Learning how to write each story. Yes. That resonates. It's like learning to parent each individual child (for me). :)

I don't know the shape of my story, usually, until it's done or close to done. I've only ever posted one WIP, but the process of sending chapters or unfinished drafts to readers is similar in some ways... Audience for me is less about whether readers will chase after me for a cliffhanger and more about whether what I've written will resonate at all. The worse possible response (for me) is resounding silence or neutral response.