heya! i was wondering if i could get a little advice
would you think it’s best to plan out your story before you begin or write as you go with a vague idea?
i keep flip flopping between the two aaa
hiiii i loveee writing questions!! 📝
it sounds like you’re wondering whether it’s best to be a pantser or a planner! there isn’t one right way to do it, and it’s super up to the individual and how you work!
the best advice i can give is to try a little bit both ways. write with planning it out a lot before, and write something else with only having a vague idea (it could just be a random writing prompt to get the creativity flowing without having to commit to a larger work). then think about how it feels: which one feels more organic to you and gives you more flow?
personally, I’m a mix of both but heavily slanted towards pantser. my oneshots and drabbles will be a vague idea with a core theme, then my series will be more planned (major plot points and arcs throughout the story that connect, crucial points, some general plotting of how I want a chapter to go or what vibes/theme i want it to have). then filling the space between those big plot points and connectors with more of a vague idea, seeing where the characters take me (with that golden thread of what critical point is next).
i’ve tried both ways, and i find meticulous plotting of every little thing ever to feel stifling, like I don’t have room to move or breathe. that feeling of restriction makes it so I don’t feel motivated to continue writing a chapter. some people have that same feeling when faced with only a vague idea, so it’s about writing to learn how you write. it’s a fun discovery process! you can find which way you lean towards and what balance you want of the two, if any.
hope that helps!! there’s no one right way, and there’s no true way to find it out until you experiment with the two and tune in to how it affects you and your creative process! 💕