Gosh, Toya, thank you! I appreciate your comments about this being inspiring! :) And as a serious pantser myself, I completely understand what you're saying.

Even though I was always a complete and dedicated pantser until my health issues and injury changed that, I still had to know and understand my characters etc. before diving in. So I think that blasting through a first draft without thinking it too much can work, but it's probably helpful to have some sense of who the players are.

I suppose you have nothing to lose by trying - with or without any preparation. Maybe just try with a short story idea and see what happens! :)

Thanks so much for reading this and for your kind words!