So what's a "when you have to" situation? I can make myself write when I don't want, which was good for school, when I was in it, but my oomphless stuff never quite met with my approval. So I tend not to make myself write for something like fanfic, because if I'm not going to be happy with it, I figure why bother?

I like the idea of outlining being the lesser of two evils; that does make sense.