So, I've been working on Bonaparte's Retreat for a couple of weeks now. (Example on my blog page.)
I started experimenting with the fiddle tune melody already in my head and it wasn't long before a basic version started to take shape. Then I started playing with it. I've tried flipping the rhythms around, making subtle note changes, pulling in tiny parts of other tunes when something reminds me of them, stumbling into new things on my own ...
It's all good except that I feel like I'm driving around without a map and that I have no idea where I'm really going. The scenery's pretty enjoyable but I find myself wondering if I'll ever get anywhere? It's possible I'm just going in circles. 
I guess I'm wondering if I should figure out a destination and try to map out a way there or if I should just continue to drive around confident that when I end up where I want to be I'll just know that I'm there?
Any thoughts?