The Goosebumps Method

I once heard R.L. Stine (yep, the Goosebumps guy) say that he writes his books by pushing forward—fast—then fixing what’s behind him later. That visual stuck with me: he doesn’t stop to polish, doesn’t obsess over getting everything perfect on the first try. He just moves.

And lately? That’s been me with The Ordinary Bruja.

Some days, writing it feels like kneading dough—messy, slow, inconsistent. And yet, it’s the only way to get something warm and nourishing in the end.

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Writing Like You’re Discovering the Story

I keep telling myself, “Am I ever going to finish this?!”

But then I zoom out and see the quiet progress: the layers forming, the tension growing, the characters deepening. The more I write—even if it’s a little at a time—the more this story reveals itself to me.

I go forward.

Then I realize: Wait, this moment would hit harder if I foreshadowed it earlier.

So I go back. Drop in a red herring. Tweak a line of dialogue. Add a heartbeat of silence before a storm.

That’s not failure—that’s craft.

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How The Ordinary Bruja Mirrors This

Marisol’s journey doesn’t go in a straight line either. She starts with more questions than answers. She tries to go forward, but the past pulls her back—makes her reevaluate, reframe, re-see.

Just like my process, she has to learn: progress isn’t ruined by detours.

Sometimes what looks like a setback is actually the story giving you a gift—an opportunity to go deeper.

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To My Fellow Writers, Creators, and Dreamers

This blog post isn’t just about The Ordinary Bruja. It’s about the story you’re working on. The healing you’re doing. The thing you’re building.

If you’re moving forward and suddenly realize you need to go back—that’s not failure. That’s growth.

Keep going.

Massage the dough.

Bake the story.

Fix what needs fixing later.

Your future self will be glad you didn’t stop.