To misquote the noble bard, to plan or not to plan, that is the question! Many of us were taught about planning, when we were at school, and remember it with the same kind of affection that we associate with other worthy advice proclaimed into our youthful and impressionable ears during the happiest days of our lives! Yet, in common with other unpopular advice from our schooldays, there is some merit in taking time to plan your writing before launching in.
Avoid getting stuck
Over the years, I have mentored many writers working on longer projects. One of the most common categories of people coming to seek advice are those who have begun writing their book, and, after the initial flurry of enthusiastic composition, have got stuck. They have a clear idea of their overall concept, and perhaps some of the details, but they haven’t considered how this translates into a practical writing project. Sometimes these writing projects are quite complex, so often the only way for these writers
