In this one I went back and worked on the language a lot. But the story was there in one go. A childhood beach, then the main character turned up, I decided that my childhood beach was an Iron Age beach. As soon as she started looking for something I knew that I was on a decent to the Underworld. Again! Somehow the stories of Ulysses, Odin, Orfeus, Inanna, Kore resonate with me. To me they are connected to dreaming. Next idea was the foggy Niflhel (Nifl means foggy). I got the idea that it was a modernist city - Something I am working on in another project started that. Then I remembered The Dream of Baldr looked it up and found the phrase "the grave of the Vølve" - and then I saw this brothel where the Vølve resides.
But I have gone through the phrasing many times and cut and added. It ended up having roughly the same length, but all to much time went into it. I am happy with it though.
It's a fabulous story. Very well crafted.
I'm glad you spent the time. And thanks for the look into your process. All I know of Norse mythology is from your stories, I always want to know more. I am envious that you slip so easily into that world.