Let’s see the contrasting opinions on this subject by two authors recognized in the entertainment literature field:
Jeffery Deaver
“I would not get into a plane if the designer or the builder would have said: ‘give me some aluminum, some plastic, some glass and I will assemble a plane and see how it works ’… My stories have at least three or four plots developing at the same time. It is necessary to have a scheme, a structure that allows for books like this, with multiple plot stories, to be developed”
Each author makes concessions to the opposite method of working: Jeffery Deaver praises those who can write without planning.
But each author also strongly criticizes the opposing system. However, it is possible to find counter-arguments to each argument. For example:
Life is spontaneous, it does not have a plan – We read books mainly because of this, to find stories which have more order tan real life.
Improvisation will only confuse the plot – If it is clear how a situation will develop, this risk does not exist, and moreover, creativity will solve the problems.
When planning there is no spontaneity – Spontaneity of the plot does also occur when planning.
And so on.
For this reason it is believed that the preference of one or other work method may depend on the personality of the writer; as Jeffery Deaver says it when he claims to be a person that does not leave anything to chance. If the writer is organized and methodic for other things, he may prefer to plan the story. If he is not so methodic, he may opt to write it directly. There is a parallel of this dilemma that is often mentioned: on the one hand, there are those who plan a trip (on the first day we will do this, this and this), because they feel they would not take advantage of everything otherwise; and, on the other hand, there are those who do not plan a trip in advance, because they consider that otherwise they would be too restricted, would not enjoy or loose unexpected opportunities.
Whether it relates to personality or personal preferences, the best is for each writer to use the method that best serves him, the one that becomes him. And the best way to find it, is to try. If a writing is begun and it is noticed that the story gets confusing without hope, an option is to stop and make a plan to clarify its development. If you have an idea that you consider will easily flow, then you may begin to write it without further delay. Afterwards, you will improve on your method of working and it will become easier to write a story.
