In all those subsequent roles, I imagine they are all the same universe and Harry’s life just got really random.

Any line from the script to The Big Lebowski.

This is 100% true.

It is especially clear when you sit down to write out an idea or plan that you think is fully formed in your head. It turns out that you didn’t have it all thought out and the act of writing is where the important details get worked out.

Writing is thinking, diagramming is thinking, making any external expression of an idea is thinking.

Sitting around with a cool universe in your head is not thinking, it is feeling. Put it in a tangible communicable form, then okay you have turned it into thinking.