I've deleted every book I've ever written

I'm asked often about the process behind my novels, but I'm always vaguely embarrassed by my answer: I use the age-old and hugely inefficient system of trial and error. I try one thing, for an entire draft, and then I delete it and try another.

I have always been a planner, and can't start a manuscript - or pull off a twist - without one. The document is researched, approved, and resembles what I think I want the novel to be.

But, when I start to write that plan into a book, something starts to happen. It can vary, but in general I either feel like something isn't working, isn't clicking, I am not emotionally invested, or I feel extremely interested in a small subplot or some other unexplored area of it. The feeling persists for most of the draft, but - despite thinking often about it - I just can't seem to work out why. Is it character, is it plot, is it just where I'm at? Is it that it's usually winter when I'm drafting, is it that I feel the pressure of my audience? The plot is all laid out and approved, seems to make sense, but is it that? Even though this happens every year, it kind of always surprises me that it does. And, each time, in a way, it's different.