Even if I know there's a 'crucial' scene (which most of my stories have), I tend to write in order. I actually found myself blocked in writing a series, because I knew what had to happen in the sixth story, and because it was going to hurt like hell to write, I ended up not being able to write the third one! It's interesting that so many other people write in linear order too. I had the impression that it was a weird Jades-thing ;)

By 'where it's going', is that for the characters or the plot? I'm intrigued as to whether people write with plot direction in mind - I can't, at all. If I don't know what the characters are supposed to be learning or showing, then I just can't write.

I'm very very intrigued by knowing the ending first - does that happen very much?