This quote resonated with me

[RK Capps]

It may or may not resonate with you. From my current reading:

To write a successful story, you can’t wing it and expect to get to the Promised Land.

Brooks, Larry. Story Engineering (p. 226). F+W Media. Kindle Edition.

and that's in regard to understanding story architecture, not how you reach the final product.

 

[DRFerron]

I guess that depends on your definition of "successful" and what your personal "Promised Land" looks like.