Planning and chaos

Before I write a novel I do rather extensive research and plan my work. I feel as if I have a neat saucepan and the ingredients to make some hot chocolate. Then the actual writing begins. Characters misbehave and do the most unexpected things, the plot thickens and I find myself with a boiling cauldron that requires spit, mandrake and Devil’s Blood (such a great band!). The book I was planning is suddenly a trilogy, I become unhealthily involved with my psychopath and he starts killing people he wasn’t supposed to kill. I’m not sure writing is a job. It’s more like being possessed.