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The way I write is a bit like organized chaos. I've noticed the way I write has started to take on a general pattern.

Step 1: Get ridiculously excited about an idea/character/setting
Step 2: Start building characters and setting around idea
Step 3: Never stop thinking about it and add in random details and scenarios.
Step 4: Try to define the problem
Step 5: Think of a solution to problem and love it.
Step 6: Throw out previous solution because it was stupid. Think of even better one.
Step 7: Start to actually write all this junk down and get moving.

Yeah, this can take place over a few months, a couple weeks, or in my current case, a few years. I make a general timeline of what I want to see happen and start writing all of those. From this point, I write whatever I want to. If I want to get to the good part, I write the good part and worry about how it'll connect later on. Once I finish this, I'll get to smushing 'em together and toss out whatever doesn't work and adding on what feels good.

Honestly, I have a weird strategy, but it amazingly works. I'm in the middle of writing two novels, and I love using it. Usually it makes me look silly, but.... It's fun.

1) Come up with an idea
2) Create Characters I prefer doing this before coming up with the plot. I try thinking of it as making a RP character from a profile skelly, and I include hair and eye color, their personality, how they dress, things like that.
3) Come up with Plot Easy enough to explain.
3) Decide on how many Chapters For this one, I like to use dice (three of them), and I have no clue why. For example, one of my stories has 17 chapters because I rolled it that way.
4) Decide on Settings then do some Research This is especially important for those who plan on using an actual city, or one similar to it. If they're making one up or if it's Sci-Fi/Fantasy type, then they don't have to worry about it. But since I'm not, I make sure to look up certain buildings/places in a specific city. If there's a place I want to make up, I find a place for sale, use the address, and come up with my own business/home. Works like a charm.
5) Write, write, write! Now for the fun part: I furiously write my story like never before. Once it's finished, read it through for any mistakes and the like, and basically edit it.
6) Re-write, re-write, re-write! Then I re-write my entire story, from top to bottom. I redid an entire chapter during this step, and I even took out a character because he didn't exactly fit.

And THAT... is how I write my stories emotion_dealwithit .

Most of the time, I tend to get an idea in my head. If it doesn't interest me enough, it dies and is never heard of again. If it does interest me, then I'll find myself coming up with many more ideas for the story, until I have all the important plot points created.

After that, I tend to remember it forever. Then, when I sit down to write, I tend to come up with 'filler' material to write that will connect each plot point. I also tend to do quite a bit of research before I sit down to write, depending on the material of the story and what degree of research I need to do to write it.