I'm Writing a Novel and is it better to pre-plan my writing or to write on instinct?

Question

Or maybe should I try a combination of both?

Answer 1

I like a loose outline, like a storyboard for a movie or a comic. The drafts I've read that started with the 'I just wrote without any plan' have been terrible. I think good stories start with at least a bit of a plot plan. Of course there are exceptions and of course there will be changes to the original plan, but an outline is a good starting point.

Answer 2

Hiya, Well.... I prefer to pre-plan my writing. Even writing your ideas down on paper before writing is a good way to look over your ideas while writing and decide where to place them in your writing, making it more organized. Any sort of outline would do great as well. I suppose you can also write on instinct if you know exactly what you want to do, but if you have lots of ideas you aren't sure about, I'd do some sort of outline. Good luck!

Answer 3

greeklord, I suspect that probably 75% of all the books which are never finished remain that way because the would-be author didn't have a plan.

Until you know you can write a whole book, which is no small undertaking, I strongly urge you to have a master plan. Whether you use index cards, an outline, a detailed synopsis, or some other form of organization, know your whole story before you start writing. Ideally, determine what the scenes or chapters are, who's in them, what happens, and how that leads to the next scene or chapter.

When you start writing, you may get an idea that's better. Great! However, you owe it to yourself to re-do the master plan to use that idea before you just forge blindly ahead. You want to finish, right?

Answer 4

I usually have a general idea what I want to happen and I mean very general like; the guy and girl finally get together, and then I write whatever comes to me, I find i usually know a bit of the plot and how I want the book to turn out and then I fill out the rest as it comes to me. And yes sometimes I do have to go back and change it because I change my mind on how something goes, but you do what feels natural for you and you'll do great, if you seem to be stuck at first try to make a very loose outline to get you started.

Answer 5

I would say both. I find that when I don't know what is going to happen next in my novels, I get kind of stuck. On the flip side though, if I have the whole plot drawn and done, the writing experience becomes less exciting, and sometimes boring. I like to have the main plot figured out, but still have some holes that can be filled when I actually sit down and write,  

Answer 6

This is all about you! Write the way it is most comfortable for you. Try writing as it flows and see how that works. If you find that you are getting stuck, then try some simple outlining. Get yourself a pack of index cards and as scenes come to you, jot them down on the cards.

Once you get a stack of cards you can arrange them and rearrange them as your story needs. I have known authors who use ths method and have a full wall that is their "Plot Board."

I personally cannot outline. I am ADD and once I know what happens at the end, I can't write anything else. I know, so my mind has to move on. So I write by the seat of my pants.

Hope this helps.

Kare Syed

http://quakeme.com

Answer 7

I personally don't go anywhere when I try to write without plans. But it *could* just be my personality, because I like to plan things in general.

It would certainly be more prudent and helpful to plan your story out. Like someone else said, a loose outline would be good, so that you've got some elbow room, so to speak. It'll give you some freedom while you're writing, so that you know where to go next but not in detail. So I guess that is a combination of both.

Good luck with your story :)

Answer 8

I have written two novels; from my experience, I think that you must begin with a basic plan.  With my original book, the production of which became an extremely lengthy process, I rewrote and altered it several times, then spent an exorbitant amount of time editing and correcting the final manuscript.  With the second or sequel, my concept was somewhat nebulous, although I did have in mind what I wanted to the story to be, but I simply wrote it (perhaps "on instinct" as you say).  I think that second may be better than the first, and it was completed in a twentieth of the time which I expended on the first!  I am, though, equally happy with each of them as they are set.  I think that you might try just writing the novel -- with your plot in mind -- and see how it goes.  You really can't avoid the editing, correcting, and altering eventually, however minutely you pre-plan; the fun, too, is in the actual writing.  You might become disillusioned if you pre-set for yourself too rigid an outline to follow.  Good luck!

Answer 9

Greeklord,

When I write I usually plan out the plot in my head. I don't have to have the whole book down, but I end up having most of what I need to keep me writing. It's all about knowing where you want to go with your characters and the story itself.

When I've written a few pages down it usually comes in short bursts until I give my imagination a break. I keep the story going by having my character do what I would do. As for the progatonist or antagonist, it's simply arguing with yourself. You simply need a comeback for everything that's said by either character.

I know it sounds a bit confusing, but it works for me. I just can't get into outlines. They work for some, but not for everyone.

Good luck with your writing.

PJ M