The wonders of the unknown

So, the wonderful Veronica and I were having a writing party the other night, and she was getting quite the kick out of my excitement of not knowing what was going to happen as I embark on a long work for the first time.

"I just realized, this is going to take place over Christmas, and I don't know what will happen!" In my WIP the parents kick the main character out of the house, so will they all get together for Christmas? I. Don't. Know.

It's an exciting thought.

Then Veronica said, "I usually only know who is going to die." I feel like that should be quoted again sometime down the road, when she is really famous. Because it's just awesome.

In other thoughts, I thought maybe I would have my first Teaser Tuesday. So here is the beginning of my WIP, which isn't revised anything. Just for the record. Okay, I'll just paste it now, and then hope you like it...

June 7^th

         I wonder what it would be like to pluck out my eye. It’s got to be pretty simple I figure. With this pen I’m holding, all I’d have to do is wedge it into my eyeball far enough to pull the eye out. There would be a lot of suction, I’m sure, and something inside there would have to rip. Though I think I’m conveniently forgetting the immediate pain I’d feel when the pen went in.

         It wouldn’t do any good. I realize that. I just know that it’s easier to think about using my pen for that rather than writing what I have to write.

         I’m pregnant. With you.

         I mean, no one with medical knowledge of any sort has confirmed it, but I think it would be hard for seven tests of two different brands to be wrong. I threw them away in the dumpsters outside of the coffee shop where I work, so my parents can’t find them.

         I’ll have to tell them, I know. But I just got home for summer break and I’m supposed to be celebrating surviving my sophomore year of college, not taking pregnancy tests. Not being pregnant.

         I would say that I am going to wait to tell them when I know what I’m going to do; when I have everything figured out. But I’ve been weighing my choices the past few days, when I was working up my nerve to go to a drugstore and buy the tests. And what I know is that I don’t really have a choice to make. Not everyone would see it that way, but I do.

         There’s a lot I need to tell you in the coming months; during our time together. I hope I can get through it all, because you deserve that much. You may just be a tiny thing inside me right now, but you’re still something.

         You’re everything.

So how much of your novel do you have planned out before you begin? Anyone have really intense outlines? Or do you just begin with a simple premise? Happy Tuesday!