Precipice started the same way. I recall we had such meticulous rules for pacing and making sure everything was accounted for that, at once point, each page accounted for a single day. Now, this was in a time when it wasn't as detailed, but it still ran like syrup.

I think the switch to vaguer terms happened when the majority of us simply grew comfortable with each other. Comfortable enough to allow for the occasional curve ball so long as it made sense.