is tied into what will probably be my next meta about how important the visual is in my stories. I remember you saying how you don't necessarily 'see' what's happening in your stories. For me, I primarily see it - I watch the film in my head and write it down - so those extra details are...what? Set dressing, maybe? Everything they've seen and heard is relevant, but to me, it's not exactly part of the story, if you see what I mean. It's part of the world, just not the story I'm telling at that moment.

*tilts head* I have this horrible feeling I'm making less and less sense the more I type... ;)